VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1Iowa State Greek Community

- Stemming from the largest ever Greek Getaway this past spring, the Panhellenic Council saw more than 550 women participate in Formal Recruitment from August 14-18.

- The Interfraternity Council has surpassed previous recruitment benchmarks, adding 470 new members this fall and noting the return of Delta Upsilon to the campus.

- Our community welcomes Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. back to Iowa State, becoming the newest chapter of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

- In the Multicultural Greek Council there is conversation of bringing three new chapters to campus. Delta Phi Lambda, a national Asian-interest sorority, Gamma Rho Lambda, a national all-inclusive women’s sorority and Pi Alpha Phi, an Asian-American interest fraternity.

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letters.isu@gmail.com @ISUGreekGreek Community -Iowa State University

This fall Iowa State University welcomed a record setting number of students to its campus. In all 29,887 have made a home in Ames and within the Cyclone family. Much like the University itself, the Greek Community has seen membership grow as we begin our 136th year.

As the numbers show, with more members and more chapters than ever before, the story of Greek Life at Iowa State continues to grow. We, as the Greek Relations Executive Council, or GREC, strive to showcase the people and events impacting our community in each issue of Letters. To reflect the community, GREC itself has increased to a 16-member team. With the larger council, we hope to expand our coverage and to share what we find with you. Letters has a refreshed look this fall, and with it, the opportunity to continue to unite the chapters, alumni and all who are associated with the Greek Community at Iowa State.

Sincerely, The Greek Relations Executive Council

Dear Reader,Greek Relations

Executive Council

Α Dear Reader

Β Contents

Γ&Δ Chapters of the year

Ε&Z Recruitment

H Watermelon Fest

Θ Yard Show

Ι Bulletin Board

K Calendar

Λ Awards

Contents

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Greek Relations Executive Council

WritersKatie HenryColin GraceMegan McDonaghLindsey Lamair

PhotographersSam Behrens

SponsorshipLisa DavisBethany Schaffer

DesignAmber OppeltBryce SanfordKatie Verhulst

VideoMelissa Slagle

Lauren RyanCPC VP of Marketing

Lucas DroesslerIFC VP of Marketing

Ryne DittmerIFC VP of Communications

Rachel GerdesCPC VP of Communications

The Iowa Beta Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon is this year’s recipient of the prestigious Buchanan Cup, named for ex-Grand President Edwin Buchanan. The award is given every two years in recognition of the very best chapters of Sigma Phi Epsilon International Fraternity. Each chapter is evaluated based on their volunteer support, recruitment, membership development, academics, fiscal health and faculty engagement. “We are extremely excited - this has been something we have been working toward for two years,” Chapter President Kyle Zibrowski said. “We were a bit nervous when they began to announce awards; we didn’t want to see our hard work go unrewarded.” This marks the third time Iowa Beta has won the award. The honor is the culmination of two years of dedication to the principles and values of the fraternity, and the public service and outward actions that stem from those values. Heavy involvement in Dance Marathon, Blood Drive, captainships of several clubs, as well as holding positions in the Government of the Student Body and a wide variety of other campus organizations are just some of the chapter’s achievements over the past two years. After winning the award, the chapter saw resurgence in alumni involvement. “This award really got our alumni back. It is something our alumni can come back and be proud that our chapter is still doing very well,” Zibrowski said.

“Buchanan Cup-winning chapters are SigEp’s very best,” Sigma Phi Epsilon’s Executive Director Brain Warren said. “Their members set an example for others to emulate. They challenge us to be better men, to be balanced men. Their work is shifting the stereotypes of fraternity from drinking and parties to development and leadership.” The Cup is only given to a select few chapters of the 240 Sigma Phi Epsilon chapters. This award not only exemplifies the sort of chapter excellence that Sigma Phi Epsilon expects of itself, but of the higher standard that fraternities and sororities hold themselves accountable to here at Iowa State.

BY COLIN GRACEChapters of the Year

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Phi Beta Chi’s Iota Chapter brought home numerous honors from the Phi Beta Chi National Convention held in San Antonio, Texas this past July. Awards included Chapter of the Year, president Kelsey Schultze won the Mary J. Gerlach Active Member of the Year Award, and the chapter also received the Spiritual Growth and Linda Garwood Saddler Service awards. Phi Beta Chi is a Lutheran social sorority founded in 1978 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Iowa State chapter was founded in 1994. The prestigious Chapter of the Year Award recognizes the successes that the Iota Chapter has accomplished at Iowa State. Chapters are evaluated on their commitment to academic success, involvement with their community, and their Christian values.

The Iowa State chapter nominated Schultze for the Active Member of the Year Award during their annual awards ceremony. In reviewing applications, the candidate’s dedication to academics, philanthropy, community service, and the values of Phi Beta Chi were among the criteria that was considered. “I was very excited and honored to receive this award,” Schultze said “It was great to know that not only has my hard work and dedication been recognized by my chapter, but by nationals as well!” These honors are the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance by the Iowa State chapter of Phi Beta Chi and add to the growing list of national chapter awards Iowa State’s Greek Community has acquired.

Chapters of the Year

Kelsey Schultze Active Member of the Year

Phi Beta Chi

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It was a proud time for the Greek Community as Formal Recruitment numbers reached a record high this August. More than 550 potential new sorority women arrived to campus on August 13th to find their new homes in the Panhellenic community. Awaiting their arrival were the Collegiate Panhellenic Council’s (CPC) Recruitment Executive Board and thirty-five recruitment counselors, called Rho Gammas. “We had fabulous leadership this year,” said senior Laura Schmitt, who is a CPC VP of Recruitment this year along with senior Ashley Furne. “Recruitment Exec, Rho Gammas, and chapter recruitment chairs were very communicative, enthusiastic, and flexible.” Preparations for Formal Recruitment began as soon as the spring event, Greek Getaway concluded. Over the summer, the VPs of Recruitment from the Interfratenity Council (IFC) and CPC facilitated Greek 101

presentations during Experience Iowa State and summer orientation sessions. These presentations allowed prospective students and families to learn more about the Greek Community and also take facility tours. As the summer came to a close, the Panhellenic Community reunited for Spirit Week, the week leading up to Formal Recruitment. Chapters, Rho Gammas, and Recruitment Exec prepared for the exciting week ahead to meet all the potential new members. Finally, the time had come for the 554 women registered for recruitment to arrive. At the end of check in, all but three women had checked in, which is the lowest amount of “no-shows” formal recruitment has ever seen. Schmitt contributes the success to “high outreach and communication with prospective women throughout the entire summer.”

BY KATIE HENRYRecruitment

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Even though the women going through recruitment came from across the county, they all wanted to join a sisterhood for the same core reason; to make lifelong friends. “I wanted to go Greek to make friends who were similar to me,” said Anna McConnell, freshman in pre-Journalism and Mass Communications. “Being Greek is also a great networking tool.” The week of recruitment was busy as the potential new sorority women went from chapter to chapter, talking to hundreds of women. During the week friendships between groups and Rho Gammas were made in addition to those made among the new sisters. “My favorite part of recruitment was meeting all the girls on my floor and finding people in each house that I connected with,” McConnell said. “It’s so funny to think that there are so many different and wonderful people in every house!” Recruitment 2011 may be over, but plans for next year are well underway. The main changes are in the offices of the VPs of Recruitment, which will be elected earlier in the fall semester to allow more time to plan for the coming recruitment events. “We will be electing and training the new VPs of Recruitment very soon!” Schmitt said. The hope with earlier elections will be that preparations can begin as soon as possible for Greek Getaway 2012. CPC has very bright hopes for next year. “This year’s recruitment was successful because we had open communication, the Rho Gammas presented positive Panhellenic energy, and had great problem-solution work ethic.” As numbers for Panhellenic recruitment continue to rise, the future of the Panhellenic community looks bright.

IFC Recruitment Update Recruitment has been extremely successful for the Interfraternity Council’s chapters this year with more than 470 new members joining our chapters! This Fall the Interfraternity Council hosted Fall Fraternity Rush for the third time. The event was held September 12-14. To kick off the event, potential new members partcipated in the first ever Fraternity Fair. The new event included two rooms in the Memorial Union with tables for each chapter to provide recruitment materials and information about their open house events. Potential new members had the opportunity to meet members from 26 of our 28 Interfraternity Council chapters. In the two days following the Fraternity Fair, chapters hosted open house events ranging from giving house tours to playing games like “Minute to Win It”. Overall, Fall Fraternity Rush was a great experience for the nearly 40 potential new members who attended.

Jon BaumgartenIFC Vice President of Recruitment

Recruitment

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On August 25, the Emerging Greek Leadership Council hosted its annual Watermelon Fest. The event was held at the newly renovated Greek Triangle within the Greek Community neighborhood. Watermelon Fest kicks off the school year, bringing returning and new members from chapters together for the first time. Residents from the surrounding area were invited to attend Watermelon Fest as well.

Watermelon Fest

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Watermelon Fest

Yard Show

Chapters from the National Pan-Hellenic and Multicultural Greek Councils hosted a Yard Show on August 26 in front of Parks Library. The Yard Show included performances from nine chapters and drew a large crowd of Greek and other Iowa State students, faculty and staff.

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ΑΒΓΔΕΖΗΘIKΛΜΝΞΟΠΡΣΤΥΦΧΨΩ

The men of Delta

Upsilon returned to

117 Ash Avenue this

fall following a large-

scale renovation.

On September 24 Greeks Give Back brought more than 900 Greek students together to complete service projects around the Ames community. Participants spent the day working with various campus, local and national organizations by cleaning up campus, writing letters to troops and creating projects for children at the Blank Children’s Hospital.

653 community members made Dean’s List for the spring 2011 semester.The All-Greek GPA was higher than the All-University average.

Check out Homecoming Results

in next month’s issue!

3130

29282726252423

22212019181716

1514131211109

87654October

Phi Kappa Theta

Oktoberfest5 pm - 8 pm

Alpha Omicron Pi

Run For The Roses

9 am - 11:30 am

Sigma Phi Epsilon

SausageFest11 am - 2 pm

Kappa DeltaGrilled Cheese with the KD’s10 pm - 1 am

Greek Trick or Treat

Sorority Circle 6-7:30 pm

Alpha SIgma Phries

9 pm - 12 am

Kappa Delta “Fall for Fall”

informal event 7-9 pm

Homecoming Week

Phi Beta ChiBetalicious

Walking Tacos

Homecoming Kick-Off

Gamma Phi Beta

Cresent Classic Cakes

10 am - 2 pm

ExCYtment In the Street

Greekfest7 pm in the Sunroom

31

2

Homecoming Game against

Texas A&M

Halloween

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2010 AwardsPresident’s Award for Fraternal Excellence

95% of the award criteriaAlpha Gamma Delta

Beta Sigma PsiFarmHouse

Gamma Phi BetaPi Beta Phi

Gold Circle Award for Fraternal Excellence

86-95% of the award criteriaACACIA

Alpha Gamma Rho Delta Tau Delta

Sigma Phi Epsilon

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Cardinal Circle Award forFraternal Excellence

75-85% of the award criteriaAlpha Delta Pi

Alpha Sigma Kappa Chi Omega

Kappa Alpha ThetaPhi Gamma DeltaPhi Kappa Theta

Sigma Kappa Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Certificates of Merit75% of the award criteria

Adelante FraternityAlpha Chi OmegaAlpha Omicron Pi

Beta Theta PiDelta Delta Delta

Delta ZetaKappa Delta

Kappa Kappa GammaPhi Beta Chi

Phi Kappa Psi Pi Kappa Alpha

Tau Kappa Epsilon

2010 Carolyn Ullestad Unsung Hero Award

Justin Van Wert, Alpha Gamma Rho

2010 Interfraternity Council President of the Year

Tucker Harrison, Pi Kappa Phi

2010 Collegiate Panhellenic Council President of the Year Lauren Egli, Kappa Kappa Gamma

2010 Interfraternity Council Man of the Year

Dan Renner, Delta Tau Delta

2010 Collegiate Panhellenic Council Woman of the Year

Molly O’Day, Sigma Kappa

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The Greek Relations Executive Council is seeking your input!

Send your story ideas about your chapter’s news, notable alumni and current members for inclusion in one of our publications this semester. We are also looking to include any information on upcoming philanthropies and events you’d like placed on our calendar in each issue of Letters. Finally, we encourage you to send in high quality pictures from your chapter events as they happen throughout the semester.

This is your chance to showcase your chapter to the Iowa State University campus, and parent, alumni and support groups for the Greek Community.

Send all submissions to letters.isu@gmail.com.