The Jade Times

GVSU lights up the stage at WMU

From left to right, staggered: Christine “Evoke” Vo, Lien “Estella” Dang, Quyen “Kelanni” Ho, Kelly “Emerald” Nguyen, Megan “Charisma” Fish, and Xee “Marvel” Yang

Recently, President Megan “Charisma” Fish and the lovely ladies of the GVSU chapter participated in Western Michigan University’s very first MultiGreek Council Showcase. “It was fun, but there wasn’t a very large turn out,” Fish said. “It was their very [first] MGC Showcase so they invited other schools to come because they don’t have that many [organizations].”

Though Fish believes that the Asian and Asian-American population in the western Michigan area is small, she hopes to continue establishing relationships with other organizations and spreading “our unique Asian heritage.” Judging from this image, these women literally “let our light shine forth!” Go GVSU!

 

Loyola is walking the walk, stepping the step

With their winning certificate, from left to right: Tina Le, Tiffany Yi, Huyen Le, Marcella Perez, Ploy Paungsombat, Jasmine Moy, Vanyen Pham

Loyola University’s chapter hit it big by earning 3^rd place in the second annual MultiGreek Council hosted Triple S Show. The triple “S” stands for stepping, strolling and saluting. Hosted at Loyola University on March 29, different Greek organizations performed for the championship in three rounds with three teams each[EL1] . With Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. at 2^nd place and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. at 1^st place, it is quite an honor for LUC chapter to take 3^rd in their very first attempt at The Triple S Show. Tina “Pixel” Le, a neophyte for Loyola’s recent Xi Class, said: “It was an awesome experience that united MGC, PanHel (PanHellenic) and IFC Greek life together. The program allowed different Multicultural Greek fraternities and sorority to showcase what they’re really about.”

The teams that participated are:

• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
• Alpha Psi Lambda National, Inc.
• Delta Phi Lambda National Sorority, Inc.
• Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.
• Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc.
• Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
• Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc.

By May “Mosaic” Advincula, Staff Writer

Sisters at Emory University will have the opportunity to make their presence more well-known on campus with the recent grant of housing in The Lodge, Emory’s housing for Greek organizations.

Currently, Greek life at Emory comprises about 33 percent of the student body, with more than a dozen fraternities and sororities housed in The Lodge. With this recent grant, the Emory chapter will be the first and only multicultural Greek organization that will be represented on Fraternity Row.

The process of acquiring housing began approximately three years ago when housing became available after the suspension of three Greek organizations on campus. After signing up on the waiting list, the chapter received the official application in October 2011.

Chapter President Sandra “Diesel” Barlaan followed through on the application with the initiative “to have the best application since [the chapter had] been wanting [housing] for forever.”

The application itself consisted of six essays in which the chapter had to explain details, such as why they wanted housing, the values of the organization, past major accomplishments, how they would benefit in the housing and how living in The Lodge would contribute to the Greek community. From there, sisters formed an essay committee in which sisters were assigned to write and proofread the application.

The Emory chapter was the only sorority to apply for The Lodge. After submitting their application in November 2011, they received notice at the beginning of the year that they had been granted housing.

“[We’re] very proud and excited that it is really happening,” Barlaan said.

Six sisters from the chapter will move into the housing at the beginning of the 2012 fall semester.  The housing has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a basement and a meeting area that the chapter can utilize for chapter meetings.

Emory sisters hope that acquiring housing at The Lodge will help to strengthen the chapter’s presence on campus and offer more publicity as the Greek letters will be visible on the outside wall of The Lodge once sisters have moved in.

“Everyone will be able to see it, and that will hopefully help us have a higher number of girls interested in recruitment,” Barlaan said.

In addition to more visibility on campus, the chapter also hopes that this will also allow them to make stronger connections with other Greek organizations, as the housing will allow them to be physically closer to those organizations also residing on Fraternity Row.

Another goal Barlaan noted was “to strengthen the sisterhood. [The] central location is a home base to go to at any time and will build stronger ties with sisters. We hope to host events at The Lodge and open it up since it’s a convenient location.”

The notification of the housing grant seemingly had perfect timing, as the chapter also celebrated its 10-year anniversary.

In reflection of this milestone, Barlaan said, “[The chapter has] gotten a lot better [recognition]. I don’t have to explain who DPhiL is [to people] anymore. After the article [in “The Emory Wheel”] was posted, a lot of people said ‘Congratulations on your house.’ This will be the first step of knowing more about [our sorority].”

Barlaan also added words of wisdom for the chapter: “When things get tough, and they will get tough, don’t give up hope. Set concrete goals for your chapter, and don’t ever forget the sisterhood.”

Last month a powerful earthquake off the coast of Japan triggered a deadly tsunami that left northern areas of the country devastated.

Though damages were estimated between $122 billion and $235 billion by the World Bank, the Japanese government estimated that the cost of the earthquake and tsunami would reach $309 billion which would make it the most expensive natural disaster ever recorded.

In conjunction with members of the National APIA Panhellenic Association (NAPA), Delta Phi Lambda sisters across the nation heeded the call for relief assistance and hosted various fundraising efforts to show their love and support for those affected by the tragedy.

Sisters at the Georgia Institute of Technology encouraged over 150 guests at their annual “Night of Diversity” event to make donations to the Red Cross Japan Earthquak Relief site while sisters at the University of Georgia showed their support by selling “Hope for Japan” wristbands to students on campus.

In addition sisters at Grand Valley State University donated proceeds from their lollipop fundraiser to International Medical Corps.

Relief from the disaster is still far from over as the country continues to rebuild. Individuals who are interested in donating to this relief cause as well as other relief initiatives around the world can do so at the American Red Cross website.

Donate here.

Photo credit: 

http://www.angeloplessas.com/blog/uploaded_images/Japanese_flag-712397.jpg

By May “Mosaic” Advincula, Editor-in-chief

According to recruitment chair, Rachelle “Avia” Kim, the sisters from the Georgia Institute of Technology will host special events during their upcoming recruitment period.
 
They will provide some relaxation time for recruits and sisters alike through a yoga event to promote the physiological, biochemical and psychological benefits of the exercise. They will also volunteer for the Make a Child Smile foundation and will make handmade cards for children ages 3 to 5. This is the chapter’s third year participating in this philanthropy event.

Georgia Tech sisters at Formal 2010

By Aura “Cherish” Reyes, Staff Writer
 
Every spring semester, the lovely ladies of Delta Phi Lambda Epsilon Chapter host an event called Iron Chef. The event’s proceeds always go towards a philanthropy. This year, UCF sisters decided to raise money for the sorority’s philanthropy, Best Bones Forever. Since Best Bones Forever is run by the government, they do not accept donations. They referred UCF sisters to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, to which they donated instead of Best Bones Forever.

During the last Iron Chef event, there were eight teams. This year, there were 11 teams competing for a $125 prize. Each team had to create an appetizer, a main entrée and dessert containing the main ingredient, which was coconut. The judges then had to score the meals by creativity, taste and presentation. At the end of the event, Pi Delta Psi took the prize, making this their fourth time winning the competition.

Gamma Chapter to co-sponsor APIA U Training
 
On April 17, Gamma Chapter will be collaborating with the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) to co-sponsor and host the APIA U Leadership 101 Training:” Empowering the Individual and Strengthening the Community,” at Georgia State University.
 
APIA U Training is an interactive college leadership training program involving hands-on exercises, small group discussions and presentations led by two qualified APIA facilitators. The one-day training assembles 60 students from each region and focuses on self-awareness, team-building and direct-action organizing. Participants will be asked to challenge themselves, share their experiences and develop leadership tools in order to effectively serve as catalysts for change.

 
This will be the first time the APIA U Leadership Training is held at Georgia State University. The training is free and is open to all college students. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and parking will be provided free of charge and the training will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Students can register at www.ocanational.org.
 
The U Training is a great opportunity for students to network with other students throughout the region. The program will provide a unique training that focuses on development of leadership and organizational skills that are relevant to APIA campuses and communities.
UGA sisters partner with fellow MGC sorority, raise alcohol awareness
 
On March 23, the sisters at the University of Georgia  co-hosted a seminar with historically South Asian-based Sigma Sigma Rho Sorority, Inc.
and Deanna Walters, Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Coordinator. The seminar educated students on the effects of alcohol on the body, the college perception of alcohol use, drinking stGamma Chapter to co-sponsor APIA U Training

By: May “Mosaic” Advincula, Editor-in-chief

Twenty-six National Pan-Hellenic Conference organizations began the month of March honoring their respective Greek affiliations by wearing badges or their letters. Celebrated March 1 by sorority women, the International Badge Day theme for this year was “Keep Your Fraternal Experience Close to your Heart.”

[Pictured above: Sisters at Georgia Institute of Technology show their Greek pride for International Badge Day.]

In celebration of diversity, the National Panhellenic Conference partnered with the National Pan-Hellenic Council, National Multicultural Greek Council, and the National Association of Latino Fraternal association. This year, the National APIA Pan-Hellenic Association was also invited to participate and Delta Phi Lambda sisters showed their support by wearing their crest and active pins.

The sisters of Grand Valley State University provided their “International Badge Day” experience:
 
Grand Valley came alive with colors Monday, March 1. Colors residing in the Greek letters splayed across shirts, bags and jackets as students represented their corresponding sororities. 

[Pictured Above: Sisters of Grand Valley State University demonstrates their Greek Pride for International Badge Day.]

The fun was inspired by International Badge Day: an annual event developed by members of the National Panhellenic Conference as way for women of their conference to set aside time from their busy schedules, come together and honor their experience with Greek life. This year, the sororities of the National Asian Pacific Islander American Panhellenic Association, the National Multicultural Greek Council and the National Pan-Hellenic Council threw their numbers into this day of commemoration causing the flood of Greek letters displayed across campus to be that much more diverse.

Grand Valley boasts 12 sororities across the various councils including Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Sigma Kappa Sorority, Sigma Lambda Upsilon / Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc, Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc., Phi Mu, Delta Zeta, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Sigma Tau, Delta Sigma Theta and our very own Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.
 
Some women dressed in casual business attire sporting sorority pins on their shirts, winter coats or scarves while others went for casual clothing items such as sweatshirts or T-shirts that had their letters stitched on. Regardless of the style, the goal of pulling off a great display of unity among sororities of all councils was a definite success.