The Jade Times

By Alyssa “T.I.” Soluren, Staff Writer

Inspirational. Peaceful. Nonviolent. These are the words that describe the famous Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

Gandhi was a pioneer for nonviolence, and he left an everlasting legacy of peace, culture and diversity. Gandhi, who is referred as the “Great Soul,” had a passion for peace and unity. He was an inspiration to many and encouraged others to promote peace.

India’s Ambassador to the United Nations makes this statement about Gandhi: “In many ways, Mahatma Gandhi pre-envisioned the UN. Much of the work that we do in the area of human rights owes its genesis in the struggle against racial discrimination, which he focused on.”

Having inspired many, Gandhi has become an international symbol of peace. Due to his activism and his greatness for humanity, October 2, his birthday, has been declared an international day of peace. Honor Gandhi and his legacy by practicing nonviolent behavior and promoting peace on October 2.

Source for article:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/UN-releases-Mahatma-Gandhis-stamp/articleshow/5084769.cms

http://www.kamat.com/mmgandhi/gandhi.htm

Source for things to do:

http://www.nonviolencepeaceday.org/

Source for photo:

http://forums.skadi.net/showthread.php?t=92764

By Alexandria “Wisteria” Prejido, Staff Writer

As we all know, breast cancer is becoming more prevalent. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., women in the United States get breast cancer more than any other type of cancer. It is only second to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death among women. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it is here to remind us women (and even men) how important regular self-checks are and of how common this type of cancer really is.

Annually, it is estimated that about 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. There are many risk factors besides being a woman that contribute to breast cancer. Such factors include age (women over 65 years old), weight (overweight or obese), genetics and lifestyle (lack of physical activity).

Breast cancer is often hard to detect, which often leads to late treatment of the illness. Early breast cancer generally does not cause any pain. However, as the cancer progresses, a few signs and symptoms start to surface. These signs and symptoms include a change on how the breast or nipple appears, such as a change in size or shape of the breast, or a change in how the breast or nipple feels, such as tenderness or a feeling of a lump on or near the breast. Presence of nipple discharge is also a common symptom of breast cancer. Detecting these symptoms early often proves crucial and can make a lifetime difference. Therefore, breast self-examinations are often important and encouraged.

Here are instructions on how to do a breast self-exam according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation:

A. In the shower: Fingers flat, move gently over every part of each breast. Use your right hand to examine the left breast, left hand for the right breast. Check for any lump, hard knot or thickening. Carefully observe any changes in your breasts.
B. In front of a mirror: Inspect your breasts with your arms at your sides. Next, raise your arms high overhead. Look for any changes in the contour of each breast, a swelling, a dimpling of the skin or changes in the nipples. Then rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Left and right breasts will not exactly match — few women’s breasts do.
C. Lying down: Place a pillow under your right shoulder and put your right arm behind your head. With the fingers of your left hand flat, press your right breast gently in small circular motions, moving vertically or in a circular pattern covering the entire breast. Use light, medium and firm pressure. Squeeze the nipple and check for discharge and lumps. Repeat these steps for your left breast.

For more information, visit http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

Sources:
http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/
http://www.nbcam.org/
http://www.breastcancer.org/

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

Lillie “Ivory” Madali is an alumna from the University of Georgia’s Iota class. She currently works as an Operations Coordinator at Endeavor Telecom in Atlanta and serves as the National Board Vice President of External Affairs.

As External Vice President, she is responsible for overseeing sorority endeavors in expansion, public relations and alumnae relations.

In this Q&A, Madali discusses how being involved with National Board allows her to use her previous experience to help the sorority continue to progress.

-What inspired you to be involved with National Board?
“When I graduated, I wanted to give back to the community in a creative way, and I wanted to work to find a job that I loved. The position of VP External was perfect for me. I am allowed to create publications and form marketing plans any way I wish. It’s my dream occupation.”

-What has helped prepare you to handle the responsibilities of your position?
“Having a positive attitude, a strong work ethic and a will to keep moving forward all help me handle
my day-to-day responsibilities and keep me going in the long term. Experiences from working as a
Marketing Assistant for various nonprofits and my present work help me approach my work with a new perspective. I read a lot of books and blogs about nonprofit marketing to keep us up-to-date and effective.”

-What do you find to be the most rewarding aspect of your position?
“I love that I get to volunteer in a capacity where I’m skilled and have the ability to make creative decisions. I love that I get to work for a values-based organization that serves to empower women. I also love that I get to work with my sisters.”

-What do you find to be most challenging aspect of your position?
“Finding the time to balance everything. I still hold a full-time position in addition to [my position on NB]. Balancing my family and work in addition to my sorority position can make life difficult to manage, but everything is worth it.”

-Who/What is your inspiration?
“I have a lot of inspirations: movies, I watch a lot of biopics. I also love looking at art and new experiences like traveling to new places. I am writing from Australia right now and I love the culture, it’s very laid-back and everything is just new to me.”

-What do you hope to accomplish in your term?
“To build a community of supporters for the sorority (alumnae, undergraduates and interests) by increasing awareness of our mission and current events through creating avenues for listening and keeping in touch through print/digital/mobile media, by Convention 2011.”

-What advice would you give sisters who aspire to be a part of NB one day?
“I find that the sisters that contribute the most to the board are those that are able to bring with them great life and work experiences. These experiences help us confront new situations and develop our existing programming. A lot of the things we do are works in progress; we feed off each others’ feedback and discussion. Being on National Board is a very rewarding experience because you get to take part in helping the sorority grow and as a result, we are getting noticed by many different people and recognizing our sorority for the things that we did. We need sisters to continue to give back and let us learn from their experiences to continue to expand and develop.”

By Gaoli “Chamomile” Moua, Staff Writer and Copy Editor

With the excitement of Halloween festivities comes the frustration of finding something to wear to all the costume parties. Now that it is mid-October and those parties are sprouting up right around the corner, there is little time to browse the limited assortment of costumes on store shelves. Luckily, any girl can put together a cute costume with just basic pieces of clothing by adding items found around the house for a family and work-friendly look. Although a few props may need to be made, no clothing has to be destroyed to achieve a unique look.

Try one of these looks, and you can be sure you won’t bump into someone with an identical costume.

To dress up as a superhero, first pick a color scheme. Choose a top and bottom, preferably a skirt, a belt and dark opaque tights or leggings is a must. Find a bed sheet or large piece of scrap cloth and some ribbon or string to make a cape. You will need a face mask to hide your identity and a superhero symbol to identify yourself as a legitimate mysterious hero. The superhero symbol can be made from felt or any old clothes you no longer wear; just make a design and cut it out. Click to see an example of a face mask . Attach the symbol with safety pins, put on the face mask, a pair of boots and you are complete.

To transform into a witch for the night, find an all-black outfit. Dress according to the weather. Find a dark-toned loose bed sheet or cloth big enough to act as a cape, fold the sheet 12 inches over on the top, wrap it around your shoulders and pin or tie together to complete your cape. To top it off, add the essential witch hat. Purchase of a hat is unnecessary, as there are many tutorials available online. Try this hat: http://www.ehow.com/how_4554703_witch-hat-halloween.html

A pirate hat and sword are optional when it comes to converting into a pirate. All you’ll need is to find dark bottoms, a striped shirt, bandana (preferably with skulls on it), an oversized belt and boots. You can accessorize with a DIY eye patch (see demonstration here ) and big hoop earrings.

Should you find it too tasking to put together props, you can always pull out the toilet paper and get creative in a mummy costume. Anyone with the right swagger can pull off this cute classic.

Photo credit: Gaoli Moua
Model: Katherine “Snarf” Nguyen

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POLL: What is your favorite part about Halloween? Click here to answer!

By Oanhie “Shinsen” Pham, Copy Editor

Provide healthy snacking choices this Halloween, keeping in mind the foods that help build a stronger body and better bones.

Carrots, pumpkins and cheese sticks may not sound like fun snacks to you, kids or younger family members, but you can make snacktime fun and healthy with some of these great snack ideas.

But before moving onto the recipes, here is a little tidbit about an orange vegetable that is abundant at this time of the year — pumpkins.

Halloween candy might be all over the shelves at the markets, but so are pumpkins. Pumpkins are in season and ready to be picked up from a pumpkin patch, or they can be found at a grocery store. Carve out the pumpkins for decoration and use the flesh for pumpkin pies. The flesh is not the only edible part of a pumpkin — its seeds are, too!

Pumpkin seeds are packed with nutrients that are good for the body. The seeds not only contain calcium, vitamins D and K, they are a zinc-rich food that can help prevent osteoporosis, according to www.beinghealthy.tv.

If you plan on carving pumpkins, keep the seeds to eat as a healthy snack. For those who are not feeling as creative, check out local grocery stores for ready-to-eat pumpkin seeds and you may find them with added flavors, such as green tea.

Make the fall season a little more vibrant by consuming healthy foods as snacks. And as always, consume everything in moderation.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Source: www.allrecipes.com

1. Rinse pumpkin seeds under cold water and pick out the pulp and strings. (This is easiest just after you’ve removed the seeds from the pumpkin, before the pulp has dried.)

2. Place the pumpkin seeds in a single layer on an oiled baking sheet, stirring to coat. If you prefer, omit the oil and coat with non-stick cooking spray.

3. Sprinkle with salt and bake at 325 degrees F until toasted, about 25 minutes, checking and stirring after 10 minutes.

4. Let cool and store in an air-tight container.

Pumpkin Spice Cookies

 

Source: www.allrecipes.com

(NOTE: all ovens are different, so the time you need to keep the cookies in the oven might be different from the given time)

Ingredients:

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package spice cake mix

• 1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the cake mix and pumpkin until well blended. Drop rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet.

3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Iced Pumpkin Cookies

Source: www.allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup butter, softened

• 1 1/2 cups white sugar

• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree

• 1 egg

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar

• 3 tablespoons milk

• 1 tablespoon melted butter

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves and salt; set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, blend together the 1/2 cup of butter and white sugar. Add pumpkin, egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla to butter mixture, and beat until creamy. Mix in dry ingredients. Drop on cookie sheet by tablespoonfuls; flatten slightly.

3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool cookies, then drizzle glaze with fork.

4. To make glaze: Combine confectioners’ sugar, milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add milk as needed, to achieve drizzling consistency.

Cheese-Finger Food
Source: www.familyfun.go.com

Ingredients:

• Mozzarella string cheese

• Green bell pepper (or substitute it)

• Cream cheese

Instructions:

1. Wearing plastic gloves or sandwich bags over your hands to keep the cheese as smudge-free as possible, use a paring knife to cut each string in half and then carve a shallow area for a fingernail just below the rounded end of each half.

2. Mark the joint right below the nail as well as the knuckle joint by carving out tiny horizontal wedges of cheese .

3. For the fingernails, slice a green bell pepper into 3/8-inch-wide strips. Set the strips skin side down on your work surface and trim the pulp so that it’s about half as thick. Then cut the strips into ragged-topped nail shapes and stick them in place at the ends of the fingers with dabs of cream cheese.

Carrot-Finger Food
Source: www.familyfun.go.com

Ingredients:

• Vegetable dip

• 4 long carrots

• 1 medium carrot

• Softened cream cheese

• Sliced almonds

• Baby carrots

Instructions:

1. To prepare them, just fill a serving bowl with your favorite vegetable dip. Wash and peel 4 long carrots for fingers and 1 medium carrot for a thumb.

2. With a paring knife, cut a flat, shallow notch in the tip of each carrot. Then use a dab of dip or softened cream cheese to glue a sliced-almond fingernail atop each notch.

3. Stick the fingers in the dip, as shown, and serve with plenty of peeled baby carrots for dipping

By Gaoli “Chamomile” Moua, Staff Writer and Copy Editor

While the seasons are transitioning from hot to cold with the allure of pulling out or purchasing new winter gear, being “green” should be on our minds. Being “green” starts with being organized. And while re-organizing our wardrobes, desks and lives, there are five things everyone can do to contribute to the environment while packing away the warm weather clothes.

1. Having an excessive amount of things cluttered in the bedroom or car can cause us to waste money buying things that we already have but can’t find. Sort through your things often and take inventory, then organize your things according to use. Knowing what you have and where it is can help avoid the unnecessary trips to the store and the temptation to hoard.

2. To avoid paper clutter, go paperless. Sign up to receive your bills and statements online. If you receive junk mail, recycle. It may be hard to give up the nostalgia of holding an actual newspaper or magazine, but try reading online.

Notepads and sticky notes are sometimes essential and can be hard to do without. Try using scrap paper and be sure to use both sides when possible.

3. Recycle old electronics too. Visit http://plantmyphone.com/ to see how to recycle your old, out of date or broken phones. Print a free shipping label or request a mailer bag and you’ll be helping to plant trees! Research recycling options in your area for TVs, appliances, etc before tossing them in the trash.

4. While sorting through your clothes, you will find pieces that you no longer feel attached to but are still in good condition. If you find it hard to part with your clothes when donating them, host a clothing swap party with friends. Use clothes that are stained or torn as cleaning rags.

5. Use “green” cleaners, or make your own simple cleaning solutions. The market is becoming more saturated with environmentally-friendly cleaners that be found at any store, but if you already have white vinegar at home, mix equal parts with water for an all-purpose cleaner. Click here for more homemade cleaning recipes http://tipnut.com/category/cleaning/cleaning-recipes/.

There are many benefits to being green and organized: it will allow you to achieve more by helping you see the whole picture and end result more clearly, thus helping you eliminate unnecessary tasks and simplifying your life.

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POLL: Which “green” suggestion do you already do or will most likely incorporate into your life? Click here to answer!

Sources:
http://ecopreneurist.com/
http://treehugger.com/
http://agreenliving.org/

by Lillie “Ivory” Madali, Vice President of External Affairs

Although I loved my Delta Phi Lambda sweatshirt, it was way too big for me. I run into this problem a lot for being so petite. Over the years, I’ve learned how to lemons into lemonade. Here’s how to create a tote bag out of any large sweater.

Materials Needed:
-Sweatshirt cut into 5 pieces:
- PART A – 11”H x 19”L (2)
- PART B – 5”H x 19”L (1)
- PART C – 11”H x 5”W (2)
- PART D – 15“H x 2.5”W (2)
-Yardstick
-Clear ruler
-Corner square (optional)
-Thread (color to match your sweatshirt)
-White marking stick
-Pins
-Fabric scissors
-Sewing machine
-Handles (try Joann.com)

1. Lay out your sweater on a flat surface. Using a ruler and the white marker, measure and mark the center of the Phi with a cross hatch.

2. For a bag that is 18” in length, we are going to add 1” for a ½” seam allowance on both sides. From the center point, measure 9 ½” on both sides and mark both ends.
3. For a bag that is 10” in height, add 1” for a ½” seam allowance on both sides. From the center point, measure 5 ½” on both sides and mark both ends.
4. Using the corner square, link the points and outline a rectangle. We will call this, part A.

5. Using the clear ruler, measure ½” inside the rectangle and mark a line for sewing the seams. You can do this on both sides.
6. Using the bottom part of part A, we are going to create the bottom of the tote bag. We already have the 19” outlined, so just measure 5” down and connect the lines to create the rectangle. Mark the ½” seam allowance for this piece as well. This will be part B.
7. Cut one sleeve of the sweatshirt off. Measure a rectangle of 11” x 5” for the sides of the tote. This will be part C.
8. Using the other sleeve, measure 2-rectangles of 15”H x 2.5”W. This will be part D.
9. Cut all of the pieces out.

10. Pin one piece of part C to part A with the outer-facing parts facing each other. Pin the fabric together so that they are 1” or 2” apart from each other and perpendicular to the seam. Sew these parts together. Pin the other part of part C to the other piece of part A. Make sure that all seams line up to make the tote bag.

11. Sew all parts C and A together so that they are 4 panels together alternating: A-C-A-C. But, make sure that you do not sew all the edges together.

12. Line up part B, the bottom portion of the tote bag, with one of the four panels. Pin and sew each side.
13. After you have sewn all the sides to the 4 panels, sew the remaining portion of the A-C-A-C panel.
14. Iron the seams flat and turn the tote bag inside-out.

15. The top of the tote bag has an unfinished seam, so iron the top of the tote bag down about ½”. Top stitch the top of the tote bag.

16. Iron the corners of the tote bag and pin the corners in order to keep the fabric together. Top stitch the sides of the tote bag.

17. For handles, you can buy plastic handles and sew part D over it. Leave a 1 ½” at the ends of part D so that you’ll have room to sew the handles down to the bag.

You’re done! Use your tote bag for magazines and all your must have items for the day. Enjoy!

By: Christine “ECKO” Ho, Staff writer

Religion is one of the largest parts of our lives ― the part that can create or break the foundation that we stand on. Whether or not we follow God, a god, many gods, or no god, each religion (or lack thereof) has its rules and structure.

Religion has been the source of both creation and destruction throughout history. Religion creates faith, but the same faith is also what causes wars. There are people who believe in only one type of faith, and endorse it ― whether it is by word of mouth or through sword. Why does religion have such a big impact on life and culture? With so many existing religions and their denominations, I will only be talking about some of them that have made any sort of difference in sisters’ lives.

Rosalie “Micro” Zoleta has been Catholic ever since she was baptized — before she was even a year old. Without having chosen her own religion, she is still faithful to Catholicism to this day. A majority of her family is also Catholic, with an uncle who is a bishop and two other uncles who are pastors in their Catholic church in Chicago. Zoleta plans to continue her faith in her family, baptizing her children when they are born. She also believes in original sin, the idea that human beings are born without holiness and with the capacity to sin. Catholicism is steeped in tradition and history, and has a culture of its own. Zoleta particularly believes in the Ten Commandments — to not take God’s name in vain, and also in predestination. God has a plan — whether good or bad — and all are meant to follow that path.

Diana “Siren” Chanthaboury practices the Buddhist faith. Buddhism, having originated in Asia, is a major source of not only religion, but lifestyle for some. She went to the temple at least once or twice a month when she was younger, but cannot anymore due to her schedule. Although not as avid as she used to be, she still tries to follow the basic principles and lessons of Buddhism. Because the monks preach in Laotian in a more advanced vocabulary than she can understand, it is hard for her to ask her parents to translate while the monks are preaching. Chanthaboury wants to educate herself further in Buddhism in order to teach her own children the religion and the ways of being a Buddhist.

Another sister, Nishita “Catalyst” Lad, has been practicing her religion ever since she was born. Lad’s entire family follows the doctrine of Hinduism, which makes it hard to learn about other religions. She said her parents would not approve of her changing to another religion. Being Hindu has influenced Lad’s life in many ways. For example, what she eats or cannot eat is mostly due to her religion, not personal preference. Red meat is not allowed in the diet, narrowing Lad’s choice of food. Karma is also a common word, used every day by people of other religious denominations. However, karma is a significant part of Lad’s belief, making each and every action potentially harmful or beneficial. Hinduism has a base of family; their ceremonies, rituals and holidays are about the family getting together, spending time with one another and bonding with the members of their families.

One might say that Catholicism and Hinduism are on different sides of the spectrum, and he/she would be right. However, every religion has some common factors with another religion. Both Zoleta and Lad have never explored the option of looking at other religions, because they are satisfied with their own. However, both are open to the option of learning, even if there is no option of conversion.

The purpose of this article is not to endorse any specific religions, but for sisters and anyone else to learn about different religions. Different religions exist in order to fit a person’s lifestyle, different beliefs and different families. However, it is only when we come to understand the structure behind different religions that we come to truly understand our own faith. It might be because you disagree with certain aspects of the other religions, or simply because you feel that yours is best for you. Religion is a sensitive topic and something akin to a ticking bomb, but being sisters has opened the path to learning about each other without the chance of offending others. I encourage every sister out there to get to know a religion that is not her own, to expand the size of her comfort zone and get to the root of people’s faiths.

Annual Report:

The 2009-2010 Annual Report is available for viewing online. Click to view a report on Aspirations, a finance report and more!

AFA Annual Meeting
The National Executive Board is making plans to attend the Association of Fraternity & Sorority Advisors Annual Meeting. which will be held December 1-5 at the downtown Sheraton Phoenix. The NAPA retreat will be held on the Saturday of AFA’s Annual Meeting. If anyone will be in that area, please let us know so we can meet to celebrate Founder’s Day!

Questions?
With the start of the new school year, the national board has been bombarded by questions. Sisters, please use the following as a guide so you know who to direct your questions to.

national@deltaphilambda.org
- General inquiries

vp.internal@deltaphilambda.org
- AME questions

vp.external@deltaphilambda.org
- Expansion questions
- Marketing committee
- Delta Phi Lambda Foundation interests

vp.finance@deltaphilambda.org
- Dues questions
- Insurance questions

vp.records@deltaphilambda.org
- Aspirations questions
- Nickname/Class Names

midwest.governor@deltaphilambda.org
- OM Questions

mission@deltaphilambda.org
- 3 C’s Questions
- BFF Questions

alumnae@deltaphilambda.org
- Alumnae involvement

newsletter@deltaphilambda.org
- Getting involved with the newsletter
- Making an announcement