Life has been busy. Last week, we adopted another puppy, in addition to the one who is 18-months-old. When we adopted Coco, the brown dog, after the death of the 14-year-old rat terrier, we told ourselves we’d forgotten how much work a puppy is. We said the same thing this week and it hasn’t been that long since we were training a puppy. I think we’re just a lot more forgetful.
Max is the black puppy. He’s about 4-months-old. Coco is about 18-months-old.
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Three years ago, Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, issued a mandate that all single-sex fraternities and sororities become coed. Please note that there are already coed GLO options available on campus. The effort was recently abandoned due to little being done to abide by it and a loss of donation income by those opposed to the action. Former Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift, an initiate of Trinity College’s Kappa Kappa Gamma chapter, withheld donations because of the coed edict. She was aware that her chapter would be forced to close or lose its affiliation with Kappa Kappa Gamma if the edict had been successful. She stated in a news article, “I think there were a lot of alumni like myself trying to get the administration to look beyond stereotypes and understand the significant value of all women, single-sex institutions … It was a really important part of my undergraduate career, and I believe it served that role for other women.”
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Congratulations to Delta Gamma Dani Weatherford, who was recently appointed the Executive Director of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC). She will begin her work with the organization on Oct. 1, 2015. Weatherford replaced Alpha Chi Omega Nicki Meneley, who. earlier this summer, joined the Fraternity Executive’s Association (FEA) as its Chief Executive Officer. Best wishes to both women as they begin new adventures.
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On Sept. 18, the United State Postal Service will begin selling Paul Newman stamps! http://phitau.co/1Jzl3hb (Newman was initiated into the Ohio University chapter of Phi Kappa Tau.)
9/6/1901 The Ekklesia (convention) moves to a theater so President McKinley can use the convention hall for lunch. Hours later he is assassinated.
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The #Beatles on 1964 U.S. tour depart Denver Airport after concert with #PhiKappaPsi record album in hand.
The #Beatles in Denver on same U.S. tour stayed in same hotel hosting 8/25-29/1964 #PhiKappaPsi GAC (convention) at same time
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Alysia Kezerian, University of Oregon Chapter President, at the Craig Rehabiliation Hospital in Denver, Colorado. (Photo courtesy of Pi Beta Phi)
Alysia Kezerian, the President of the University of Oregon’s Pi Beta Phi chapter attended Pi Phi’s convention in Chicago this summer. When Libbie, the Ring Ching Roadshow car, made its debut at the final banquet, Kezerian likely had no idea that one of the car’s first visits would be a special one just for her. On August 2, 2015, she was severely injured in a rock climbing accident. While driving Libbie to the west coast for a series of appearances, Pi Phi’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Eily Cummings, stopped in Denver and spoke with Kezerian, who is recovering at Criag Rehabilitation Hospital. Cumming’s blog post is at http://ringchingroadshow.org/2015/09/04/i-want-to-finish-what-i-started/
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The Alpha Sigma Alpha chapter at Murray State University recently made news for pledging Alexis Cain. Cain is enrolled in Murray State’s College to Career program. It is a part of the Comprehensive Transition Program or SHEP Program (Supported Higher Education Project). The program allows students with intellectual disabilities to be enrolled in higher education, making use of Pell grants, KEES money, or federal work study without the requirement of having earned a high school diploma.
Cain has Down Syndrome and became the first woman on the Murray State campus to pledge a sorority. Given that most, if not all, National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) organizations have rules and regulations about membership qualifications (matriculated students only and a minimum GPA), it is refreshing to note that Cain was able to meet the requirements of membership. I hope she and her chapter sisters know that they are charting new territory and my best wishes for a wonderful experience all around!
© Fran Becque, www.fraternityhistory.com, 2015. All rights reserved. If you enjoyed this post, please sign up for updates. Also follow me on twitter @GLOHistory and Pinterest www.pinterest.com/glohistory/
