THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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PAGE 2A
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The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of The Kansan are 50 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at the Kansan business office, 2051A Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS, 66045.
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The University Daily Kansan (ISSN 0746-4967) is published daily during the school year except Friday, Saturday, Sunday, fall break, spring break and exams and weekly during the summer session excluding holidays. Annual subscriptions by mail are $250 plus tax. Send address changes to The University Daily Kansan, 2051A Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue.
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013
Sunday
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Check out KUJH-TV on Knology of Kansas Channel 31 in Lawrence for more on what you've read in today's Kansan and other news. Also see KUJH's website at tvku.edu
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KANSAN MEDIA PARTNERS
Saturday
It's beginning to look a lot like finals.
Thursday, Dec. 5
**What:** Disability, Emancipation and the U.S. Civil War
**When:** 4 p.m.
**Where:** Spooner Hall, The Commons
**About:** Lecture with David Roediger from the Bold Aspirations visitor and lecture series
Friday, Dec. 6
**wnat:** Is Western Science an Indigenous Knowledge?
**When:** 10 a.m.
**Where:** Spooner Hall, The Commons
**About:** Public event with senior research scientist Jorge Soberon from the Idea Cafe
What: The City Dark. A Search for Night on a Planet that Never Sleeps
When: 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: 2001 Malott Hall
About: Award-winning documentary film
Saturday, Dec. 7
What: Art Cart: African Masquerade
When: Noon to 4 p.m.
Where: Spencer Museum of Art
About: Mask-making activities to learn about African art
What: Study Abroad Orientation
When: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Budig Hall, East Lobby
About: Orientation for winter, spring and spring break study abroad participants
CAMPUS
What: Jazz Border Showdown
When: 8 to 9:30 p.m.
Where: American Jazz Museum in Kansas City, Mo.
About: Battle of the bands between University of Kansas Jazz Ensemble I and University of Missouri Jazz Band
Sunday, Dec. 8
What: Holiday Vespers
When: 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Where: Lied Center
About: Concert presented by the School of Music
Cost: $11 student
Sigma Delta Tau chapter suspends operations
KAITLYN KLEIN
kklein@kansan.com
Though the sorority community grew this fall with a record number of women attending fall formal recruitment, next year's women will have one less chapter to visit.
The Beta Chi chapter of Sigma Delta Tau has suspended its operations and will not return until spring of 2016.
Maggie Young, the University's Panhellenic Association president, said it is important for all the sororities on campus to be successful because the goal of Panhellenic is to ensure the success of all women who join the Greek community.
irs always unfortunate to lose a part of the Panhellenic community, but we're hoping the three-year dormant period will allow SDT to rejoin the community in 2016 with a stronger presence than ever before," Young said in an email.
LEADING THE CHAPTER
THROUGH TOUGH TIMES
Megan Lounds didn't go through fall formal recruitment. She didn't even think she wanted to be in a sorority until her sophomore year when she hadn't yet found a place to call home at the University.
After attending several informal recruitment events, like many women on campus, Lounds found her place in one of the chapters because she felt comfortable with the members.
She pledged herself to Sigma Delta Tau and it became her home away from home.
However, Lounds said it's hard to pinpoint what went wrong to bring them to the point of stepping back.
"It was my niche in the Panhellenic world," Lounds said. "I'm really thankful that I found it."
Sigma Delta Tau struggled with Panhellenic recruitment's record number of women. Sigma Delta Tau's 52 members stood out next to most other chapters that had more than 150 members.
She said it was difficult, but it was the best thing for the organization after it fell short of its recruitment goals and struggled to grow for the last few years.
Lounds is Sigma Delta Tau's current president and she oversaw the chapter through making the decision to suspend operations.
"It it just didn't work out, which is upsetting, but I've kind of learned to live with it." Lounds said. "We got here and it's OK."
HOW THEY GOT HERE
"It was no secret, even to me as a member, that we were the smallest chapter," Lounds said.
She noticed that there was a misperception of Sigma Delta Tau and what kind of women it invites into its organization.
Though Jewish women founded the sorority, the rumor that only Jewish women are accepted is just not true. Lounds said.
She said she knows there were other rumors circulating and negativity that didn't help them with recruitment, but there wasn't one specific thing she could say that hurt Sigma Delta Tau's reputation.
"They just don't know." Lounds said. "And that's partially on us not educating about what our chapter is - that's on us."
MAKING THE FINAL DECISION
As the leader of the chapter, Lounds had to have serious discussions about Sigma Delta Tau's status and what the best step forward would be.
When the discussions started. Lounds had to shield her chapter until they felt a change had to be made.
"These are my best friends - my sisters - I wanted to tell them as soon as I could." Lounds said.
Chapter members wrote letters to the national organization about the future of the chapter and how they felt so the decision to suspend wasn't a shock to its members.
Debbie Snyder, Sigma Delta Tau's executive director at the national level, said the national organization was working closely with the University chapter of Sigma Delta Tau, but numbers continued to drop.
The support the women received from nationals helped the women cope with the decision, Lounds said.
"We definitely hope to come back on campus in 2016 and make a positive difference in the Greek community and campus community," Snyder said.
Some women even recommended it.
The decision allows the chapter to have a fresh start when it returns, Snyder said.
An article published Dec. 4 about Muslim students at the University incorrectly described Moussa Elbayoumy as the
Lounds said she understands that students in and out of Greek life might not get why the chapter made this decision, but she knows it's the best decision they could've made.
"We aren't ashamed of suspending operations;" Lounds said. "It's
"Even though we were upset, it wasn't devastating," Lounds said.
Correction
SEE SORORITY PAGE 7A
EMILY WITTLER/KANSAN
director of the Islamic Center of Lawrence. He is currently the community outreach coordinator for the center, not the director.
Megan Lounds, president of the Beta Chi chapter of Sigma Delta Tau, said the sorority will rejoin the greek community in Spring 2016.
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