wednesday, february 4, 2004
news
the university daily kansan 34
3A
Greek life makes move easier for transfer students
By Azita Tafreshi
atafreshi@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
When Sally Hardiman transferred to the University of Kansas from Pepperdine University last August, she had some big changes to adjust to — about 22,000, in fact.
The Wichita sophomore had spent her first year of college in Malibu, Calif., as a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority at a campus with only 3,000 undergraduate students. When she moved to KU's much larger campus, Hardman said the prospect of a sea of unfamiliar faces on campus was intimidating.
"When you're walking on campus at Pepperdine, you've at least seen the person walking next to you." Hardman said. "I was afraid I wouldn't have that at all here."
It was the opportunity to live in her sorority house, yet another change from life at her west coast school, she said, that made the campus seem less overwhelming. Hardman said none of the sororities or fraternities at Pepperdine have houses because of a Malibu law that prohibits more than six unrelated people of the same sex from living together. For Hardman, being able to live in the house has been her favorite part of transferring.
Lindsav Gold/Kansan photo
"I feel like I've gotten to know the girls a lot faster because I'm around them so often, which I love," she said.
Every semester students transfer into the greek community at KU, and the immediate connections they form there often ease their transition. Although chapters are different at every university, coming into a fraternity or sorority can make the task of starting over in a new place seem less daunting.
Sophomores Parul Gor, Olathe; Sally Hardman, Andover; and Lindsay McCracken, Overland Park; comment on a dress worn by a candidate on the television show Top Model/last night in their room in the Delta Delta Delta sorority house. Hardman, who transferred from Pepperdine University to be closer to her family, said that she is happy at the University of Kansas and her sorority house. "The girls are all really laid back and totally easy to talk to and very accepting," she said.
"The automatic similarity that you share with someone allows you to get to know people easier," Christina Strubbe, Leawood sophomore, said.
Strubbe, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, transferred from Kansas State University last fall. As vice president of Educational Programs and Scholarships for the Panhellenic Executive Board, Strubbe said because each member of the board was from a different house, she also gets the opportunity to know a variety of Greek women.
over of the greek community, whereas in Manhattan she felt like she had to be in a sorority to feel included.
"I didn't rush here, so I might have been a Kappa, but I might have been something else," Strubbe said. "Being on Panhelenic makes me feel like I'm a part of all the houses."
Strubbe said she also feels like there are more social opportunities in Lawrence regardless of whether someone is a mem-
"Lawrence just has a lot more going on," Strubbe said. "It's more open to diversity, and when you go out, you interact with people who aren't just greets."
but not every aspect of greek life at KU is a positive change for transfer students. Stuart Ashley, Olathe junior, transferred from the University of Southern California, where he said the university was more accepting of greeks.
"There's a little bit of hatred here, I feel, towards greeks," Ashley said, "which is the polar opposite from S.C."
Ashley said fraternity life at KU was more of a lifestyle choice that requires a higher level of commitment, from the pledging process to the number of actives who live in the house.
"Out there it was more of a social club that put a fraternity name on it," Ashley said. "Here, it's more of a traditional fraternity."
Laura Cripple, assistant coordinator for Fraternity and Sorority Life, said one of the most unique aspects of greek life at the University was that it had a strong sense of tradition.
"If you don't come from a school that's so traditions oriented, that can be something to
adjust to, but a lot of people really
detain that, appealing. "Cried said,
"Yes."
When Morgan Smith decided not to join KU's Chi Omega chapter upon transferring from Emporia State in spring 2003, it wasn't because she wasn't accustomed to a sorority rich in tradition.
"I didn't affiliate only for the
sheer fact that they weren't my sisters from Emporia. They're my sisters nationwide, but I just wouldn't have felt like it was the same," the Paola senior said.
Despite these differences, Ashley said being a member of the greek community propelled his involvement in the University.
"Moving into a house that I liked was kind of like instant connections, as opposed to coming in as a junior and feeling like you're completely starting over," Ashley said. "So it was definitely a good thing."
- Edited by Paul Kramer
Benefit concert second part of funding for Hawk House
By Steve Vockrodt svockrodt@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Habitat for Humanity will use proceeds from a victorious aluminum can collection competition last fall and a concert tomorrow night at Abe and Jake's Landing to build a home for a Lawrence family.
The University of Kansas chapter of Habitat for Humanity will team with the Lawrenceee
chapter to start construction on The Hawk House this fall.
"We're really excited, this is really one of the biggest fund-raising projects they've done," said Linda Klinker, program director for the Lawrence chapter of Habitat of Humanity.
The Hawk House will be built for a Lawrence family that will be selected after construction is completed.
The house will cost approximately $55,000.
The University's chapter won the competition and a $5,000 grant for defeating the Kansas State University chapter in the can collecting competition. The University's chapter will continue to pick up cans to raise money until the $55,000 goal is reached.
Klinker said she expected a lot of donations for the construction of The Hawk House. The University chapter already received, also by donation, the
land for construction at 25th and Harper streets.
The University's chapter is putting together tomorrow night's concert.
Katey Birge, Habitat for Humanity member and Denver sophomore, said the concert was expected to make a significant contribution to the overall fund.
The organization must still continue to raise funds with activities such as car washes and business donations.
"We're excited for this house. It will be KU Habitat For Humanity's first house," Klinker said.
Habitat for Humanity will hold a public meeting in March to select the family for The Hawk House.
The process for determining the family mandates that the family be able to afford $430 mortgage payments, and they must also have previous residence in
Douglas County.
Tomorrow evening's concert will take place at 7 p.m. at Abe and Jake's Landing, 8 E. Sixth St.
The bands playing at the concert are The Billros, The Missing Trio, The Unit, The Mark Lyda Combo and 2 Ta Tango.
Tickets are $5 and available at the door.
— Edited by Paul Kramer