Chi Omega opts for retreat, no date parties
Marieke van der Vaart
Issue date: 9/10/09 Section: News
Chi Omega sorority sisters won't be hosting an informal or date party this semester - instead they'll be celebrating the renewed and energized vision of their house.
The campus sorority paid for 36 of its members to attend a retreat this past weekend to build unity and solidarity in the house.
"It's a great way to start the year," Dean of Women Diane Philipp said. "They just wanted to get better and get the year started right."
In order to rent out Michindoh Conference Center and pay for the facilities, the sorority dipped into their social fund - and spent all of it.
"Using your social fund says a big statement - they're focusing on their purpose," Panhellenic Council Adviser Joanna Wiseley said.
The sisters spent time analyzing challenges to their vision and purpose on Friday night and spent Saturday and Sunday trying to address those problems and find creative solutions to them when they weren't enjoying the waterslide or taking a hay ride together.
"The water slide was amazing. It was the best weekend, the best it could've been," junior Maura Altham said. "We left the retreat so unified. We're all looking towards the same goals."
Although fraternities and sororities sometimes have day-long retreats at the beginning of the semester, Dean of Men Aaron Petersen said the Chi Omega retreat was unusual because of its length and because the sorority paid for the retreat with its social fund. It was also his first sorority retreat.
"They teased me about that," Petersen said, laughing. "'Have you had enough estrogen for two days?'"
Chi Omega President Brooke Olesen, a senior, said she hoped the retreat would get the house members on the same page.
"I thought it would be really good for our chapter - to refocus," she said before the retreat. "We'll be talking a lot about the roadblocks to being the best we can be."
Wiseley said the retreat did exactly that.
"It infused energy and recommitted everyone to the standards of Chi Omega," she said.
Although some sisters at first were disappointed about the changes to their social calendar, Altham said the house banded together after the retreat.
"In the long run it's going to be much more beneficial than a night of dancing or karaoke ever would," Olesen said.
36 of the 44 Chi Omega sisters and seven advisers attended the retreat.
The campus sorority paid for 36 of its members to attend a retreat this past weekend to build unity and solidarity in the house.
"It's a great way to start the year," Dean of Women Diane Philipp said. "They just wanted to get better and get the year started right."
In order to rent out Michindoh Conference Center and pay for the facilities, the sorority dipped into their social fund - and spent all of it.
"Using your social fund says a big statement - they're focusing on their purpose," Panhellenic Council Adviser Joanna Wiseley said.
The sisters spent time analyzing challenges to their vision and purpose on Friday night and spent Saturday and Sunday trying to address those problems and find creative solutions to them when they weren't enjoying the waterslide or taking a hay ride together.
"The water slide was amazing. It was the best weekend, the best it could've been," junior Maura Altham said. "We left the retreat so unified. We're all looking towards the same goals."
Although fraternities and sororities sometimes have day-long retreats at the beginning of the semester, Dean of Men Aaron Petersen said the Chi Omega retreat was unusual because of its length and because the sorority paid for the retreat with its social fund. It was also his first sorority retreat.
"They teased me about that," Petersen said, laughing. "'Have you had enough estrogen for two days?'"
Chi Omega President Brooke Olesen, a senior, said she hoped the retreat would get the house members on the same page.
"I thought it would be really good for our chapter - to refocus," she said before the retreat. "We'll be talking a lot about the roadblocks to being the best we can be."
Wiseley said the retreat did exactly that.
"It infused energy and recommitted everyone to the standards of Chi Omega," she said.
Although some sisters at first were disappointed about the changes to their social calendar, Altham said the house banded together after the retreat.
"In the long run it's going to be much more beneficial than a night of dancing or karaoke ever would," Olesen said.
36 of the 44 Chi Omega sisters and seven advisers attended the retreat.
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