Greek life is about being involved in the community, according to Ashley McCullough, Alpha Sigma Alpha president and senior communications major. Kappa Sigma President and junior history major Kyle Lococo says it’s about a bond that you form with your brothers in a fraternity.
“It’s more just like a choice that you make when you get here to join something more than just you in college and get away from the normal experience,” Lococo said.
McCullough said Alpha Sigma Alpha’s core values are generosity, growth, responsibility, enjoyment, relationships and learning balance and integrity.
“By keeping those in mind, it just really helps you to be an overall well rounded person and really caring of everybody else,” McCullough said.
There are 59 members in the sorority and McCullough said one of their goals right now is recruiting more girls. She said they are also focusing on encouraging members to get involved in more activities and keeping a strong sisterhood.
The sorority had its district convention in Kansas City this past weekend and some of the girls participated in the Polar Bear Plunge to support Special Olympics on Feb. 20. Alpha Sigma Alpha is also participating in the Lyon County Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society on April 23.
“(Relay for Life) is a fundraiser for the Cancer Society and we have a team called the ‘hard working hippies’ and we just raise money and then we walk from 5 p.m. until 6 in the morning, just to raise awareness and help support the cancer association,” McCullough said.
Freshman English major Katie Galliart said she joined Alpha Sigma Alpha even though she wasn’t sure about being involved in the Greek system. She said the girls were very welcoming and when she walked into the house “it felt like home.”
“I’d seen a lot of TV shows and movies and I was like I don’t know about sororities and stuff but I went over to the house and everybody just seemed really nice,” Galliart said.
Lococo said that Kappa Sigma’s core values center around serving the community. He said it’s important to help out because the fraternity wants to give back to those that help them.
“These are people that we actually spend time with that help us, that help out the community and make sure that this campus continues to run, so we want to give back to them and help them out as best as we can,” Lococo said.
The fraternity gave carnations to the elderly on Valentine’s Day and they are going to Village Elementary School on Monday to play dodge ball and hang out with the kids.
Lococo said the boys are also working to stop the Emporia School Board from making cuts to the music program.
“We’re having a showing at the hearing to try and to show them that even though it’s meant for the elementary schools that the kids of this campus aren’t going to stand for it,” Lococo said. “We feel like those kids need the right education. Even those of us who aren’t specifically in the music program feel that that’s a huge part of their education and they should be allowed to get that the right way.”
Lococo said athletics are important to Kappa Sigma. He said one of the fraternity’s goals is to win a sports championship yearly.
“We’re big into the sports, we compete in (Intrafraternity Council) sports and we usually win that every year,” said Jake Winkler, Kappa Sigma treasurer and sophomore pre-physical therapy major.
Lococo said some other goals they have are to improve their GPA and do more community service than is required.
Lococo said he got involved with Greek life because he came to Emporia not knowing many people. He said when he went to the house for the first time, he connected with everyone.
“Everyone had the same interests I did, did the same kind of stuff I did, and then just getting to know those guys just created a great bond,” Lococo said.
New Alexander, the Elephant Who Couldn’t Eat Peanuts DVDs Help Children With Food Allergies.
Health & Medicine Week February 25, 2008 The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) is proud to announce the release of two animated DVDs that both entertain and educate children about food allergies. Alexander, the Elephant Who Couldn’t Eat Peanuts … Goes to School and Alexander, the Elephant Who Couldn’t Eat Peanuts … Gets a Babysitter help children cope with their own allergies and teach other children about tolerance. Both videos combine colorful animation with interviews of real-life children with food allergies who talk about their experiences (see also Allergies). site newly released dvds
Most children are apprehensive about starting school, but for children with food allergies, it can be an even more threatening experience. Alexander the Elephant Who Couldn’t Eat Peanuts … Goes to School is designed to make it easier for them. Alexander faces his first day of kindergarten with trepidation, but thanks to his bus driver, Mariel, who also has an allergy, he is encouraged to tell his new classmates about his peanut allergy. As he makes his presentation to the class, he discovers that his new friends not only accept his condition, but also are eager to learn about it and help him stay safe.
Alexander, the Elephant Who Couldn’t Eat Peanuts … Gets a Babysitter deals with a common worry that children with food allergies face: being left in the care of someone other than their parents. They are anxious about whether someone else can keep them safe from harmful foods and will know what to do in an emergency. Alex discovers just how much fun having a babysitter can be after his parents teach her all about his food allergies.
The first Alexander video, Alexander the Elephant Who Couldn’t Eat Peanuts, introduced youngsters to Alexander 10 years ago. It was an engaging award winner that won critical acclaim from young viewers, parents, and educators. Children watched it over and over. That video spun off a series of books featuring Alexander and his friends, which has won its own awards. To date, there are 13 books in the series that examine how children with food allergies can stay safe while going out to eat, attending school, riding on an airplane, and going to a birthday party. All are beautifully illustrated in full color and are written for children ages 2 through 7 years. website newly released dvds
Food allergy is a potentially fatal condition that affects more than 12 million Americans, or 1 in 25 – and 1 in 17 under age 3. It results in more than 30,000 emergency room visits each year and 150 to 200 deaths, which sometimes occur within minutes. The incidence of food allergy has doubled in the last 10 years, and scientists aren’t sure why. Eight foods account for 90 percent of all food-allergic reactions in the U.S.: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish. There is no known cure; strict avoidance is the only way to prevent a reaction.
“If the 3.1 million U.S. children who have food allergy were surveyed to find out their heroes, it’s a good bet that Alexander the Elephant would figure prominently on that list,” remarks Munoz-Furlong. “This charming pachyderm has shown them that they are not alone.” The original and current Alexander DVDs are produced by Susan Leavitt of Time Frame Productions, Inc., who has produced all of FAAN’s educational videos. The animators are Bill and Colleen Davis of Artbear Pigmation, who have worked on projects for Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow, and Nickelodeon, among many other clients. The newly released DVDs were funded by an educational grant from Triad Foundation. Alexander DVDs can be ordered at www.foodallergy.org or (800) 929-4040.
