Alpha Xi Delta - University of South Dakota

Epsilon Calls Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Xi Delta • University of South Dakota • Fall 2021 NEW YEAR, NEW OPPORTUNITIES How You Can Get Involved in Making an Everlasting Impact in Epsilon A school year brings its own excitement and challenges, especially following a year that had many pandemic restrictions. The challenges are real both for the chapter and the Corporation Board. The last school year ended with a higher-than- normal number of chapter members graduating. Many members thrived with virtual education; so much so, they achieved an accelerated graduation. If the pandemic brought any joy, it was allowing many of our sisters to graduate early and get a jumpstart on their futures. More graduates mean less members, however, which resulted in a loss of 24 members, not including the number of students who are full- time practice teaching or in internships away from campus their senior year. As a result, the fall semester started with the chapter house well below capacity. This fall, only 138 students elected to go through formal recruitment with 96 pledging. All four chapters met quota, which was set at 23. In comparison to three years ago, 238 students went through recruitment with 185 pledging and a quota of 44 for all four sororities on campus. The chapter is continuing to recruit through the continuous open bidding process and working with sophomore pledges to allow them to move into the house next semester. We are blessed to have a wonderful group of women in the house, and we are confident that things will turn around. Because nationwide sorority and fraternity recruitment numbers are down, we encourage you, as alumnae, to share your sisterhood experience with high school students. Spread the word about how Greek life impacted you and your future! I know that my college experience was enhanced by my membership, and I would have never formulated many lifelong friendships without this experience. We have had over 70 Epsilon alumnae volunteer as Alumnae Aunts. This is AmaXIng! In an effort to provide the most useful knowledge, we have attempted to match them according to major. We want to be mentors to these bright, ambitious young women—we've seen our brother fraternities excel in mentorship programs, and now is our chance! We want to elevate their college experience and help them make connections that are an asset to their membership and careers. Thank you to these sisters who have taken on this role of sharing lifelong sisterhood! We have been challenged to strengthen our alumnae connection to the chapter. The Alumnae Aunts are a great resource, but more can be done. We would like to start a nationally chartered Epsilon Alumnae Chapter. Since we cover four states nearby and have alumnae throughout the country who continue to support the chapter and the Corporation Board, we do not want to limit it to a city or an area. We are looking for a group of volunteers to lead this effort. Please contact me at the email or telephone below if you are willing to take part in this effort! We appreciate all that you have done to support the Corporation Board, the Coming Home campaign, and the chapter. We ask that you consider continuing to help us in one of these three ways: 1. Contribute to the USD Foundation with $50, $100, or more for Alpha Xi Delta Scholarships. These scholarships help with room and board. Many of our sister sororities on the USD campus offer similar scholarships to their members. As a reminder, please make sure to write the donation to Alpha Xi Delta Scholarship Funds so the USD Foundation knows your intent. 2. Join with our one of our generous alumnae in contributing to complete the chapter room. 3. Volunteer to serve on one of the Corporation Board committees or the Board of Directors, take part in helping organize the Epsilon Alumnae Chapter, or aid in advising or providing a chapter program. We would love to hear from you and will collaborate to find a spot that interests you! Yours in Alpha Xi, Kim Jensen Dietrich '87 President of Alpha Xi Corporation of Vermillion, S.D. | (605) 201-3561 axid.epsilon.corpboard@gmail.com THE WAIT WAS WORTH IT In-Person Events Allow for Traditional Epsilon Experience S o far, this semester has been amazing for Epsilon Chapter. With COVID-19 regulations subsiding, we are finally getting back to normal on campus. We had great success in recruitment, gaining 21 sisters on Bid Day with an additional five since then. From what I've heard, these ladies are thrilled to be in the chapter and learn more about our values, traditions, and sisterhood. Continued on page 2 Sisters at Big/Little reveal—it's the little that makes life so big!

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