Gamma Phi Beta - University of Kansas

GAMMA PHI BETA 3 T he story of Barney Graham, M.D. and Cynthia Turner-Graham, M.D. is a heartening one. Their trials, tribulations, and accomplishments are proof that not all paths are easily forged. One woman in particular, Florence Harkrader Hastings 1916, exhibited kindness and support toward the Grahams that we can all learn from as well. More recently, Barney has been an instrumental asset to the development of the COVID-19 vaccine; the thorough research and ingenuity by him and his colleagues led to the structure of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Cynthia devotes her life to the study of psychiatry and mental health, which couldn't be more prevalent given the ongoing pandemic and its impacts on our lives. Together, these two have made an insurmountable difference to not only individuals, but also to Americans nationwide. There's more to Barney and Cynthia's story, as their path to marriage is inspiring in its own way; and it was Barney's grandmother, Florence, who gave them the confidence to let their love speak for itself. After Florence's undergraduate years at the University of Kansas, where she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta, she graduated and followed her dreams, briefly designing costumes for glamorous Hollywood films. That was until Fred Hastings lost his first wife, Myrtle, to the Spanish Flu in 1918. Over a year later, Fred and Florence had started a life together in Pratt, Kansas. Not long before Barney and Cynthia first met, the Civil Rights Movement reignited racial unrest from state-to-state, but especially in the southern and Midwest regions of the county. They faced backlash from peers for becoming an interracial couple in 1978, which was quite uncommon at the time. This was a worrisome, frustrating time for the two of them; both on the cusp of their careers, Barney and Cynthia dealt with hurdles that couples of the same race would never have considered. Barney's and Cynthia's parents were also reluctant to accept their relationship; while they supported their love for one another, they feared the hardships the couple and their future children would face down the line. That didn't stop Barney and Cynthia. They continued to pursue their relationship despite everyone's comments and concerns. During her first visit to Pratt to meet Barney's grandparents, Cynthia was fascinated. Florence retrieved a stack of photos and excitedly shared her family stories, and Cynthia was most struck by the photo of Florence's wedding attire–a flapper dress. To Cynthia, this was a sign that Florence was an advocate for being free and being yourself, regardless of society's standards. Florence's heart and openness struck a harmonious chord in Barney and Cynthia's relationship, as she was the first to fully and publicly support their union. Her overwhelming acceptance of the couple convinced their parents to jump on board, so Barney and Cynthia sought out a pastor for marriage. Over 40 years later, Barney and Cynthia remain happily married. Without Florence's kindness and receptiveness, Barney's and Cynthia's stories could have taken much different routes. There's something we can all take from Florence and implement into our everyday lives, whether it's deciding which career to choose, where to start a family, or even what clothes to wear: do what's best for you. People are always going to have their own thoughts, preferences, or judgments. We can all take a note from Florence's book to be kind and chase dreams. To read more about Dr. Graham and Dr. Turner- Graham and their contributions to KU and the world, read their spotlight article at https:// kansasalumnimagazine.org/make-the-dream-work. T he Affiliated House Corporation Board of Gamma Phi Beta experienced a monumental change earlier this year when our faithful chairwoman, Betty Hailey Crooker '57, retired after 40 years of dedicated service to Sigma Chapter. We are thankful to Betty and all the other Gamma Phi Beta alumnae who dedicate their time and energy to ensure the smooth operations of Sigma Chapter. We are delighted to dedicate this newsletter to Betty and hope you enjoy reading more about her Gamma Phi Beta story. Moving forward, Betty will serve as an emeritus member, and we are so fortunate to have her continued involvement. Filling Betty's role is Elizabeth Bickley '82. Elizabeth has served on the house corporation board for five years and is an active education and recruitment advisor. We are very excited to welcome Elizabeth to her new role and thank her for volunteering. Serving on the Gamma Phi Beta board is a fun and unique opportunity. If you are interested in joining the board or would like to learn more about the roles and responsibilities, please contact Elizabeth at embickley@gmail.com. Anyone with a background in accounting, law or board management is especially needed. We Thank Our Dedicated Alumnae for Their Support TREAT PEOPLE WITH KINDNESS The Las ng Impact of Florence Harkrader Has ngs 1916 Reach Out If You're Interested in Joining the AHC Board An Improved Chapter House Summer projects at 1339 included transforming spaces into study rooms. The basement is now a bright and welcoming space with desks, and a former bedroom on the second floor now serves as study space as well. A Zen room is also being created on the second floor to provide women with more spaces for privacy and relaxation. Looking Ahead Due to COVID-19, only sophomores have been able to live in the house the last two years. This was a necessary change to de-densify the house and provide a living environment where social distancing was possible. With the majority of our members now vaccinated, we look forward to returning to living in two years as required by International Gamma Phi Beta to ensure that the chapter house is in good financial standing. Having both sophomores and juniors living in the house encourages sisterhood across pledge classes, encourages leadership from our junior members, and furthers bonds between sisters that will last a lifetime. In IIKE, Sigma Affiliated House Corporation Board

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