Delta Delta Delta - University of Missouri

DDD Delta Xi Chapter at the University of Missouri Spring 2018 901 Richmond Seeks Further Renovation Projects Help Delta Xi Stay Competitive Among Top Sororities at Mizzou T he Delta Xi House Corporation continues to work through both the safety and financial challenges facing our nearly 100-year-old house at 901 Richmond. During the summer of 2017, we completed a two-year project of installing wood-looking laminate plank flooring in all bedrooms in the chapter house. In addition, we started a life-safety project of replacing the original wood bedroom doors from 1926 with new fire-rated doors and spring hinges, which will bring us compliant with current fire code. This also includes replacing closet doors and other hallway doors. Updates on the second floor were completed during the summer of 2017 and the third floor is on target to be completed this summer. As always, our goal is to make our house as safe as possible for our members. We also experienced roof problems that were addressed this past summer requiring work both outside and inside the house. Add to that the routine summer cleaning, maintenance and painting, and the house was again a revolving door of workers. With the 2013-14 additions and renovations, we were the house that everyone was comparing themselves to. With the current wave of sororities on campus rebuilding from the ground up or remodeling extensively, we find ourselves amongst tough competition on Mizzou's Greek row. Our long-term goals have suddenly become mid-term goals. These include replacing the roof; repairing and repainting the columns, exterior wood trim and rooftop railings; a major front yard renovation; and remodeling the common areas on the first floor of the house with new finishes and furniture. This is a large list with a high price tag, so if you are contacted to help out financially, please remember 901 Richmond fondly and do what you can to support your sorority. Loyally, Debbie Walz Austin '73 House Corporation President daustin79@mchsi.com Tri Delta Sister Jen Loos, Lambda '99 and Mizzou Family Start Rally for Rhyan Organization Created to Raise Money for Childhood Cancer Research W hen hard times hit, we want to surround ourselves with the best people we can. We strive to find a strong community—people who can uplift us, encourage us, and even change us and how we feel about our current situation. For Jennifer Loos, Lambda '99 and her family, the University of Missouri, its Greek life, and the town of Columbia became a large part of their support system when their daughter, Rhyan, was diagnosed with childhood cancer. "The first few weeks in the hospital before, during, and after Rhyan's diagnosis were a blur," Jen says. When it came time to update family and friends about what was going on, they turned to social media. "When we finally did jump on Facebook and Twitter, it was this whole crazy movement and so many people were talking about Rhyan. So, the #RallyForRhyan kind of stuck," she explains. As support for their daughter grew and spread across the country, the Loos family started receiving donations—and lots of them. Unsure what to do with the money at the time, the Loos family held on to it, waiting for the right time, or the right cause. During the beginning of this journey, Jen and her husband, Brad, sat in the hospital room with their daughter and they overheard a couple—whose daughter was also receiving chemotherapy—saying that they lived several hours from Columbia and they didn't have enough gas money to drive their daughter back for her next round of chemo. "It was literally one of those lightbulb moments," says Jen. She and her husband decided to start using the donations they had received toward research for childhood cancer. "We decided that day that if we could help research find a cure, then no family would have to worry about gas money to get to the hospital to save their child's life. It was right then and there that our purpose was shown to us." And that was just the start of Rally for Rhyan. Jen's husband, Brad, is involved with Mizzou athletics, which is how the family is tied so closely to the university. Once word of Rhyan's diagnosis was made more public, the Mizzou and Columbia community wanted to do everything they could do to help. "As soon as people found out what we were going through, they treated us like family and went above and beyond to help get us through what we were facing," Jen explains. In addition to the university's involvement in supporting the Loos family, Greek organizations, stepped up to play their part. The university has hosted three basketball games for Rally for Rhyan and there is a competition between the Greek chapters for who can raise the most money, all going toward pediatric cancer research. "The amount of money the Greek system has raised for Rally for Rhyan has been nothing short of amazing! Not only the Tri Delts, but many different sororities have invited Rhyan to their house to hang out and have all made her feel very special." Rally for Rhyan has now raised just under $500,000 for childhood cancer research. Jen says it's a combination of feelings when it comes to (Continued on page 2)

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