Kappa Alpha Theta - Purdue University

Theta Kite Alpha Chi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta • Established at Purdue University in 1915 • Spring 2019 D ramatic changes have occurred with regard to membership selection. Nationwide, Kappa Alpha Theta has joined with Panhellenic and committed to ensure all women who enter recruitment receive an invitation to join. This increases the size of each pledge class and therefore the total size of the chapter. Thetas at the University of Kentucky are building a new chapter house to accommodate the larger numbers. Thetas at Clemson are at risk of losing their charter because they did not want to be such a large chapter. Luckily, through foresight and hard work, Alpha Chi can house around 100 members. However, with pledge classes of more than 40, and with the freshmen still living in the residence halls, this means many of the seniors must live elsewhere. The rub comes when more seniors want to live out than the number needed to keep the chapter house full. The actives use a point system to determine who will have the option to move out. While it is typical for seniors in other sororities to live out, Theta's individual page in the Purdue Panhellenic recruitment guide clearly states that joining Theta is a three-year commitment to living in. The actives are working hard to put policies in place to support a full facility. But there are growing pains associated with being able to keep a full chapter house so that the finances work for a healthy operation. In other news, the Facility Corporation Board is focusing this summer on replacing the roof and adding hallway air conditioning. In the future, our plans are to redecorate the study rooms and the bathrooms. Loyally, Elaine Rush Haehl '69 President, Facility Corporation Board erhaehl@comcast.net Accommodating Increased Pledge Class Sizes Gives Chapter Growing Pains Balancing Seniors Living In or Out Is the Key F ollowing graduation from Purdue's Krannert School in 1972, I had a very brief career as a management trainee/manager for General Motors, followed by a 40-year career in banking (mostly corporate banking business development) in three states. I retired three years ago as Senior Vice President, Corporate Banking for a California bank. I've lived in Anderson; Indianapolis; Hudson, Ohio; La Jolla, Calif.; and have spent most of my adult life in San Diego. Shortly after moving to San Diego, I met my husband of 32 years, Merrill, who was born and raised in New York City; he was an aerospace executive, now a guitar player. We've had the opportunity to make many trips to Europe, and we enjoy hiking with our rescue dog, Bentley. FAMILY AND COMMUNITY Three years ago, we moved to West Lafayette to be closer to family. I've been involved with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization for many years and was named California's Big Sister of the Year in 2015, appearing with my little sister on advertisements for the organization. After being a big sister to Candra Esquivel for 10 years in San Diego, we adopted her and brought her with us to West Lafayette, where she is a Purdue NW student. I'm now a community volunteer active on the boards of Rotary, Round the Fountain Art Fair, Habitat for Humanity, Community Cancer Network, St. John's Episcopal Church Finance Chair and Vestry, and the Alpha Chi Facility Corporation Board Treasurer. RECONNECTING WITH THETA I've loved being a Theta active and alumna. While my mother is a Chi Omega and I have many Kappa friends, my grandmother Lois Ham Baugh '20 and aunt Joan Baugh Land '48 were Thetas and I worked with an active Theta the summer before I started Purdue. As soon as I walked into the chapter house, I knew Theta was the sorority for me. While I was an active, my sister Lindy Baugh '70 and cousin Carol Land McCarthy '71 pledged Theta and my cousin- in-law Lorie Larson Land '76 and cousin Megan McCarthy '97 also pledged later. I've kept in contact with 18 of my 36 pledge sisters through reunions around the country every two or three years and through their visits to San Diego and West Lafayette. When I moved to San Diego, I was delighted to meet many Purdue Thetas living so far from West Lafayette. Now that I'm back in West Lafayette and on the Alpha Chi Facility Corporation Board and Lafayette Alumnae Group, it's been great to connect with more Thetas. Loyally, Katie Baugh Nielsen '69 Leading Women in Alpha Chi Katie Baugh Nielsen '69 on Returning to Her Purdue Theta Roots

• Cover