Alpha Chi Omega - Purdue University

Lyre Letter Alpha Beta Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega at Purdue University FALL 2020 W e send our greetings, love and continued prayers for the safety of you and your loved ones as the fall leaves turn into beautiful colors and contrasts, including our beloved scarlet and olive green. It serves as a reminder to celebrate Creation with thankful hearts and to be grateful for the blessings we have in these trying times of COVID-19. You have a lot to be proud of as a Boilermaker and Alpha Beta alumna. Purdue and the women of Alpha Beta have led the nation in meeting the challenge of continuing their education and the bonds of sisterhood both in person and online. The chapter house is very different this semester with no guests or visitors allowed because of our strict COVID-19 and Protect Purdue guidelines. However, I think our undergraduate sisters are very happy to be back together, even if it means being socially distant as they seek the heights of higher education, support, friendship and staying safe. To that end, they are doing much more outdoor dining, studying and safe socializing thanks to the patio tables and chairs that we purchased. They are not quite enough or a long-term solution, but we are most happy to have them. During these cool, crisp days of fall, it's hard not to think about having an outdoor fireplace with protective glass. One was in our original plans and is definitely on our future wish list. Our new library tables have arrived and are being used frequently. We're grateful for Linda Murphy Gilman '77 who generously donated her grandmother's lyre-back chairs to us and we professionally painted and recovered the seats. They are a beautiful addition to our library that the women affectionately call the "Chibrary." Unfortunately, fall also brought the end of our beloved tree that held our swing. Its dangerous dead branches made swinging from it unsafe, but don't despair! We erected a powder-coated frame to hold and keep our beloved swing tradition alive! With the problems we face in today's world from the pandemic, social unrest, and civility, we know that diversity, equity, and inclusion are unequivocally essential. At Alpha Beta, we strive to live out the notes of our Symphony, "to see and appreciate all that is noble in another," to do better and try harder, always being inclusive and diverse in our core values of wisdom, devotion, and achievement. One sisterhood, one blood, one bond. We are Alpha Beta Alpha Chi Omegas. Real. Strong. Women. Together, let us seek the heights. Loyally, Bonnie Andrews Hockema '74, bonniehockema@gmail.com Proud to Be Alpha Beta Boilermakers Alpha chi omega Collegians Seek the Heights in a Safe Manner

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