Chi Omega - University of Kansas

F rom her undergraduate days at Adrian College in southeastern Michigan to helping revitalize the Tampa Alumnae Chapter, and then serving on the board of the Greater Kansas City Alumnae Chapter, Lambda House Director Colleen Kowich, Mu Zeta '89 has shared her love for Chi Omega all over the country. Colleen has enjoyed working with Lambda's collegians and watching them grow throughout their four years at KU. The fall semester has obviously been unlike any semester Colleen or the collegians have ever experienced due to COVID-19. While many Chapter operations have changed, Colleen has made sure that she and the collegians are keeping Chi Omega ever at heart. As Colleen has learned about COVID-19 and virus transmission in recent months, she's been thankful to have Lambda Chef Robert Lake joining her as another leader the collegians can look up to. She has learned a lot about Lambda and the Chapter's operations from Robert and loves to see how the collegians rave about his cooking to each other and their friends. Robert has enjoyed his role with Lambda for many of the same reasons as Colleen. "I get to make a lot of connections with the members from year to year," Robert said. "I have had the privilege to serve many siblings of past members and watch them grow from recruitment to graduation. Some of them even return as alumnae." Robert's mac and cheese bar has always been one of the favorite meals at Lambda over the seven years he's served as the chef. The pandemic has also brought on some new challenges for Robert with making meals, but that hasn't done anything to change the collegians' love for him and his cooking. Colleen and Robert are both excited for when they can once again help out with special events, meet the collegians' parents, greet alumnae at Homecoming, and many other exciting Lambda happenings that have been put on pause because of the pandemic. As they help the collegians navigate the fall semester, they're calling upon alumnae to keep Chi Omega at heart by staying connected virtually. "I wouldn't be the house director at Lambda without my alumnae involvement," Colleen said. "I encourage everyone to find an alumnae chapter near them or get involved with a local active chapter or house corporation board." A Dynamic Chi O Duo House Director Colleen Kowich and Chef Robert Lake Help Lead Lambda through the Pandemic T his year has looked different for many reasons beyond Chi Omega's control. However, one change was very intentional on behalf of the Fraternity: the implementation of a refreshed, seven-week new member education curriculum. New members still learn about the history and traditions of Chi Omega through weekly lessons; however, they are now facilitated through an interactive app, streamlined agendas, and short videos. The focus of weekly meetings has shifted toward discussions with the Sisterhood Support Team—juniors and seniors committed to helping new members successfully transition to sorority life and assist with skill development through a scholarship focus. I have also integrated fun activities like Kahoot quizzes and weekly themes on Zoom to keep it fun for the newest members of Lambda. Perhaps the largest shift is the movement of initiation to the fall semester to coincide with the completion of the shortened program. The National Fraternity made the change to ensure women that their place as an initiated member in the chapter is not contingent upon academic, social, or personal attainments from the semester they join, but rather that they are deemed worthy of sisterhood from the moment they accept a bid. Chapters will still maintain high levels of personal accountability consistent with membership, but initiation will no longer serve that function. Lambda initiated all 69 new members the week of October 19, culminating in a virtual celebration and reception on October 25. Loyally, Mia Schleogel '19 New Member Educator Brittany Barnes Deeg, Lambda Delta '08 New Member Advisor Chi Omega Updates New Member Education LAMBDA LOG 2 "Chi Omega provided for me the opportunity to both lead and follow (of the two, following is harder). The principles of Chi Omega and its Symphony resonate with me and, like other alumnae, I can still quote parts of it." –Lambda House Director Colleen Kowich "It has been tough to provide the same quality of service with boxing and portioning all their meals, but any meal that brings the girls together and brings a smile to their faces is pleasing to me. My dining room has also doubled as an online classroom." –Lambda House Chef Robert Lake

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