Alpha Chi Omega - University of Nebraska-Lincoln

the lyre letter XI CHAPTER OF ALPHA CHI OMEGA | UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN | FALL 2021 O n February 3, 2021, there were countless emotions from alumnae when they opened an email from Alpha Chi Omega National President Lynne Herndon, Alpha Upsilon '84. After careful evaluation, Lynne shared with sisters that ΑΧΩ's National Council had voted to eliminate the preferential treatment of legacies during recruitment. Lynne acknowledged that this decision would be met with mixed emotions. The removal of preferential treatment of legacies, however, would provide every potential new member who meets Alpha Chi Omega standards the same opportunity to join our sisterhood. We utilized these guidelines from the National Council during our fall 2021 recruitment. Please enjoy the following excerpts of positive experiences from a few of our sisters who had potential new members enroll in fall recruitment. Iniing a Sierhd Cnecti Alumnae Share Their Experience with Legacy Policy Changes Evada (left) was inspired by her mother, Nichole Lipsys Palmer '94, to search for her forever home. Although it was not with Alpha Chi Omega, they will forever have a sisterhood bond. A preestablished connection to sisterhood led Emma Osborne '21, fourth generation of her family, to become an Alpha Chi. Jen Elliot Osborne '93: As my daughter, Emma Osborne, started the recruitment process at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, my one wish for her was that she would find a house to call home, no matter which sorority she ended up in. Although Emma is legacy to ΑΧΩ, I wasn't sure what to expect given the recent national change in legacy policy. That said, I didn't want to force her into a decision in which she wasn't comfortable with either, and I wanted her to choose her new home on her own. Sure enough, each day during recruitment, she would tell me that she liked the ΑΧΩ house best and felt the most comfortable there. On preference day, she told me that, while she was sitting in the living room, she now knew why Alpha Chi was such a special place for her family. I am thrilled to say that she is the fourth generation and seventh woman in our family (two great-grandmothers, grandmother, mom, and two aunts) to find her home with Alpha Chi. Nichole Lipsys Palmer '94: As my daughter, Evada, entered recruitment, the one thing I wanted to instill in her was that, no matter the result, a sorority does not define her. After over 20 years of volunteering within the Greek community, I realized that not every potential new member (PNM) finishes the recruitment process, and not every PNM is 100% sure about their decision on preference day. It was also important to me that my daughter knew that, although Alpha Chi Omega was my forever home, she needed to follow her heart to where her forever home is. During recruitment, I received a phone call with a daughter in tears; she had found a house and knew this was the one. It was not ΑΧΩ, yet my heart did not break. Instead, in that very moment, I knew that she now understood my devotion to Xi Chapter and why I still give back. And although our badge would not be the same, we will forever have a bond. My love for Alpha Chi Omega and her love for Gamma Phi Beta would be our sisterhood connection. With the change of legacy policy, we understand that recruitment can either be an exciting or worrying time for families with a preestablished connection to a sorority. There are many homes out there for potential new members to love. As mothers, daughters, friends, and sisters, we still share a bond even if our letters are not the same. Loyally in the Bond, Kristen Onkka '05 House Corporation Board President (402) 981-3184 / konkka@huskers.unl.edu

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