Just a SummerThing!

Madison Clark, Theta Xi, Auburn University

This was the first summer in four years that I haven’t had summer classes, and boy, did I enjoy it! I love exploring new places during the summer when the weather is beautiful and my schedule is less hectic. This summer was amazing because I got to do so many fun things! It was filled with multiple beach trips and lake days, baseball games, concerts, etc. In May, I attended The Hangout Fest which is a three-day music festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama. I loved seeing Paramore, Tove Lo, Skrillex, Zac Brown Band and so many more during the festival! It was even better that all of the concerts were on the beach! One weekend, I took a trip to Nashville to visit one of my best friends. I haven’t gotten to explore Nashvegas in years, so of course, getting a picture with the infamous sign was a must! Any photo op, I’m there! During LC training in July, I got to see some of downtown Indy which was actually really cool. I also finally got my picture with the Indy sign, something on my Indianapolis checklist.

Each summer, my family takes a beach vacation to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We love going to South Florida to change up our beach scenery and to visit the Atlantic side. My family and I absolutely love going to the beach, so any opportunity, we take it! This year we took a day trip to one of my favorite places, Key West, and the four hour drive was worth it. Key West is a gorgeous island city with conch-style houses, Cuban influences, and breathtaking sunsets. When in Key West, you have to visit the Southern Most Point in the continental U.S.A. and get a picture with the buoy. One of my favorite places in Key West, however, is Mallory Square where there are street performers and a great view of the sunset. Everyone needs to experience the sunset celebrations at Mallory Square at least once!

Most of our summers in college are taken up by classes, internships or jobs, but remember to actually do fun things and live it up! Go explore a new city or take a weekend beach trip! Be sure to do something enjoyable during your summer and find an adventure! There is so much to be seen. I promise you won’t regret it.

Summer loving had me a blast,

Madison

Can I be a Sorority Woman and a Feminist, Too?

Annie Forrest, Theta Zeta, University of Virginia

As Sigma Kappa women, we are lucky to have such strong-minded and passionate founders. My personal favorite (if it’s acceptable to have a favorite founder) is Ida Mabel Fuller Pierce. She said that she refused to “accept her sex as irrefutable condemnation to a subordinate position in life.”

How cool is that?! She had the foresight to know that a woman should be able to pick her own lot in life and the courage to not only understand that sentiment, but also express it.

As a sorority woman, I often feel pulled between two seemingly contradictory aspects of my identity–sorority woman and feminist. I have spent the last four years determining how these two areas work with one another and I have come to a conclusion: it is both possible and preferable to live at the intersection of sorority woman and feminist.

I have always been strong-minded. With a quick tongue when it comes to inequality and injustice, I tend to speak my mind regardless of the circumstances concerning women and our rights. It’s not just “Nobody puts Baby in the corner,” but “Nobody puts a woman in the corner” to me.

I spent my collegiate years studying psychology and women, gender and sexuality–a far cry from the typical majors that come to mind when the word “sorority” pops up in conversation. But during these past few years, I learned that, just because some people discount sorority women, it does not mean that sorority women can’t be at the forefront of the women’s movement.

After all, who better to tackle women’s issues than strong-numbered groups of women themselves? As NPC, NPHC and MGC sorority women, we are mighty in both number and in spirit.

We understand what it’s like to come together and support indisputably important causes (like Sigma Kappa and Alzheimer’s disease research or Zeta Tau Alpha and breast cancer). We understand how to mold new members into future leaders, which is why so many sorority women are leaders beyond their collegiate days. We understand what it means to support one another and why sisterhood and camaraderie are crucial aspects of life as sorority women. We understand why women are strong, courageous, passionate and capable. We understand this because we are those women.

I invite all Sigma Kappa members, and all sorority women in general, to reflect on what makes a feminist. Because at the core, a feminist is simply a person who believes that women are equal to men in all regards. Not better and not worse, not more or not less, simply equal. Sorority women already believe in these ideals, which makes the answer to whether or not a woman can be in a sorority and also be a feminist a simple one: yes.

Sigma Kappa’s founders fought for the right to be heard as equals on the campus of Colby College. Let us, as Sigma Kappa women, also fight for the right to be heard and for women, both domestic and abroad, to be heard as well.

My Hunt for a Real Life Alligator

Brianna McKay, Kappa Eta, Texas Christian University

I started my second year as a leadership consultant working with our chapter at the University of Florida. I had never been to Gainesville before, and I was super excited to experience a new city. I was lucky enough to have a few chapter members and advisors show me around. I quickly learned that the city is filled with alligators. I immediately made it my mission to try to see/find an alligator before I left Gainesville.

My mission started at Lake Alice. We walked all around the lake trying to spot an infamous gator but had no success.

As I continued on my mission, I was hopeful and excited to find a gator.

Even though Lake Alice is normally crawling with gators, they did not want to surface to see me. So we continued to search through different parts of the city to try to find some other gators. Our next stop was one of the many ponds on Florida’s campus.

Even though I was searching with all of my heart again, I failed to find a gator.

In a last-ditch effort to find a gator, the chapter members took me to a restaurant on one of the lakes in Gainesville. As soon as we got to the restaurant, it started to pour down raining and all of the alligators decided to hide.

Unfortunately, I never found an alligator, but it was all worth it to get to explore Gainesville with some amazing women! The women taught me how to have some gator pride even if I couldn’t find a real life gator.

Until next time,

Bri

How to Survive Arizona Tempe-tures

Jessica Cunningham, Epsilon Tau, California State University, Fullerton

Being a southern California native, summer time is hands down my favorite “season.” Yes, I say season very lightly because in California the weather doesn’t change too much. A summer day is usually a high 80⁰ with a cool breeze. This was definitely not what I found on my first visit to Tempe, AZ. I was lucky enough to be in town for a day that is going down in history. On this sizzling day, temperatures hit a record-breaking high of 117⁰F! This beat the previous record of 113⁰F set on Aug. 14, 2012. I know exactly what you’re thinking, “How did you make it out alive?”

Well, I learned a few essential tips to ensure you beat the heat and not let the heat beat you.

Tip #1– Take a shower in mildly warm or cold water. It will help you start off the day feeling refreshed!

Tip #2– Drink lots and lots of water. Now refill and drink MORE!

Tip #3– If you want to wear makeup and guarantee it’s still on in 20 minutes, a setting spray is a must.

Urban Decay even has one for cooling and hydrating!

Tip #4– Wear breathable shoes & light clothing. Won’t take long for sweat to start rolling down, EVERYWHERE!

Tip #5– Sunglasses not only serve as a protective agent but also add style and flair to any outfit.

Phoenix's Hottest Day — Phoenix’s Hottest Day

Tip #6– Try to eat fresh, water rich food like fruits and vegetables.

Tip #7– Enjoy a cool treat! Frozen yogurt, popsicle or delicious sorbet. Warning: Consume slowly. Likely to cause a brain freeze!

I hope these tips help you survive when temperatures start rising. But if all else fails, find shelter inside and turn on the A/C!

Time to Jet,

Jess

Hello there! – A quick introduction

Kate Wright, Zeta Phi, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Hello there!

I was trying to brainstorm the best way to introduce myself to you, but I really don’t want to bore you with my life story. Then, I thought, who knows me better than my friends and family? So I let them do all the work! Below are 10 things that if you knew me well, you would know, written by the people who know me the best. I’ve added some commentary and photos in purple because I certainly couldn’t give them all the power.

“Kate has already found true love in Diet Coke.”
- I may or may not have a slight addiction. It’s okay though because I’m convinced that one day researchers will discover that is actually good for you.
“Kate hates chicken in her chicken caesar wrap.”
- I probably would not have included this except both my big sister and my little sister sent me this. I probably ate about 4 wraps a week in college. There is nothing better than a vegetarian (aka no chicken) cajun caesar wrap from Hansel and Griddle in New Brunswick, NJ.
“Kate’s favorite person is not a person; it’s her dog, Tucker.”
- No explanation is needed here. Look at this face.
“Kate has a little bit too much school spirit.”
- You can never have too much school spirit. RU RAH RAH!
“Kate is really BIG on quotes.”
- So true. I am planning to end every blog post with a quote. See below for my absolute favorite…
“Kate’s stress relief comes from crafting.”
- I have painted and thrown away too many canvases to count. There is nothing better for the soul than mindlessly painting.
“Kate owns more houndstooth items than she does Sigma Kappa t-shirts (and that is a lot). ”
- I’m on a mission to educate the world on the name of this pattern and make sure it is as common in any store as stripes and polka dots.
“Kate is the kind of person who makes lists about making lists.”
- I’m Type A… sorry, not sorry.
“If Kate were a TV character, she would be Leslie Knope from Parks & Recreation.”
“Kate loves Sigma Kappa… like so so so much.”
- I mean… who doesn’t?

Hopefully you know a little bit more about me now in a slightly more interesting way. I’m loving this life on the road, and I hope to meet some of you in the near future.

“I dwell in possibility” – Emily Dickinson

–Kate