Yours Forever

Following the excitement of recruitment, Bid Day, and the semester’s first swap in September, the Epsilon Deltas tackled October’s ever-hectic homecoming week and gained campus-wide recognition. This year’s homecoming chair oversaw the week’s copious obligations. Homecoming week began on Monday, October 21, when seven teams comprised of one sorority, one fraternity, and one campus involvement group each assembled for a cheer competition. Throughout the week, other attendance and spirit-based competitions were held, including a late-night event at the Fresh Food Company, a Golden Eagle Olympic games at the Payne Center, a dance competition at Reed Green Coliseum, and a fountain sit in Shoemaker Square. Additionally, Homecoming social media challenge kept all the teams on their toes throughout the week. Teams were encouraged to tweet and post pictures involving Southern Miss and its students, and those with the highest number of posts at the end of each day were given extra homecoming points. Throughout the week, Chi O’s were busy “pomping” their team’s lawn decoration and painting the homecoming float. The Epsilon Deltas finished the week strong, with first place in the Golden Eagle Olympics, third in the float competition, second in the lawn decoration competition, and second overall. The Chi Omegas hosted an open house for alumni, actives, new members, and their families on Saturday, October 26. They also had a sprawling tailgate tent in the District. This year’s Homecoming week was one of the most successful to date 

New Member Retreat

In addition to Homecoming festivities, October was full of sisterhood, social community service, and fund-raising events. On October 4 and 5, Pledge Class 2013 participated in a New Member Retreat at the Phillips’ camp, where it has been held for the past several years. The girls bonded as a pledge class by eating snacks, staying up, and learning more about Chi Omega and each other. Freshman Chloe Sanders substantially benefited from the retreat. “New member retreat was such a great opportunity to become closer to my pledge class and to be able to have conservations beyond the typical, ‘Hey, what’s your name? Where’re you from? What’s your major?’” Sanders said.

Date Party

On October 5, several Epsilon Deltas volunteered for the annual Breakfast With Seymour to raise money for the Make a Wish foundation.

        The semester’s first date party, which was rock-and-roll themed, was held on Friday, October 11. The girls accessorized their date party shirts with bandanas, punk jewelry, and big hair. Epsilon Deltas competed in Phi Kappa Tau’s Silly Olympics philanthropy event on October 12, placing in several categories.

        One of the first fundraising events of the semester (and certainly the first of its kind in Epsilon Delta history) was the profit share with Click boutique held on Thursday, October 24. The community was invited to the boutique for an afternoon of shopping, refreshments, and philanthropy, and the event’s turnout was generous. A portion of all sales that afternoon were donated to the Make a Wish foundation in honor of Epsilon Delta.

        As a whole, October signaled the beginning of what will surely be a busy, productive academic year for the Chi Omegas at Southern Miss. Stay tuned to see how the chapter continues to uphold its distinguished values and timeless Symphony.

Home

Fried chicken, corn, and rice. A winding concrete staircase. A big, black King James Version bible.   If I were asked two years ago to give a list of things that reminded me of home, these would be just a few of the things I would tell you. Then I graduated from high school—the “big day” when you become an adult.  We all remember it. Before I knew it, I was off to college and leaving behind all my friends and family. What was I going to do? Who was going to hang out with my goofy self? Then, my roommate suggested Greek Life to me.  Freshman me thought, “What the heck, maybe somebody on that Village Circle will be like me and they’ll have the same ideas about life as me?” Long story short, I went through recruitment and found a whole group of people that are like me, even some that aren’t (which always makes for interesting conversation).  The outside world calls us “Chi Omega,” but I call these people “sisters.” 

Imagine this. It’s Bid Day 2011, and this girl opens up her envelope to see the cardinal and straw that she’s been hoping for all week.  Immediately the two girls next to me scream, “SISTERS!” and hug me.  (If you know me, you know that me hugging anybody is a reason to worry, but hey, what the heck?)  So there I was. Wearing my new “letters” and smiling for what seemed like a thousand pictures.  And then Bid Day was over, and I couldn’t help but wonder what was supposed to happen then.  I could’ve never imagined the memories, best friends who seem more like family, and home that Chi Omega would give me in my just two short years so far.  I’m sure you’ve all heard that before, it even sounds cliché coming out of my mouth, but there isn’t a word besides “home” to describe what Chi Omega has been to me.  Sure, we all like owls, but that isn’t what really makes it for me.  The doors of Chi Omega are a sheltering place where I can leave behind all my troubles if I want to, but I know that if I don’t want to and I desperately need the understanding ear of a friend, it’s mine, no questions asked.  Believe me, I am the last person to get all emotional on you, but I couldn’t imagine my life without chapter meetings on Mondays, Songfest, date parties, but most importantly, the sisters I have gained. 

Wherever we go, we know that we can always go home to Chi Omega.  From the shores of France to The Colosseum of Rome, Chi Omega sisters are proud of where they come from.  

So ask me what “home” means to me now and I will probably still tell you about the chicken thing, but first I would tell you about the second house on Village Row with the stone owl in front of it. I’d tell you about the countless nights I’ve spent there just wasting time with the girls that are so dear to my heart. But most importantly, I would simply tell you about the letters I wear over, and forever in, my heart. Chi Omega, Yours Forever.

- Kellie Herrington