Fall '13 in Review

The Fall 2013 semester is just about over, so I figured a summary would be useful.  Here are some highlights of what happened in Greek Life in Potsdam this semester.  For more photos check out the Fall '13 album on the Potsdam Greeks United Facebook page.  Have information to share about what your House did this semester?  Please email me or post it via a comment.

Inter-Fraternity Council at Clarkson

A few interesting updates to physical houses in Potsdam:

• OPiO's house at 16 Leroy Street was accepted for inclusion on the state and national Registers of Historic Places.
• Sigma Chi moved into their new on-campus house
• Sig Ep watched construction progress on their on-campus house 
• Delta Upsilon members and alumni participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for their new on-campus house 
• The brothers of Phi Kappa Sigma (Clarkson) spent their first semester at 30 Elm Street
• BT is back at their old house at 42 Bay Street

"Normal" pledging resumed at SUNY Potsdam with pledges spending some time at the house and then at a special on-campus dinner with a slide show on Greek Life.  Sororities and Fraternities on both campuses welcomed new members and Delta Upsilon fraternity at Clarkson was re-colonized with 21 new Founding Fathers on September 26.

Phi Kappa Sigma (Clarkson) received the Outstanding Chapter Award from their national.

Charitable and Community Efforts:

SUNY Potsdam All Greek Council at the Dance-a-thon

• The All Greek Council at SUNY Potsdam held a "Smash and Splash" event and raised money for Helping Hands of Potsdam
• SigEp brothers attended orientation at the Potsdam Humane Society so they can volunteer at the shelter.
• OPiO held a canned food drive
• Sigma Chi held their annual Derby Days event raising money for Children's Miracle Network with Delta Zeta coming in first and Zeta Gamma Sigma ($1,500+ raised) second 
• Sigma Chi brothers participated in wheelchair races at Potsdam hall. They helped raise over $1,500 towards wheelchairs for those in need. 
• DU brothers cleaned up the playground of a local Head Start program 
• Clarkson Greeks participated in Tony Tuesday at Clarkson with many donating their cash prizes to charnity
• The brothers of SigEp met and played basketball with a group of people from the NYSARC, a non-profit organization that supports people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities 
• Arethusa sisters held a "pie a professor" fundraiser to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis.
• SigEp held a 24 hr Bike-a-thon in Cheel Arena to raise money for Shepherds for Lost Sheep, an organization that provides dogs to military veterans. 
• SigEp worked with CUSA & CUB at Clarkson to raise $2,300 for the Children's Miracle Network at Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown with the Raveyard Halloween event
• SUNY Potsdam's All Greek Council held a Dance-a-thon, raising $2,300 for the Potsdam Holiday Fund, article
• SigEp & KDChi held a "House of Horrors" event during Halloween with proceeds going to charity
• Phi Sig & Sig Ep sold baked goods over Clarkson's Parents/Homecoming Weekend to support Children's Miracle Network 
• The brothers of DTT volunteered and helped out at many local businesses for the town's "fright night" in October

Alumni Notes:

• 12 Omega alumni completed the 200-mile Ragnar Adirondaks relay race
• Phi K (Spring '06) alumni Jessica Gingras received the "Rising Star Award" from Vermont Business Magazine.
• An interesting article of a 1950s Clarkson hockey player - one of the first black college hockey players, and a member of Sigma Delta 
• Terry Cook (Omega) and her husband Vince (DK) received an award in recognition for contributions to The Q Center in Syracuse
• Omega and SUNY Potsdam alumni Julianne Noviczski Carnevale (Spring '89) passed away after a long illness