One evening while patrolling the halls in the middle of the night Barbara Unck, Alpha Chi Omega’s House Mom, heard noises coming from one of the rooms. Without hesitation she opened the door, grabbed the young man visiting by the neck, walked him down the stairs and escorted him out — butt naked.
The job of a sorority house director entails a lot of different aspects including overseeing maintenance of the house and directing the staff. For Unck, the most important part is making sure the women of Alpha Chi Omega are safe and happy.
As both an alumni and a legacy, Unck is a duck by blood. Her father, Gib Olinger, was part of the UO basketball team from 1932-34 and captain for two of those years. After growing up in Milton-Freewater, Oregon, Unck enrolled in the UO.
Unck’s interests lead her to study journalism, but after her first year at UO she became ill and had to move closer to home. Instead she transferred to Eastern Oregon University, majored in political science and history, and pursued a career with NBC.
Later she moved back to Milton-Freewater to help with her father’s business. It was then that she met her future husband and the father of her five children.
Following divorce, it was difficult to be a single parent of five, but Unck managed.
“I can remember days when we didn’t have enough money to put food on the table, so I would just make it an adventure. I gave them each a sack and we would go out in the country and pick up pop cans and things and cash them in and we got macaroni and cheese,” Unck said. “I just loved those kids.”
After her children had grown and her parents and an older brother had passed, Unck found herself looking for something new. She decided to move to Eugene in order to honor her father and give back to the community. Initially, she worked at the McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center designing newsletter and brochures for about two years before pursuing the opening for Alpha Chi Omega house director.
Unck’s mother was a part of Delta Gamma and her father was a member of UO’s Phi Kappa Psi. Unck felt the position at Alpha Chi Omega was the perfect way to give back both to the community and to her parent’s memory.
“When I came for my interview, I interviewed with the president of the sorority at the time and a couple of other girls and there were two board members and we have all been friends ever since,” Unck said.
Immediately she was hired and she fit into the house from day one. Whether she’s making the girls a snack or playing with her dog, Charlie, the house wouldn’t be the same without her.
“I guess I’m a mom at heart,” Unck said. “Everyone needs someone to talk to and has a time when they’re needing a little extra hug or someone just to vent to and that’s where I feel like I fit in most. I really love to help the girls.”
The women of Alpha Chi Omega agree.
Sophomore Emma Lapp currently lives in the house for the second year.
“I couldn’t imagine the house without her. I was so excited to move back in this year and have her because she’s like family. I love her,” Lapp said.
In addition to working as house director, Unck has been men’s basketball sports chair for the past 13 years up until this year. She also is heavily involved with Daisy Ducks, a women’s booster organization supporting UO Athletics. Unck also volunteers at local organizations regularly helps with the Festival of Trees at the Valley River Inn every year around Thanksgiving.
Though she’s involved in multiple aspects of the community, Unck still manages to find time to give each and every girl in the sorority individual attention.
“My sister went here before me and was in the sorority and I had met Barb when I came up to visit. When I became part of the sorority she immediately recognized me and it’s like little things like that that are really sweet,” senior Shelby Goldstein said. “She’s one of those people who is just so personable. She’s like our mother hen.”
The memories and relationships that Unck has made over her 15 years as house director have shaped a large portion of her life whether it’s with the women of Alpha Chi Omega or even the friendships with house directors of other sororities.
“All the house directors have monthly meetings and we go out to movies or do things together and gosh, we just have so much fun,” Unck said. “The friends I’ve made through the girls and parents and the many letters I get … I mean, it just makes me feel honored to have this job really because they thank me for being here.”