It’s been a great school year for the Fraternity and Sorority Life community. As more houses come to campus, the FSL family continues to grow. We spoke with two first year Greek members Ethan Dagenais of Sigma Phi Epsilon and Michelle Friedlander of Delta Delta Delta who shared their experiences. Dagenais is a sophomore, but this was his first year in his fraternity. Friedlander is a freshman.

Q: Why did you decide to join a house on campus?

Ethan: I had friends who came to Oregon last year that joined a fraternity and after hearing them tell me about the amount of friends they made and good times they had, I immediately knew that I wanted to do the same. I had always considered being a part of a fraternity once I got to college, and then I heard about all these great things my friends experienced and the decision became obvious.

Michelle: I decided to rush in the fall because my older sister was in a sorority here at Oregon. I knew she had a great time in Tri Delta and I wanted to be in a house too. I already knew a couple of the girls and I knew that I liked the house, many of the girls and the chapter’s values before even coming to college.

Q: Were you intimidated by being a freshman within your chapter and how did your house help to make your first year easier?

E: Being the new guy in any situation is always intimidating. You’re just starting to get to know everyone and they’re still getting to know you, so you feel like you got to stay on your toes at times so you don’t say or do something stupid that makes everyone think, “Who gave this guy a bid?” The guys in the house made it really easy to help break that tension by always offering to play basketball, get lunch or just do something fun and have a conversation.

M: I wasn’t, but I know a lot of girls are at first. Since I already knew a few people, it was easier for me to go to the house and just hang out. However, before we get our Bigs, we have “Pearl Pals,” which is a process where girls who want a Big and girls who want a Little who have similar interests get paired up to meet each other. This really helps new members meet older members and become more integrated into the house.

Q: What advice would you give to someone experiencing their first year of college, while also being in a chapter on campus?

E: The biggest piece of advice for someone who’s experiencing their first year of college and a part of a fraternity is really figuring out how to manage your free time and not leaving school work to the last minute. Fraternities have a lot going on and can be a demanding time commitment, so it is important to get work done as soon as possible in the week so that by Thursday night you’re ready to start your weekend.

M: It’s not too difficult to balance school and a sorority if you know how to manage your time. I really think that’s the biggest thing because it’s so easy to get distracted when you’re in college.

Q: What has been your favorite part about joining a fraternity and sorority?

E: My favorite part about Sig Ep is the friends I’ve made. To think that at the beginning of the year I didn’t really know anyone in the house, and now I not only consider these guys my best friends but also my brothers is an incredible feeling. These are the friends that I’ll have by my side for the rest of my life.

M: My favorite part about being in a sorority has been meeting so many new people and making so many great friends. I can’t wait to be living in the house next fall. Living in a house with my closest friends will be the time of my life. There’s never a dull moment and always something to do. Fall term can’t come soon enough!

Q: How do you think you’ve benefited from being in Fraternity and Sorority Life?

E: Being apart of Greek Life is an amazing way to be involved with the school and meet new people. There are always events going on and opportunities to have fun. I think that the best part about Greek Life is that it’s not just exclusive to this campus, but extends across the country. The idea that I can go visit another university and stop at the Sig Ep house on a different campus is amazing to me. It’s a really great feeling to be connected to so many people and be apart of something so much greater than yourself.

M: I think I’ve benefited from Greek Life in that it taught me how to better manage my time, work with others and take accountability for myself and others. Greek Life also benefited me because taught me what good PR means and to better represent myself to others, because when you’re in Greek Life you’re not only representing yourself, you’re also representing your entire house.

Sigma Kappa Sorority will be having a warm homecoming to the University of Oregon in the Fall of 2015. The chapter, which left last in 2004, will be back and ready to recruit after previously being on campus for 67 years.

The process of bringing a new chapter to campus began this January. The National Panhellenic Conference helps to facilitate in the extension process and the opportunity to come to campus is open to any national chapter who wants a chance to join the UO Greek community. Preference is generally given to those who left campus in the past and hope to return to continue their legacy.

After four national chapters were given exploratory visits, where they are shown around campus, but were unable to talk to students, the selection was narrowed down to two chapters: Sigma Kappa and Delta Zeta.

Last week, both of these sororities gave presentations to the extension board, comprised of ten members from each sorority on campus. Panhellenic delegates, presidents, Panhellenic executives and formal chapter members attended the presentation.

Both Delta Zeta and Sigma Kappa gave thorough presentations about why they should be on campus and how their goals are parallel to that of the university. Rather than eliminating one chapter, the presentations’ outcome determined which organization would come to campus first.

Sigma Kappa will recruit in the Fall of 2015 and Delta Zeta will make it to campus is Fall of 2017.

Sigma Kappa has been to the UO twice before and left last due to a national decline in Greek life. Roughly eight to ten other houses closed at that time, but almost all houses that left are now returning due to rising recruitment numbers.

In the interim, Sigma Kappa will be seeking out potential housing options and familiarizing themselves with the UO culture.

Justin Shukas, director of fraternity and sorority life, appreciated the readiness of Sigma Kappa’s presentation.

“Sigma Kappa was really ready to be a part of the Panhellenic community,” Shukas said. “They want to be different, yet wanted to be the same. They really customized everything to our campus.”

When Sigma Kappa does come to campus, they will participate in the first round of formal recruitment. After this first round, the chapter drops out of fall formal recruitment and holds their own events. The primary event is hosting two-on-one interviews, or “casual chats,” with any college woman who is wants to come to the event.

Maddy Robinson, the chairwoman of the UO extension/exploratory committee, feels that the expansion of more houses will give anyone and everyone who wants to be a part of the Greek community a fair opportunity.

“We only have ten chapters on campus and they are getting too big,” Robinson said. “We don’t want to lose that closeness. We want everyone who wants to be in a sorority to be in a sorority.”

Sigma Kappa will ideally recruit roughly fifty girls in the fall of 2015. They will be promoting their chapter and its benefits in the mean time.

Sitting in a claustrophobic cubical for eight hours sounds like hell. You don’t need to be a creative wiz to agree. Post grad life tends to lead people down this path: Answering phones, getting an entire office coffee, walking your boss’ dog … you know the drill. Your average nine to five is about as basic as you can get. But if you dig a little deeper and find something you really, really like to do while in college, the stars just might align and you’ll be happier than ever to be doing something worthy of dedicating those student loans and all-nighters to. We sat down with five University of Oregon class of 2014 graduates who are doing some awesome things post grad, and have gone down an interesting path to get there.

Art Major Gone Designer: Jeremy Bawcom

Biggest piece of advice: “Kill yourself during undergrad so that you’re prepared for a successful job afterwards.”

Liberal arts majors tend to be the outcasts in the world of college degrees. The idea that there is no career objective for those who pursue the subject is misconstrued and misunderstood. Jeremy Bawcom, a student in the five-year Bachelor of Arts program, knows this stereotype is simply BS.

Bawcom came to college with no internship experience and the intention of becoming a graphic designer. Eventually, he got fed up with the required computer design programs and changed his major to art history.

“The value of an art education is taking abstract ideas and communicating them in a way that is interesting and engaging,” Bawcom said. “This is the kind of process that you can use across different disciplines.”

As a sophomore Bawcom was appointed secretary of his fraternity, Delta Tau Delta. His organization and attention to detail did not go unnoticed. An advisor to Bawcom’s fraternity connected him to a multi-purpose design firm, Revoalution, that was looking to hire. He has been working at the firm for two and a half years as a print production specialist and will continue the job post grad.

Preserving Castles Abroad: Emily Vance

Biggest piece of advice: “Take risks, they always pay off.”

It took Mississippi native Emily Vance five-and-a-half years to get her undergraduate degree. She dropped out twice. She changed her major twice. Needless to say, she was in no rush to figure things out overnight.

The two times Vance dropped out from the University of Mississippi, she pursued paid internships with The Student Conservation Association, leading to her most bizarre experience – traveling to Cape Cod to work on a restoration project on a historic cranberry bog, removing invasive plants so the cranberries could grow properly.

Vance will be graduating from University of Oregon’s two-year historical preservation graduate program this spring.

This summer, Vance will be traveling to Edinburgh, Scotland, to work for the National Trust for Scotland after joining International Council on Monuments and Sites, a competitive cultural restoration program. Essentially, her job will be to preserve eroding castles.

Making Hipsters Look Cool Since ’12: Kate Schnabel

Biggest piece of advice: “When applying for a job, know what you’re applying for.”

Kate Schnabel has seen the show that satirizes nature-loving Portlanders play out for the past two years. What started out as an internship on the set of Portlandia – picking up trash and making Starbucks runs – is now her full-time job working as an assistant to co-producer and mentor Kevin Sullivan.

Schnabel started her college career at Oregon State University as a bio-chemistry major. Both of her parents are pharmacists, so it only seemed natural that she do the same. A film history class inspired her to major in cinema studies, but after sitting down with an advisor, Schnabel was convinced that UO would be a better fit for her academic goals.

Schnabel locked down her internship with Portlandia through the cinema studies internship development class, which is run by advisor Shauna Riedel-Bash, whom Schnabel has grown extremely close with over the years.

“I would really credit my success to her,” Schnabel said. “She goes above and beyond. I wouldn’t have a job without her.”

Her favorite thing on the job is working with the celebrity guest stars and purchasing “swag” for each celebrity’s hotel room. Some of her favorites were local Kombucha and soy candles – clearly fitting for the show.

Speech Pathology: Shannon Propst 

Biggest piece of advice: “Don’t have any regrets. These four years will fly by before you know it!”

Communication Disorders major Shannon Propst moved across the country from Bel Air, Maryland, to play lacrosse. Clueless as to what her major would be, an unexpected road lead her to speech pathology.

Uncertain of what to pursue, Propst asked her advisor, who recommended Propst take classes her lacrosse teammates were taking.

“So I took a CDS class my sophomore year,” she said.

The first class she took was communication disorders and their portrayal in the media.

“The media sometimes puts a bad stigma on a person with communication disorders, when really they just have a difficult time communicating how they feel,” Propst said.

Last summer Propst shadowed a Maryland speech language pathologist who works with autistic children. Now, she aspires to do the same.

Next fall, Propst will be attending grad school at Loyola University to get her masters degree.

Science or Bust: Chad Adamson

Biggest piece of advice: “Consistent sleep is vital to cognition.”

It seems as though Chad Adamson doesn’t sleep, however. He has two majors: biology and human physiology. And he also has two minors: Spanish and chemistry. He’s participated in three alternative spring breaks through the Holden Leadership Center across the country, he’s a biology peer advisor, studied Spanish in Spain and neotropical ecology in Ecuador … and more. Headed to the University College London to complete his Master’s in Global Health and Development while also preparing to take the MCAT and applying to med school — Adamson is the superman of sciences.

Because of the others students in his majors are equally passionate about their work, Adamson is motivated to do more.

“A majority of students I encounter are absolutely passionate about their desired professions and engage in a plethora of different, interesting extracurricular activities,” he said. “This further motivates me to have success in these fields, regardless of the amount of stress I encounter. There are so many teaching, mentoring and laboratory assistant opportunities within these departments that allows for students to own in on their skills and further develop an academic fluency in these subjects.”

For students who aspire to be doctors, Adamson suggests that students get involved with activities that they are passionate about.

“I would encourage students to partake in intellectual pursuits and extracurricular activities that fit their interests and skills. Being pre-med should not define the individual, but rather define a subset of classes that must be taken to satisfy medical school requirements,” Adamson said.

You may have seen #GIRLBOSS take the social media sphere by storm these past few weeks. Your most tech savvy and Twitter addicted friend would tell you that there is a lot of ruckus surrounding this book because of the same name that was created by Sophia Amoruso, CEO of the popular fashion line Nasty Gal.

This chick isn’t just writing about clothes, she’s writing about life. Funny thing is Amoruso who just turned 30, is a millionaire, and she tells her story while spitting some advice to a future #GIRLBOSS, which may hit home for many millennials trying to find their beat.

Amoruso was a misguided teenager. She never belonged to a group in high school, and hung out with one of her teachers, Mr. Sharon, who she dubbed as her “lunch buddy.” She didn’t go to college. She prefered to dumpster dive and she formed a stealing addiction. She also worked at Subway (no disrespect, I love a good six-inch turkey sub). Amoruso had no idea what she wanted to do, but she knew one thing: that she loved vintage clothing. One stolen book sold on e-Bay led to selling non-stolen vintage clothing on that same thread. The business eventually got so big that she opened an official online store, which is now Nasty Gal clothing. This one URL has made Amoruso a success.

Amoruso prefaces the 11 chapters and 239 pages of her self-help/memoir with her rules for every #GIRLBOSS. The three biggies that she wants everyone to follow are 1. Don’t ever grow up; 2. Don’t become a bore; and 3. Don’t ever let the Man get to you. Seems pretty simple so far, right?

What makes #GIRLBOSS so special is that Amoruso’s rules are different from what mom and dad might tell you to do. Case and point: A chapter with a section titled “School: It’s Not My Jam ” is for those lost college students who may be wondering what the hell is next, or even for those high school grads who see a blurry road ahead. Amoruso shares some food for thought: “It’s unfortunate that school is so often regarded as a one-size-fits-all kind of deal,” Amen.

Chapter 5 had me rethinking my entire financial structure. The title “Money Looks Better in the Bank Than on Your Feet” is something us no-budgeting-eat-out-every-night youth need to hear. Amoruso built Nasty Gal with no debt. A bad credit score led her to work hard and watch every penny. With that in mind, I think I’ll pass on that $5 Starbucks next time.

Peppered throughout stories of every dead-end job, stolen item and broken heart,  #GIRLBOSS has valuable advice and has a compelling story of a self-made woman. But what can also be found in the book is the philosophy that it’s okay to be a little weird. Following a life plan isn’t actually a real thing, which is refreshing to hear for us over-stressed college crazies.

This book isn’t some über intense philosophical piece made for kids trying to find out the meaning of life. Amoruso makes that pretty clear. It’s simply her story and what she’s learned along the way put into her words. There’s no right or wrong, but rather her own beaten path to becoming a #GIRLBOSS, which has proven pretty successful.

How do you remember a spirit? A person? Someone who meant so much to not only her friends, but her entire community?

May 11 marked two-years since the passing of Lillian Pagenstecher, a student at the UO and Chi Omega sorority sister who died due to bacterial meningitis.

“She was a light,” senior and long-time friend Clare Stager said. “She was a person who enjoyed every moment of every day and was always smiling and laughing.”

After Pagenstecher’s passing, Chi Omega’s executive board wanted to create something that would preserve Lill’s memory for pledge classes to come. In 2013, they tossed around ideas and finally came up with the idea to create a scholarship to fund a portion of a member’s university tuition, something that could be renewed every year.

The Lillian Pagenstecher Memorial Scholarship is Chi Omega’s way of making Pagenstecher’s light continue to shine, a way that Pagenstecher could forever make a mark on her sorority, as well as the UO.

Miranda Matthews, the chapter’s president in 2011-2012, played a large role in making the scholarship happen.

“Helping coordinate the scholarship, which will continue giving back to my sisters, is one of my proudest accomplishments,” Matthews said. “Along with some of Lill’s closest friends, we met with her parents and brothers to come up with the scholarship questions and criteria. We loved collaborating with the Pagenstechers on this project.”

This is not your average scholarship. Every question on its application was created to expose special qualities within each applicant, in hopes that her values are similar to Pagenstecher’s. The applicants are asked what involvement they have on campus and how they would best describe their personality.

After members submit their applications, their names are stripped from the document to ensure anonymity. The Pagenstacher family reads over each application and narrows it down to three finalists and Chi Omega’s executive board decides the winner.

Ironically, Stager, one of Pagenstecher’s closest friends, was the scholarship’s first winner in 2013.

“Being in this house was a really big part of her life,” Stager said. “I would hope moving forward this isn’t just about money. I want everyone to know who she was.”

The final recipient wins $650 toward her college tuition, but the amount is subject to change in the near future. The scholarship constantly receives donations from family, friends and Chi Omega alum.

When Vice President of Scholarship Olivia Gehrs decided this year’s final recipient, she kept in mind Pagenstecher’s personality and values.

“We are always looking for someone who is selfless, free spirited and ambitious,” Gehrs said. “It’s more about the person, rather than them having any executive position within the house.”

This year’s winner was sophomore and human physiology major Kayla Murphy. Murphy’s application stood out due to her positive outlook and lofty goals for her personal development.

“Now that I’ve earned this scholarship, I want to give back,” Murphy said. She hopes to travel to South Africa through the UO to complete a 10 week medical internship before she graduates.

May 11 has not become a sad day for those who were close to Pagenstecher, but rather a day to remember her infectious laugh, charisma and spirit.