Author Archives | Kiley Myatt

Jason McGlamery arrested for stealing UO student’s bicycle from home

Jason McGlamery was arrested on March 17 after being found by the Eugene Police Department, riding a stolen bicycle west of the University of Oregon.

Three female UO students contacted police after hearing noise in their garage.

“One of the girls woke up and heard someone getting into their garage. They heard banging,” said Melinda McLaughlin, public information director for the EPD. “She went ahead and called the police.”

Officers responded quickly to the burglary in process call and found the suspect riding the stolen mountain bike nearby.

The incident happened at 12:41 a.m. in the 500 block of East 14th Ave.

McGlamery was arrested for first-degree burglary and second-degree theft.

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Dutch Bros Coffee gives back to the community through UO Greek philanthropies

At Gamma Phi Beta’s Crescent Classic, sorority sisters handed out stacks of all-you-can-eat pancakes and attendees washed them down with Dutch Bros Rebels. Dutch Bros employees happily passed around free beverages while dancing to music Gamma Phi Beta blared. The sorority didn’t have to pay Dutch Bros for any of the drinks.

Anyone familiar with Dutch Bros Coffee knows the company’s dedication to giving back to the community, but UO Fraternity and Sorority Life witnessed this first hand.

Dutch Bros has participated in multiple different Fraternity and Sorority Life philanthropic events this year at no cost to the chapters planning these events.

“Philanthropy is a big part of what we do. If you’re familiar with us at all you know our identity is largely made up of giving back to the community,” Dutch Bros Creative and Public Relations Director, Dan Buck said.

Dutch Bros has been at a number of different events this year including Greek Week, Chi Omega’s Chrismukkah and Gamma Phi Beta’s Crescent Classic.

Senior and computer science major Christina Watkins was responsible for setting up an event with Dutch Bros last December as Chi Omega’s former philanthropy chair.

“The process was pretty simple. They were at a Greek Week block party and I went up to talk to them. About a month ahead of time, I just filled out a form and someone called me back and we were set,” Watkins said.

The impact that Dutch Bros make on student participation is significant.

“I think Dutch Bros has a name for itself and it helped us draw in people that were more familiar with them than with us,” Watkins said. “It gave people something to take away other than the philanthropic aspect.”

Dutch Bros frequently participates in events similar to these both in and out of the Fraternity and Sorority Life.

“We do a ton of events from Relay for Life to fundraisers for individuals,” Buck said. “Those kinds of give backs … there’s almost not a day that goes by without us doing some kind of fundraiser.”

Dutch Bros annually has three company-wide give backs, but each individual franchise handles its own local events in their community.

Kambria Sauer, a Public Relations specialist for Dutch Bros, explained that giving back to the community is worth it despite the potential loss of revenue.

“Dutch Bros isn’t about the numbers, we want to be involved in the community and the best way to do that is to give back and make the community a better place,” Sauer said. “We care about each individual customer and that helps customer loyalty because they want organizations in their community that care about where they live.”

“I adore them. They are amazing and such a great company. They are always there to help and it’s incredible,” Luisa Tolson, who arranged Dutch Bros’ participation in the Crescent Classic, said.

Not only does Dutch Bros support community outreach and charity work, but they support college students.

“We love young people and we want to support them,” Buck said. “We’re huge advocates of higher education.”

It is apparent that Dutch Bros employees enjoy what they do and take pride in giving back.

“Our corporate philosophy is all about family. We consider ourselves a family here at Dutch Bros,” Buck said. “The power of family and the solidarity of family … Our customers and communities are extensions of that family and we take care of our own.”

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Kappa Alpha Theta house finds relief as construction noise dwindles

In the fall of 2013, women in Kappa Alpha Theta moved into the house on 15th Avenue and Kincaid Street. While the excitement to live with sisters built, so did the foundation for the K14 apartment complex next door.

For some sisters, the noise that came along with that construction was bothersome considering their windows face the construction site.

Sophomore Gioia Jensen, an advertising major, currently lives in the house.

“It used to be like you would wake up to it and it was loud and the ground was shaking,” Jensen said.

Recently, the foundation for the complex was finished, the drilling stopped and new sounds arose as the workers began constructing the actual building.

“Now it’s just loud, but it’s gotten so much better,” Jensen said. “They have gotten a lot more respectful and have stopped drilling before seven in the morning for the most part.”

While drilling before 7 a.m. seems like an inconvenience, it is more than just that. According to Eugene Zoning Maps, the location for this new complex is part of zone R-4, a high-density residential zone. This restricts any construction from beginning before 7 a.m.

Junior Madison Cole, Kappa Alpha Theta’s previous facility director, stepped up and took the initiative to make a change.

“This term I personally filed a complaint to the city about their noise,” Cole said. “They started construction close to five or six in the morning sometimes.”

The construction site has not heard anything about the complaint, however.

“If there are any noise complaints from the city, they would go to our project manager, but if he was to get anything he would let us know,” Roy Arehart, the site general foreman for K14, said. “I’m in no way trying to deny that we have had a complaint, it’s just I personally haven’t heard anything.”

Arehart admits that they have started construction before the legal time.

“There are days few and far between where we do need to start early for a big concrete pour or something because of the amount of traffic,” Arehart said. “We have to start early, otherwise we make a bigger mess with not just a few people being disturbed — it would be hundreds of people with the traffic stalling nightmare.”

Cole agrees the noise has become more bearable recently. “The amount of noise has been about the same, it’s just not as much drilling,” she said. “It’s more of a constant humming and trucks backing up and stuff.”

Homework also may be a concern that comes with the noise, but according to Cole, it has not been much of an issue. “As long as the windows are closed, it’s kind of muted. I just play music in my room and kind of zone it out,” she explained. “The construction is also usually done by about five, so in the evening, homework isn’t a problem.”

According to the women, while the construction may be frustrating at times, it hasn’t affected anything other than sleep.

“I mean, it hasn’t affected anything like sisterhood or the things that most people get out of living in,” Cole said. “It’s just a terrible year to live in the house as far as wanting to get a lot of sleep or peace.”

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Sorority legacies bring mothers and daughters closer

As generations pass, many women spend their college years immersed in the Greek Life experience. Often, those generations are mothers who have daughters who have grown up listening to them tell the enchanting stories of their college years spent with sisters.

“Growing up, (my mom) always talked about her sorority sisters and she still meets with them,” Janie Finnelly, legacy of Gamma Phi Beta said. “They’ll all get together and have dinner once a month just to keep in contact. I’ve heard a lot of fun stories.”

Janie’s mother, Laurie Finnelly, is a University of Washington alum. She inspired Janie to rush a sorority from the very beginning. The real question was whether or not she would follow in her mother’s footsteps and be a part of Gamma Phi Beta, or to find her own path.

“Coming into college I knew that I wanted to join a sorority. My mom told me to keep an open mind, don’t worry about Gamma Phi or hurting her feelings,” Janie said.

It was important to Laurie that her daughter find her own path, whatever that may be.

“(Rushing) is a pretty stressful process, so I told her to trust your own feelings as far as what’s going to work for you and where you’re going to be happy in the end,” Laurie said.

After going through the recruitment process, Janie ended up in Gamma Phi Beta.

“I didn’t take into consideration that I was a legacy when deciding which house fit me best, but in the end it was Gamma Phi,” Janie said.

The reaction from both women was more than they expected.

“I was more excited than I thought I would be. I told myself it made no difference, but when she actually showed me pictures next to the Gamma Phi letters, it was pretty emotional,” Laurie said.

This is a connection that a mother and daughter share that is different than any other.

“I don’t think either of us realized how awesome it is but it’s made us a lot closer and I’m so happy that we share that and that I did end up in Gamma Phi,” Janie said. “It’s had a really positive impact on our relationship. Even though she’s my mom, she’s my sister too and we’re a part of a bigger community.”

The Finnelly’s are a small part of a large community of legacies. Haley Burns, member of Alpha Phi, is also a legacy. Her mother, Sharon Burns, was president of the UO chapter of Alpha Phi in 1982 and her father, Andy Burns, was Alpha Phi’s house boy.

“When I found out I was going to be a part of Alpha Phi, it was just an added bonus that my mom was in it too,” Burns said.

Burn’s mother attends philanthropy events and alumni gatherings that now they can both be a part of together.

“I think it’s made us closer. She’s come to Red Dress Gala in Portland both years and gets really excited about it,” Burns said. “We have more in common and it’s cool that we can talk about things that I wouldn’t normally have those conversations with my mom.”

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Sigma Alpha Epilson nationally implements new pledging process

Members of UO fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon will have a different tactic for recruitment this term.

Effective March 9, 2014, a nationally introduced True Gentleman Experience Initiation Protocol will change the pledging process.

This protocol is intended to end the stereotypical duties of a “pledge.”

“S.A.E. nationally is putting in this new program eliminating formal pledgeship. It’s to help liability and separate pledges from being second class citizens,” Tyler Lievois, President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, said. “It’s to form unity.”

The way the new system works is similar to the current process except that once a member is given a bid, the process to become an actual brother is much shorter.

“Once they accept their official bid, they are collegiate members and they have a short period of time where they fill out applications before they are certified as members,” Lievois said.

As far as Spring Rush goes, not much will change with the process.

“It won’t affect much, it’s just different. That’s all,” Lievois said. “It’s a new process and we’re new to it.”

This new process is nation wide for all Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapters.

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Kappa Alpha Theta sorority house finds relief as construction noise dwindles

Fall 2013 women in Kappa Alpha Theta moved into the house on 15th Ave. and Kincaid. While the excitement to live with sisters built, so did the foundation for the K14 apartment complex next door.

For some sisters, the noise that came along with that construction was bothersome considering their windows face the construction site.

Sophomore Gioia Jensen, an advertising major, currently lives in the house.

“It used to be like you would wake up to it and it was loud and the ground was shaking,” Jensen said.

Recently, the foundation for the complex was finished, the drilling stopped and new sounds arose as the workers began constructing the actual building.

“Now it’s just loud, but it’s gotten so much better,” Jensen said. “They have gotten a lot more respectful and have stopped drilling before seven in the morning for the most part.”

While drilling before 7 a.m. seems like an inconvenience, it is more than just that. According to Eugene Zoning Maps, the location for this new complex is part of Zone R-4, a high-density residential zone. This restricts any construction from beginning before 7 a.m.

Junior Madison Cole, Kappa Alpha Theta’s previous facility director, stepped up and took the initiative to make a change.

“This term I personally filed a complaint to the city about their noise,” Cole said. “They started construction close to 5 or 6 in the morning sometimes.”

The construction site has not heard anything about the complaint, however.

“If there are any noise complaints from the city, they would go to our project manager, but if he was to get anything he would let us know,” Roy Arehart, the site general foreman for K14, said. “I’m in no way trying to deny that we have had a complaint, it’s just I personally haven’t heard anything.”

Arehart admits that they have started construction before the legal time.

“There are days few and far between where we do need to start early for a big concrete pour or something because of the amount of traffic,” Arehart said. “We have to start early otherwise we make a bigger mess not just a few people being disturbed it would be hundreds of people with the traffic stalling nightmare.”

Cole agrees the noise has become more bearable recently, however. “The amount of noise has been about the same, it’s just not as much drilling,” she said. “It’s more of a constant humming and trucks backing up and stuff.”

Homework also may be a concern that comes with the noise, but according to Cole, it has not been much of an issue. “As long as the windows are closed, it’s kind of muted. I just play music in my room and kind of zone it out,” she explained. “The construction is also usually done by about 5 so in the evening, homework isn’t a problem.”

According to the women, while the construction may be frustrating at times, it hasn’t affected anything other than sleep.

“I mean, it hasn’t affected anything like sisterhood or the things that most people get out of living in,” Cole said. “It’s just a terrible year to live in the house as far as wanting to get a lot of sleep or peace.”

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Delta Tau Delta receives Hugh Shields Award fifth year in a row

Delta Tau Delta Fraternity’s hard work has paid off for the fifth year in a row. The men of the Gamma Rho chapter of Delta Tau Delta at the University of Oregon have been awarded the Hugh Shields Award by the Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity.

The award was presented to them at the Western Pacific Division Leadership Conference in Pleasanton, Calif. on Feb. 22, 2014. Eight members of the Gamma Rho chapter attended including the President Nick Calcaterra, the Vice President Jeremy Lipps and six other “young promising leaders” as Calcaterra referred to them.

The Hugh Shields Award was established in 1965 and recognizes the top 10 chapters nationally who have exceeded in many aspects over the past year.

In addition to the Hugh Shields Award, the Gamma Rho chapter of Delta Tau Delta was also awarded a Court of Honor, which was also established in 1965, and is annually presented to the top 20 chapters nationally.

With 125 undergraduate Delta Tau Delta chapters competing for these prestigious titles, the men of the Gamma Rho chapter are proud of their accomplishments.

“It is a great way to commend the work that our gentlemen have put into the fraternity and the foundation that we received from members in the past,” Calcaterra said. “I am incredibly proud that the chapter has reached such great heights and am happy to be a part of this organization.”

This is also a very exciting moment for the Oregon Delts because when a chapter wins this award for five consecutive years, there are other benefits.

“You get a flag that designates that you have won the award and after you win it five times in a row, the chapter gets to keep the flag,” Calcaterra said. “It’s our fifth year in a row so this means a lot to our chapter.”

The gentlemen of Delta Tau Delta will also be using these awards as motivation moving forward.

“It truly serves as a motivating force to keep doing what we’ve done in the past: stay involved, be leaders on campus, and continue to represent the Greek Community the best way possible,” Calcaterra said.

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Indigenous preservation advocate Don Ivy welcomed by the Office of Equity and Inclusion

The University of Oregon’s Office of Equity and Inclusion welcomed Don Ivy, a retired cultural resources program coordinator and tribal historic preservation officer for the Coquille Tribe to campus on Wednesday, Feb. 19 for a talk about indigenous cultural preservation.

“Events like this expose students to new information and explain what a holistic education is all about,” said Dr. Yvette M. Alex-Assensoh, vice president of equity and inclusion and one of the organizers of tonight’s event.

Alex-Assensoh believes in the importance of putting an emphasis on diversity in a student’s college career.

“It’s a great way of helping all students learn the importance of diversity,” she said.

Don Ivy spoke for approximately an hour about the importance of preservation and his experiences with Oregon’s Coquille Indian Tribe.

“I’m really hoping to get students to recognize that (preservation) can commonly be construed to be native, but it’s very common and involves us all,” Ivy said. “Tribes definitely have a unique experience and it should be included in the larger perspective.”

The event was catered by UO Catering and approximately 50 students, faculty and staff came to hear Ivy’s testimony.

Tracy Schwartz, a UO grad student in historic preservation, was one of many students to attend.

“I have an interest in American-Indian studies. Don Ivy is scheduled to come speak to my class this week so this was a great way to get a head start into more in-depth specifics,” she said. “I knew very little about the Coquille Tribe and now I have a much better understanding.”

Don Ivy is on campus for the next few days and will be speaking with different classes and student groups while he is here.

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Greek chapters without houses focus on the communal aspect of campus life

Greek Chapters without houses can face some hardships that come without that luxury.

Junior Jeff Hodson, President of Kappa Sigma and a math and philosophy major at the University of Oregon, was drawn to his chapter for reasons beyond a house.

“It’s a diverse group of guys that connect on more important levels. They’re a good group of guys and I love hanging out with them,” he said.

Kappa Sigma is just one of the UO fraternity chapters without a communal place to live. For now, they’re keeping their eyes open for a house, but they recognize that it’s no easy process. 

“It’s on our radar to get a house, but we’ve only been back on campus for five years now. It takes time and work and membership,” Hodson said. “We need alumni, university and FSL support to get that going and it’s time consuming.”

Kappa Sigma is not the only fraternity on campus without a house. Sigma Nu is still working on it after four years of officially rechartered at the UO.

For Sophomore Andrew Ashby, a member of Sigma Nu and UO architecture major, not having a house has some serious downsides. Regardless, the brothers make due as best they can.

“Fraternity houses are a centralized hub that make it easy to connect and find other brothers,” Ashby said. “On the other hand, we have five live outs within three blocks of each other so that gives us a nice variety of new people to hang out with and makes it incredibly easy to see different groups.”

One of the biggest downsides for transient fraternities is trying to find a communal gathering place. Kappa Sigma has tried a couple of different solutions to that problem, including leasing a small meeting space that is now a restaurant on the corner of 13th and Patterson.

“We had a previous lease, but we decided that it was easier to just meet in Mackenzie for chapter,” Hodson said. “Now we use that money for philanthropy stuff and social events.”

Kappa Alpha Theta, a sorority on campus that was just re-charted a few years ago also, finally got a house this year. Mackenzie Verrey, the chapter president, is thrilled to see members with a central place to meet.

“A chapter house is a home away from home for its members and is a place for everyone to come together,” she said. “Our chapter was close before we had a house, but having one now definitely facilitates sisterhood.”

Fraternities in the process of finding a house do their best to focus on the immaterial benefits of Fraternity and Sorority life in the meantime.

“For us, dues are lower without a house and we have live outs that we can still have official or unofficial events,” Hodson said. “Sometimes it’s hard to manage details, but despite not having a central location, we do a good job of making sure we hangout and do things 3 or 4 times a week which I think really reflects the quality of our members.”

For many, having a house is of little consequence when they already have the community that would make the building feel like home.

“When I was rushing, I didn’t even take into account that we didn’t have a house. I know most of the brothers don’t mind either because we’re not there for a house, we’re there for the core values that Sigma Nu has to offer,” Ashby said.

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Fraternity and Sorority Life officers strive to perpetuate excellence within the community

Whether it’s through proud display of letters or promotion for philanthropy, it’s near impossible to ignore the presence of Fraternity and Sorority Life at the University of Oregon. As prevalent as the social aspect of Fraternity and Sorority Life is on campus, what happens behind the scenes is a bit less transparent.

First, the basics:

FSL as a whole is overseen by eight members of  an Interfraternity Council (IFC) and eight members of the Panhellenic Council (PHC) who together make up a governing Executive Council. While individual chapters have their own rules and regulations, this governing council holds each chapter accountable to national IFC BylawsPHC Bylaws and Recruitment Bylaws. New officers are selected annually following an application process, speech, and Q & A session with the presidents of each Chapter.

Morgan Plew is a member of Pi Beta Phi and President of Panhellenic Council. Now a junior, Plew has known from the very beginning that sorority life was for her.

“I like the balance of people working together and also being good friends,” she explained.

Before ascending the presidency, Plew served on Pi Beta Phi’s Executive Board where she helped make decisions for her own house. After a year in an executive position within her own sorority, Plew knew she wanted to do more for FSL as a whole.

Chase Salazar, president of IFC and member of Delta Tau Delta, shares a similar passion for Greek Life.

“I love the Greek Community as a whole because it catalyzes new members with simple aspirations into senior leaders who make considerable positive impacts to their community,” he said.

Despite their affiliation with their specific chapters, Plew and Salazar both strive to make fair, unbiased decisions when considering FSL as a whole.

“I think the most important part is to look at issues and decisions from a larger picture. How is this decision going to affect us long term?” Plew explained. “It’s easy for me to separate that because I genuinely care about the rest of the (FSL) community.”

Other members of the board are just as passionate about their positions, including Katie Kahn, the VP of Community Programs and member of Alpha Phi.

“Becoming involved in PHC seemed like a great opportunity to reach out to students to show them what we’re all about,” Kahn said.

She and the rest of the executive council are passionate about reaching out to the community to share their positive social and leadership experiences with others.

“Being in a sorority has truly transformed my college experience and I want others to have the opportunity to experience the same benefits,” Kahn continued.

Officers elected to the IFC and PHC earlier this winter have big things planned for the year ahead and are excited to be in their new positions.

“My biggest goal for this year is to make sure people know that PHC is not the police,” Plew said. “We’re there to make the changes that our members want to see happen. I want people to know that they have a voice.”

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