Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity is celebrating 100 years at the University of Oregon.

To celebrate its success, AKPsi hosted a three-day event with 145 alumni and current members from May 1-3.

Samantha Twardoch, former president and recent graduate of AKPsi, said that many alumni made it to the event including a member from 1985. In addition, the national fraternity chairman of the board Dan Stublefield was in attendance. Stublefield made the journey all the way from Minneapolis.

Current senior member Collin Samples said the planning for this event has been going on for about three years now. In order to pay for the event, the fraternity has raised over $7,500 in order to provide members and alumni an affordable weekend of fun.

The weekend included: a Spencer Butte hike at sunset, where members released Chinese lanterns, a barbeque, morning golf on May 9, a spring game tailgate, brewery tours at Ninkasi or Hop Valley Brewery and wine tasting hosted by Sweet Cheeks Winery. The main event on May 9 was a formal cocktail dinner with speakers and capsule writing.

The entire weekend was meant to celebrate the longevity of the chapter and not worry about work or networking. Samples said that only a handful of chapters in the nation have been on a campus for 100 consecutive years, so they are very proud of this accomplishment.

Current president Sara Chrisman said that she was most excited to see what everyone had accomplished since they left the fraternity.

This story is one part of a series of articles on sexual assault awareness at the University of Oregon. Read Emerald editor Sami Edge’s letter to find out why we’ve dedicated today’s edition of Emerald Monday to the topic.

“We are not trying to hide from the issues that face our community. In fact, we’re trying to hit those head on.”

Those are the words of Max Lehman, Interfraternity Council president, during an ASUO Senate meeting discussing suspending Fraternity and Sorority Life because of high sexual assault rates. A study done by UO psychology professor Jennifer Freyd showed that 48.1 percent of females and 23.6 percent of males in FSL have experienced non-consensual sexual contact.

During that November meeting, ASUO decided that if FSL does not turn its culture around, the ASUO will recommend that the university president suspend its growth.

If the results of a new 2015-2016 campus climate survey show higher disproportionate numbers of sexual assault in the FSL community, then ASUO will recommend that the president suspend growth of FSL for a year.

The FSL community believes that with its sexual assault task force, it can make a significant culture change in a matter of months, but many believe it will take longer.

The survey

Alec Smidt, a graduate student helping with the on-campus sexual assault climate surveys says that this year’s survey will be slightly different than last years in a few aspects.

Smidt says that last year’s survey was a combination of well-validated existing measures that were modified to use in a campus climate survey. This year’s survey instrument is called the Administrator Researcher Campus Climate Collaborative.

This survey method came from 20-25 researchers who were researching the issues around sexual assault not only nationally, but also on college campuses.

This year, 1,000 fewer undergrads are taking the survey because there are more graduate students taking it. Smidt says that they are hoping for about 1,000 undergrads to respond and 500 grad students to respond.

Smidt says that researchers are aware of what’s going on in FSL, but that will not sway their research methods.

“We have sections that assess memberships in multiple aspects of student life organizations, Greek Life happens to be one of them, but we also do ask about athletics or other membership,” Smidt said. “We’re not just asking ‘are you involved in Greek Life or not?’ We’re trying to capture the extent to which students are involved on campus.”

Can they change in time?

Even while FSL is implementing programs to address sexual assault, Smidt believes that it will take more time.

“To see a significant change between last year and this would surprise me,” Smidt said. “It’s not sufficient time to have an entire overhaul of intervention prevention culture, etc.”

ASUO Sen. Andrew Lubash, who headed the resolution, also believes that it won’t be enough time to change a culture.

“I think certain things have definitely been improved recently. They’ve done work on the task force that they’ve started, and started having conversations about it,” Lubash said. “But have wild reforms happened? No.”

In addition, Lubash says that he sees a lack of follow through from the task force.

“The fact that a task force exists is great, but until they start actually doing things and educating Greek Life people and all that stuff, change isn’t going to happen,” Lubash said. “This kind of change takes a lot of time.”

Justin Shukas, director of Fraternity and Sorority Life disagreed. He said that the task force is constantly working to implement programs that will be more effective.

“I think that changing a culture is difficult in general. I think that I personally have been pleased in the steps that the FSL community has taken and I think that the task force has been instrumental in doing that,” Shukas said. “I think it’s unfair to say nothing is being done.”

Though it’s over 7,000 miles away, Nepal’s earthquake has made tremors in Eugene.

Eugene community members and University of Oregon students from Nepal have been meeting to discuss how to raise $100,000 for relief funds.

According to the group, this will be done through a variety of fundraisers and donations that are still being planned. The group hopes to raise funds through selling tickets for a movie screening, partnering with restaurants to get a portion of meal sales and placing donation jars at a variety of businesses in the community.

In addition, the group will be raising awareness about the disaster on their website for donation by holding a campus vigil, talking to classrooms and sending mass emails.

Members of the group say that they will only be sending money instead of supplies for logistical reasons. Harvey Blustain, a Eugene community member involved with the efforts, says that money is a much better option because money can provide anything. If supplies are sent, people are limited to what they have.

“People on the ground (in Nepal) know exactly what the people need,” Blustain said.

Student Sugam Singh is from Nepal, and has family there. He says they will not directly send the money, but will donate the money to an organization that will deliver the funds.

But, finding an organization to do so is not an easy task. Singh said that they are looking for an organization with low to no administration fees, and one that they are 100 percent positive that the money will go where it is most needed.

Here’s what you need to know about the earthquake:

• More than 4,800 people have died, and an estimated eight million have been affected.
• 2.8 million people have been displaced and more than 70,000 houses have been destroyed.
• Only 14 people have been rescued.
• Most Nepali people can’t remember a worse national disaster – it’s the deadliest the nation has faced in over 80 years.
• The aid response has been slow – so slow that there have been riots.
• A University of Oregon student in Nepal went missing on April 27, but was found April 28.

If you would like to know more about the efforts, or where you can donate money, visit www.kathmandurelief.org.

Only the current freshmen at Pi Beta Phi will see their completely renovated house in 2018. Pi Beta Phi is undergoing the first of three phases for their house renovation just in time to celebrate 100 years at University of Oregon. The alumni donation for this first phase: $250,000 and counting.

Doing the 15th and Alder house in phases allows Pi Phi to afford the remodel, and allows less distractions to members living in, according to Pi Phi’s president Alysia Kezerian. But that means the senior, junior and sophomore classes won’t see the finished house.

The first phase started end of winter term and is projected to finish beginning of fall 2016. House manager Taylor Fredrickson says that Pi Phi has raised about $250,000 for phase one through alumni donations and will continue to raise money as the project continues.

Phase one features will include:

Extended dining room: Enough space to fit all 220 current members.

New study room/library (extended basement): Along with more space for studying, this room will include T.V. monitors that can be used to practice presentations on, or to Skype for meetings or interviews.

Wrap around porch.

Guest bathroom on first floor: currently there are no bathrooms on the first floor of the house.

Remodel of house mom’s apartment: adding a personal kitchen area.

Adding a backyard garden.

Phase two will extend the second floor and phase three will extend the third floor.

Kezerian says this project has been in the works for over three years, but finally broke ground this spring.

Pi Phi hopes the remodel will give them enough dining space to celebrate their centennial in the fall. To celebrate Pi Phi being at the University of Oregon for 100 years, all current and past Oregon Pi Phi members are invited to their celebration in September 2015.

Kezerian wants the alumni to see that Pi Phi is thriving.

“I think they’re going to be so excited to see that we were able to extend the house and cater to a growing Greek community while still keeping the classic character of a place that thousands of women have called their home for so many years,” Kezerian said. “We’re happy to carry on that legacy while still keeping the classic feel of the house.”

Kezerian says that this remodel is coming at a perfect time when Greek Life is growing, and they need more space for a growing chapter.

Freshman Hayden Peck says that she is most excited about the expansion of the dining room and addition of the porch because she imagines it as a picturesque place for fraternity men to serenade sorority women.

“I loved the house when I first saw it, but now I’m even more excited to see how great it will look when it’s done,” Peck said.

In an afternoon protest held at Johnson Hall on April 15, members of the Service Employees International Union said that they will strike if need be.

Protesters today fought for fair wages for Oregon classified staff. Proponents included the Graduate Teaching Fellowship Federation, undergrad students and members of SEIU.

Together they chanted “15 now” to support $15 minimum wage pay.

Several concerns were brought up during the protest. One was unfair treatment of classified staff. Proponents of this concern said that the university would not be able to function without these staff members.

Members of SEIU and Oregon Campus Operations staff member, James Jacobson, says that he’s fighting for fair wages even if the university claims it doesn’t have the money.

“They (UO administration) complains that they don’t have money, but they keep hiring people and giving them high wages of $100,000 to $200,000,” Jacobson said.

Jacobson referenced the annual wage of the newly hired president – currently set at $660,000.

“They have treated us like second class citizens,” Jacobson said.

Undergrad supporter Gabrielle Hanley spoke about support from undergrad students.

Hanley said fair minimum wage effects all workers at the university including student workers who are paying their own tuition and living expenses.

In addition to a fair minimum wage, speakers asked university administrators to remove a question on applications asking if the applicant has ever committed a crime.

Johnny Earl, part of SEIU bargaining team, said that including this question is just another way to keep the poor poor.

“I’ve made mistakes and it should not affect me,” Earl said.

Sigma Chi fraternity has just broken the record for amount of money raised for a philanthropy by any Oregon Greek organization.

Mo Bardovi, Derby Days chairman, says that the total amount raised was $76,300.

Sigma Chi’s Oregon chapter regularly donates to the Make-A-Wish Foundation through their annual Derby Days competition.

Derby Days is a week long competition that hosts multiple fundraisers for the cause through auctions and donations. Bardovi says that one of the largest contributors to donations are Oregon sororities who donated about $50,000 to the overall total. The remainder of the funds is donated by parents and Sigma Chi Alumni.

Although the actual event was the 20th-25th of February, Sigma Chi kept donations open and continued to receive funds until mid-April. With all of this money, the fraternity’s donation will be able to grant about 15 wishes for children in Oregon.

Sigma Chi President J.T. Livingston Bullier says that one of the best parts of the money they raise is that the benefits of the money continue for several months, and the fraternity can see firsthand who they are helping.

Sigma Chi had the opportunity to meet one of the children they were helping when they threw a wish party for 2-year-old Sebastian, who has Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a birth defect that affects normal blood flow through the heart.

Bullier says that Sebastian loves Oregon football and basketball, so the fraternity decorated the house in duck colors, invited select sorority women over, and celebrated all the accomplishments of Sebastian and The Make-A-Wish foundation.

Buller says that seeing these events puts into perspective how much they are helping not just the children, but the families as well.

“It (wishes) takes the kid’s and the family’s mind off the whole situation,” Buller said. “There’s optimism about it during dark times.”

One brother of Sigma Chi has experienced the benefit of The Make-A-Wish personally, so this cause was near to the fraternity’s heart.

Freshman member Devin Malone says that when he was a high school junior he found that he had cancer in his back. Being 17 years old at the time, he didn’t think that he would be given the opportunity to get a wish of his own.

Despite his age, Malone was granted a wish to take him and his family to go to the British Virgin Islands.

Malone says that wishes are nice because, “they take your mind off things,” and he was happy that he could see that happen for someone else.

“It was really cool being here for someone else’s wish, you know seeing the other side of it,” Malone said.

Overall, Bardovi and Bullier say that they think the event was a success, but just because they broke a record this year doesn’t mean they don’t want to stop in years to come.

Bullier says that although he’s happy helping even if it’s just one kid; the more they help the better.

“[Derby Days] has long term benefits to it, and we’re always looking to improve and build upon past successes — there’s no reason to feel complacent,” says Bullier.

The 15 wishes will be happening over the next six months or so. Bardovi says that they would love to be a part of those wishes and know what the kids are doing, but of course that decision will be up to the families.

A previous version of this article stated that the Make-A-Wish Foundation is the preferred philanthropy of the national chapter. In actuality, the Huntsman Cancer Institute is.

Sigma Chi fraternity has just broken the record for amount of money raised for a philanthropy by any Oregon Greek organization.

Mo Bardovi, Derby Days chairman, says that the total amount raised was $76,300.

Sigma Chi’s national philanthropy is The Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Oregon chapter regularly donates to this cause through their annual Derby Days competition.

Derby Days is a week long competition that hosts multiple fundraisers for the cause through auctions and donations. Bardovi says that one of the largest contributors to donations are Oregon sororities who donated about $50,000 to the overall total. The remainder of the funds is donated by parents and Sigma Chi Alumni.

Although the actual event was the 20th-25th of February, Sigma Chi kept donations open and continued to receive funds until mid-April. With all of this money, the fraternity’s donation will be able to grant about 15 wishes for children in Oregon.

Sigma Chi President J.T. Livingston Bullier says that one of the best parts of the money they raise is that the benefits of the money continue for several months, and the fraternity can see firsthand who they are helping.

Sigma Chi had the opportunity to meet one of the children they were helping when they threw a wish party for 2-year-old Sebastian, who has Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a birth defect that affects normal blood flow through the heart.

Bullier says that Sebastian loves Oregon football and basketball, so the fraternity decorated the house in duck colors, invited select sorority women over, and celebrated all the accomplishments of Sebastian and The Make-A-Wish foundation.

Buller says that seeing these events puts into perspective how much they are helping not just the children, but the families as well.

“It (wishes) takes the kid’s and the family’s mind off the whole situation,” Buller said. “There’s optimism about it during dark times.”

One brother of Sigma Chi has experienced the benefit of The Make-A-Wish personally, so this cause was near to the fraternity’s heart.

Freshman member Devin Malone says that when he was a high school junior he found that he had cancer in his back. Being 17 years old at the time, he didn’t think that he would be given the opportunity to get a wish of his own.

Despite his age, Malone was granted a wish to take him and his family to go to the British Virgin Islands.

Malone says that wishes are nice because, “they take your mind off things,” and he was happy that he could see that happen for someone else.

“It was really cool being here for someone else’s wish, you know seeing the other side of it,” Malone said.

Overall, Bardovi and Bullier say that they think the event was a success, but just because they broke a record this year doesn’t mean they don’t want to stop in years to come.

Bullier says that although he’s happy helping even if it’s just one kid; the more they help the better.

“[Derby Days] has long term benefits to it, and we’re always looking to improve and build upon past successes — there’s no reason to feel complacent,” says Bullier.

The 15 wishes will be happening over the next six months or so. Bardovi says that they would love to be a part of those wishes and know what the kids are doing, but of course that decision will be up to the families.

Sigma Chi fraternity has just broken the record for amount of money raised for a philanthropy by any Oregon Greek organization.

Mo Bardovi, Derby Days chairman, says that the total amount raised was $76,300.

Sigma Chi’s national philanthropy is The Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Oregon chapter regularly donates to this cause through their annual Derby Days competition.

Derby Days is a week long competition that hosts multiple fundraisers for the cause through auctions and donations. Bardovi says that one of the largest contributors to donations are Oregon sororities who donated about $50,000 to the overall total. The remainder of the funds is donated by parents and Sigma Chi Alumni.

Although the actual event was the 20th-25th of February, Sigma Chi kept donations open and continued to receive funds until mid-April. With all of this money, the fraternity’s donation will be able to grant about 15 wishes for children in Oregon.

Sigma Chi President J.T. Livingston Bullier says that one of the best parts of the money they raise is that the benefits of the money continue for several months, and the fraternity can see firsthand who they are helping.

Sigma Chi had the opportunity to meet one of the children they were helping when they threw a wish party for 2-year-old Sebastian, who has Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a birth defect that affects normal blood flow through the heart.

Bullier says that Sebastian loves Oregon football and basketball, so the fraternity decorated the house in duck colors, invited select sorority women over, and celebrated all the accomplishments of Sebastian and The Make-A-Wish foundation.

Buller says that seeing these events puts into perspective how much they are helping not just the children, but the families as well.

“It (wishes) takes the kid’s and the family’s mind off the whole situation,” Buller said. “There’s optimism about it during dark times.”

One brother of Sigma Chi has experienced the benefit of The Make-A-Wish personally, so this cause was near to the fraternity’s heart.

Freshman member Devin Malone says that when he was a high school junior he found that he had cancer in his back. Being 17 years old at the time, he didn’t think that he would be given the opportunity to get a wish of his own.

Despite his age, Malone was granted a wish to take him and his family to go to the British Virgin Islands.

Malone says that wishes are nice because, “they take your mind off things,” and he was happy that he could see that happen for someone else.

“It was really cool being here for someone else’s wish, you know seeing the other side of it,” Malone said.

Overall, Bardovi and Bullier say that they think the event was a success, but just because they broke a record this year doesn’t mean they don’t want to stop in years to come.

Bullier says that although he’s happy helping even if it’s just one kid; the more they help the better.

“[Derby Days] has long term benefits to it, and we’re always looking to improve and build upon past successes — there’s no reason to feel complacent,” says Bullier.

The 15 wishes will be happening over the next six months or so. Bardovi says that they would love to be a part of those wishes and know what the kids are doing, but of course that decision will be up to the families.

Sigma Chi fraternity has just broken the record for amount of money raised for a philanthropy by any Oregon Greek organization.

Mo Bardovi, Derby Days chairman, says that the total amount raised was $76,300.

Sigma Chi’s national philanthropy is The Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Oregon chapter regularly donates to this cause through their annual Derby Days competition.

Derby Days is a week long competition that hosts multiple fundraisers for the cause through auctions and donations. Bardovi says that one of the largest contributors to donations are Oregon sororities who donated about $50,000 to the overall total. The remainder of the funds is donated by parents and Sigma Chi Alumni.

Although the actual event was the 20th-25th of February, Sigma Chi kept donations open and continued to receive funds until mid-April. With all of this money, the fraternity’s donation will be able to grant about 15 wishes for children in Oregon.

Sigma Chi President J.T. Livingston Bullier says that one of the best parts of the money they raise is that the benefits of the money continue for several months, and the fraternity can see firsthand who they are helping.

Sigma Chi had the opportunity to meet one of the children they were helping when they threw a wish party for 2-year-old Sebastian, who has Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a birth defect that affects normal blood flow through the heart.

Bullier says that Sebastian loves Oregon football and basketball, so the fraternity decorated the house in duck colors, invited select sorority women over, and celebrated all the accomplishments of Sebastian and The Make-A-Wish foundation.

Buller says that seeing these events puts into perspective how much they are helping not just the children, but the families as well.

“It (wishes) takes the kid’s and the family’s mind off the whole situation,” Buller said. “There’s optimism about it during dark times.”

One brother of Sigma Chi has experienced the benefit of The Make-A-Wish personally, so this cause was near to the fraternity’s heart.

Freshman member Devin Malone says that when he was a high school junior he found that he had cancer in his back. Being 17 years old at the time, he didn’t think that he would be given the opportunity to get a wish of his own.

Despite his age, Malone was granted a wish to take him and his family to go to the British Virgin Islands.

Malone says that wishes are nice because, “they take your mind off things,” and he was happy that he could see that happen for someone else.

“It was really cool being here for someone else’s wish, you know seeing the other side of it,” Malone said.

Overall, Bardovi and Bullier say that they think the event was a success, but just because they broke a record this year doesn’t mean they don’t want to stop in years to come.

Bullier says that although he’s happy helping even if it’s just one kid; the more they help the better.

“[Derby Days] has long term benefits to it, and we’re always looking to improve and build upon past successes — there’s no reason to feel complacent,” says Bullier.

The 15 wishes will be happening over the next six months or so. Bardovi says that they would love to be a part of those wishes and know what the kids are doing, but of course that decision will be up to the families.

Sigma Chi fraternity has just broken the record for amount of money raised for a philanthropy by any Oregon Greek organization.

Mo Bardovi, Derby Days chairman, says that the total amount raised was $76,300.

Sigma Chi’s national philanthropy is The Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Oregon chapter regularly donates to this cause through their annual Derby Days competition.

Derby Days is a week long competition that hosts multiple fundraisers for the cause through auctions and donations. Bardovi says that one of the largest contributors to donations are Oregon sororities who donated about $50,000 to the overall total. The remainder of the funds is donated by parents and Sigma Chi Alumni.

Although the actual event was the 20th-25th of February, Sigma Chi kept donations open and continued to receive funds until mid-April. With all of this money, the fraternity’s donation will be able to grant about 15 wishes for children in Oregon.

Sigma Chi President J.T. Livingston Bullier says that one of the best parts of the money they raise is that the benefits of the money continue for several months, and the fraternity can see firsthand who they are helping.

Sigma Chi had the opportunity to meet one of the children they were helping when they threw a wish party for 2-year-old Sebastian, who has Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a birth defect that affects normal blood flow through the heart.

Bullier says that Sebastian loves Oregon football and basketball, so the fraternity decorated the house in duck colors, invited select sorority women over, and celebrated all the accomplishments of Sebastian and The Make-A-Wish foundation.

Buller says that seeing these events puts into perspective how much they are helping not just the children, but the families as well.

“It (wishes) takes the kid’s and the family’s mind off the whole situation,” Buller said. “There’s optimism about it during dark times.”

One brother of Sigma Chi has experienced the benefit of The Make-A-Wish personally, so this cause was near to the fraternity’s heart.

Freshman member Devin Malone says that when he was a high school junior he found that he had cancer in his back. Being 17 years old at the time, he didn’t think that he would be given the opportunity to get a wish of his own.

Despite his age, Malone was granted a wish to take him and his family to go to the British Virgin Islands.

Malone says that wishes are nice because, “they take your mind off things,” and he was happy that he could see that happen for someone else.

“It was really cool being here for someone else’s wish, you know seeing the other side of it,” Malone said.

Overall, Bardovi and Bullier say that they think the event was a success, but just because they broke a record this year doesn’t mean they don’t want to stop in years to come.

Bullier says that although he’s happy helping even if it’s just one kid; the more they help the better.

“[Derby Days] has long term benefits to it, and we’re always looking to improve and build upon past successes — there’s no reason to feel complacent,” says Bullier.

The 15 wishes will be happening over the next six months or so. Bardovi says that they would love to be a part of those wishes and know what the kids are doing, but of course that decision will be up to the families.