soaring doves newsletter
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Issue No. 1
1
Sigma Omega Epsilon and Delta Omega Epsilon at the 2012 silver ball
Sigma Omega Epsilon brings
back an old tradition which is
celebrating their silver ball.
The silver ball is an annual
event in which the sisters, their
fraternity brothers Delta Omega
Epsilon Inc., family and friends
commemorate another
successful year of sisterhood
and empowerment. Last’s year
silver ball was a success as the
sisters from every chapter,
brothers and a few guests came
together for a good time and
formed new bonds as well as
reestablished old ones. We are
extremely happy with the outcome
of the event and are very thankful
to everyone who came out to
celebrate with us. Our next silver
ball is just a few months away. So
keep your eyes and ears open for
the date and ticket prices.
Inside this issue: Academic Achievement……. Page 2
Beta Chapter event………….. Page 3
New Sister……………………..... Page 3
New website……………………. Page 4
Birthdays………………………….. Page 4
Sigma testimonial.…………… Page 5
Poem……………………………….. Page 5
Sigma Spotlight…………………. Page 6
Newsletter Committee
Johanna Cochrane
Lauren Bailey
Sydell Gardner
Alexis Heath
Loreal Lewis
Le Anna Torres
Amanda Vega
SOARING DOVES
Returning Traditions
Inc.
Issue No. 1
2
Congratulations to the following spring 2013 graduates
Academic Achievements
Dean’s List
Congratulations to the following for making the dean’s list for fall 2012 and spring 2013
Loreal Lewis Made dean’s list for Fall 2012
(Beta Chapter)
Adriana Ramos Made dean’s list for Spring 2013
(Beta Chapter)
Academics Award and Honors Society
Congratulations to the following on their
academic achievement award.
Alyssa Alvarado (Beta Chapter)
Loreal Lewis (Beta Chapter)
Congratulations to the following sister on
becoming apart of the National Honors Society.
Taneka Rosario (Beta Chapter)
E-board Congratulations to Alexis Heath on becoming the new secretary for SUNY Delhi Greek council e-board. It has been a while since an SOE sister has been on this e-board and we are very proud of her.
Alyssa Alvarado
Zerina Becirspahic
Jessica Brown
Natasha Casey
Marisol Gomez
Yaneth Gonzalez
Shana Hagins
Lisa Heralall
Loreal Lewis
Ericka Medina
Latoya Missouri
Samantha Muelthaler
Jenny Ortiz
Candace Quiana
Hidayra Ramos
Taneka Rosario
Danielle Swann
Teisha Wilson
Issue No. 1
3
Beta Chapter Autism Awareness day event
I look forward to seeing
many other great
initiatives from this
sorority. Once again,
kudos to a job well
done.
-Mrs. DeFreece
On April 2nd the beta chapter
hosted an Autism event that gave
awareness out to the students,
faculty and community about
autism. In this event there were
different tables that were each set
up of a different activity. They
would have people come up to
their tables to do the different
activities. However what the
chapter purposely did before the
event was set up each activity so
that people would have a hard
time completing them. The
purpose of this was to show
everyone what it would be like if
certain abilities they have didn’t
function as properly as they do
now. The chapter also took
donations from everyone so that
they would be able to donate it.
The day after the event each sister
in the chapter received an email
from the Director of the learning
center congratulating them on a
job well done for their event.
In the email she stated:
“I commend you on bringing
this topic to the forefront and the
work and research on your part
to provide up to date and
accurate information to faculty,
staff and students on this topic.”
-Mrs. DeFreece
One STRONG!!!!
Congrats to Jannel Diaz
and Justina Lopez from
the beta chapter on
crossing their first line
this spring semester.
Sanata Traoré started
out with one other line
sister but crossed into
Sigma Omega Epsilon
on her own. She is the
Alpha Eta Line and she
proved to all the sisters that she earned her
letters. On Sanata
probate after her big
Taneka Rosario
unmasked her she
cried on the stage
because she was so
happy that she finally
finished and can now
wear her letters all
over campus. One of
the things that
Sanata doesn’t have
that every sister in
Sigma Omega Epsilon
have is “Line sisters”.
Sister Firefly
Not only was she the
only one to cross by
herself in the beta
chapter but she was
the only one to cross
into Sigma Omega
Epsilon. She has no
other line sisters from
any other chapter.
She is truly ONE
strong.
Click on the link below
to view her probate
http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=gGxDcG_P624
Issue No. 1
4
New Website
New website for SOE
has been created by
Loreal Lewis. This
website is for interest to
know more about us and
what we stand for. The
website includes
information about each
chapter as well as who
has each position, our
philanthropy, rush week,
announcements and
many more. There is also
a member’s only page
where sisters will get
access to information
that other people will not
be able to see. This is a
great beginning and huge
step for SOE.
Sigma’s Birthdays
AUGUST
Brittany – August 1st Sydell – August 12th Alyssa – August 16th
Chi – August 17th Kenda – August 19th
Mellissa – August 20th Shana – August 27th
Aziza – August 28th
The following birthdays are from August to December
SEPTEMBER Nellie - 3 Onyx - 4 Sarah - 6
Danica - 7 Lorielle - 9 Teisha - 11 Alyssa - 13
Samantha - 14 Joanna - 15 Tenielle - 25 Emelyn - 27 Marisol - 28
Nyanwat - 28
OCTOBER Angie - 19
NOVERMBER Terryann - 1
Terry - 4 Liliana - 5 Nicole - 9
Adriana - 11 Ariadna - 11 Jordan - 21 Nyasia - 21 Abbey - 21
Johanna - 23 Shameeka - 24
Javona - 29 Danielle - 29 Le Anna - 30
Lisa - 30 Shana - 30
DECEMBER Julissa - 2
Shanice - 2 Arieanna - 3
Char - 4 Tiffany - 14 Loreal - 15
Adaeze - 24 Meghan - 24
Alena - 25 Raiven - 28
Dominique - 30
Issue No. 1
5
The best feeling in this world
is family.
From it, we draw love,
friendship, moral support,
and the fulfillment of every
special need within our hearts.
In a family, we are connected to
an ever-present source
of sunny moments, smiles and
laughter
understanding and
encouragement,
and hugs that help us grow in
confidence
all along life’s path.
Wherever we are, whatever
we're doing,
whenever we really need to
feel
especially loved, befriended,
supported, and cared for
in the greatest way,
our hearts can turn to the
family
and find the very best
always waiting for us.
Sigma's Testimonial
Alexis Heath, Sister Pearl, Fall 2012, Beta Chapter
I always said I would never be a sorority
girl. Look at me now rocking my letters
with pride. I guess all I can say about it is
that I never knew what it meant to be a
sorority girl. I was always trying to get
more involved on campus and I even
wanted to do community service but I
just didn’t know how. I ended up
becoming best friends with a sister of
the organization. She told me that the
organization had a philanthropy, a cause
they cared about and donated money
too. I was so blown away, I didn’t
know sororities had philanthropies or
donated money to good causes. This
peaked my interest. I’d ask myself
what else I didn’t know. A better
question to ask myself would have
been how much of what I thought I
knew was wrong. Being a sorority girl
wasn’t about being rude, getting
drunk or any other negativity that
you see in movies. But about
hosting/doing events on campus,
raising money for multiple causes like
cancer and autism, and being a
family. These things got me more involved on campus and in community service, which our constitution requires us to have
20 hours of per semester. This helped me meet new people but the best people I met by far are the ones I now call
family. Pledging Sigma Omega Epsilon changed my life in so many ways and all for the better. I was always shy and walked
around with my head down, now I walk with my head held high because not everyone can do what I did because pledging
is not for everyone, but for me I came out on top. Pledging raised me up; built me up as a person. I wasn’t hazed but that
doesn’t mean it was easy either. When we cross we say “only the strong survive” I can’t even express how excited that
saying makes me feel. I now know I can do anything and that I am strong, I’ve survived and came out not as me but as an
improved me. I am now a part of something so much bigger than just myself. The organization has taught me more about
responsibility and how to prioritize better. I love my organization and I love my family. Crossing over into Sigma Omega
Epsilon was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Poem
Issue No. 1
6
igma Spotlight
The first Sigma spotlight for this issue is Jenny Ortiz from the
Epsilon chapter.. Jenny crossed into Sigma Omega Epsilon in the
fall of 2000 in SUNY Cobleskill on the delta line. Since joining
the sorority Jenny received her associates at Bronx Community
College, and is a graduate of Lehman College with a Bachelors
in Sociology and a minor in Education. Jenny works as a
Teacher’s Assistant for the City of New York Department of
Education. She also has started her own chocolate business called
Candela Chocolates.
The Sigma spotlight for this issue is Loreal Lewis from the Beta
chapter. Loreal is entering her fourth year at SUNY Delhi as a Travel
and Tourism Management major and already has her associates in that
field. Loreal crossed into Sigma Omega Epsilon spring 2012 on the
Alpha Epsilon line with four other sisters. She has held various
positions in the organization such as risk, Greek council rep and vice
president. Her current position for the fall 2013 semester is pledge
mistress. In addition she is a part of the newsletter and silver ball
committee and created Sigma Omega Epsilon very first website over
the summer.
Loreal always finds time for her sisters and this organization no matter what her personal life consist of.
Not only has she held multiple positions and continues to do so but she also goes above and beyond to
help the organization grow and develop. Sigma Omega Epsilon will only continue to prosper with more
sisters like Loreal. She puts forth thoughts and ideas while contributing her time and she gives this
organization her all. Not only is she an amazing person and an awesome sister, but she is also an
outstanding role model.
-Taneka Rosario
Jenny makes various yummy chocolate confections to which I can attest to since she gifted my daughter
with two dozen chocolates lollipops on her birthday this past July. Jenny currently holds the position of
Alumni Chapter Vice President. Jenny doesn’t only the organization’s VP but is also the Community
Service Chairman, she is part of the Silver Ball Committee, and is the Alumni Representative for the Delhi
chapter. I know that I can call on Jenny at any time if and when I need someone to talk to. She is
compassionate, loyal to the sisterhood.
-Johanna Cochrane
Issue No. 1
7
0 Tolerance for Hazing
Hazing- The imposition of strenuous often humiliating, task as part of a program of rigorous
physical training and initiation.
Sororities and fraternities are often frowned upon because, when you think of hazing you
think of Greek life; not knowing hazing occurs in and is not limited to sports teams, clubs,
groups, military , army the navy and many more.
Only Alaska, Montana, South Dakota, Hawaii, New Mexico and Wyoming don't have anti-
hazing laws. Hazing includes and is not limited to...
Cutting, branding, labeling, or shaving of parts of the body
Causes embarrassment to any individual or group
Involves or includes the willful destruction or removal of public or private property for
the purpose of initiation or admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued
membership in an organization
The forced use of drugs and or alcohol as a form of initiation
Sexual acts to be implemented on self, and or others as part of the initiation process and
or for personal enjoyment.
Everyone has a voice, if you do decide to partake in any group and or organization and feel
you are being hazed or a sense of un-comfort please speak to someone about it and or stop. There
were many incidents where individuals who were pledging or joining groups did not speak up
and resulted in unfortunate events. Some incidents include and are not limited to...
-Kenitha Saafir and Kristin High Pledges for sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha in 2002
Benjamin Klein member of the Zeta Beta Tau at Alfred University in 2002.
At the State University of New York in March of 2003, Walter Dean Jennings III
pledging Psi Epsilon Chi.
Sigma Omega Epsilon encourages women to pursue their dreams and be better than they ever
thought they could be and in no way would we ever take away any of your rights or diminish
your beliefs; as by means of hazing and or any negative affiliation associated with the pledging
process and as our Sister's