University of Nebraska Kearney - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Kearney, NE)

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Vinitia Mathews and Stephanie Walker don big smiles after the in- stallation ceremony. Photo by Tami Jones Tapped for honor hen the two figures in black gowns and caps swooped down, their un- suspecting victim wondered what was going to happen to her in Thomas Hall. Stephanie Walker, Eustis senior, wanted to go home and end a bad day at school that afternoon last spring. But, the day wasn't over. As she left the Antelope newspaper staff meet- ing, Shelly Heinz and Kris Tynan, dressed in the for- mal Mortar Board attire, greeted her and led her back into the classroom. ‘‘I went back in the room and sat down and they said, ‘Congratulations! You've been tapped for Mortar Board,”’ she said. “It made me feel really special. It was one of those ‘tingly’ feelings.” Walker joined the Xi Phi chapter of Mortar Board, a senior honor society. The chapter is one of only two in Nebraska. It became the nation's 201st chapter in 1988. Before receiving Mortar Board status, the honor society was recognized as the Xi Phi chapter. After applying for Mortar Board status several times, the chapter finally qualified. “Just because we were accepted as a Mortar Board is a sign KSC is growing,” Walker said. “I don’t think that even five or 10 years ago we would have been accepted.” Mortar Board is different from other honor soci- eties because not only are members required to be leaders and be active in other organizations, they are encouraged to grow individually, she said. “It’s such an honor, but yet it’s such a responsibil- ity at the same time,” she said. By Diane Moravec d- New honorary members, ps Thomas Tip” O’Neill and v- Dr. Philip Holmgren chat ig with Mortar Board advis- ial er Jackie Rosenlof after the ceremony. Photo by Mi- chelle Thompson ar he ity 'O- ir e ut of re- )n. in ed 30 ler id. ree na rre ;st, ec Honor societies 21

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Honor societies add prestige to KSC s growing influence esides providing an opportunity for leadership and growth» KSCs four national honor societies prove the fact that KSC is growing in numbers and in- fluence. Mortar Board became KSCs fourth honor society in 1988. Lon Weber, vice president for academic affairs, said he feels that having the honor societies available speaks to the quality of KSC. The honor societies provide a way to recognize students who have distinguished themselves by al- lowing them to be members, he said. The further recognition of the institution by these societies... sends a message beyond the bound- aries of our state that our institution is growing in the quality aspects that further reinforces that we deserve recognition as a state university.” These are the kind of quality honor societies that are found on state university campuses,” Weber said. KSCs honor societies include Phi Eta Sigma, the honor society for freshmen; the Xi Phi chapter of Mor- tar Board, a senior honorary; Nebraska Alpha Phi Theta Kappa, the transfer student fraternity; aiid Spurs, a sophomore honorary. Phi Eta Sigma membership is based on grade point averages for the first semester of one’s freshman year, or an accumulative GPA of 3.75 for the freshman year. Membership is by invitation only, and special programs include fund-raising projects, fall initiation and scholarship awards. Nebraska Alpha Phi Theta Kappa is open to transfer students who were members of Phi Theta Kappa at their previous institutions, according to Wayne Samuelson, director of admissions. Mem- bers are selected on the basis of academic achieve- ment, Kim Sitzman, president of KSC's Nebraska Al- pha Phi Theta Kappa, said the chapter mainly helps make the transition to KSC easier. Some of their activ- ities include helping with Transfer Day in the spring and helping other state chapters organize the regional conference. The chapter usually has about 25 mem- bers. Spurs is open to sophomores who have a 3.0 over- all GPA, according to Leah Lindner, president. The organization strives to serve KSC and the community through various service, social and fund-raising pro- jects. f These are the quality honor societies found on state universities, f Weber KSC also has another special organization, but it’s not for students. Sigma Xi is made up entirely of faculty, and its purpose is to promote scientific re- search, according to Dr. David Clark, president. Two types of members are in the organization. Associate members have to demonstrate potential in order to be elected, and full members have carried out legitimate and primary research. Membership in Sigma Xi is made up of about 30 KSC faculty and about 12 faculty members from other institutions and research centers in Nebraska, he said. The organization has only been at KSC for three years, and is Nebraska’s most recent chapter. Sigma Xi meets about twice a semester, and speakers are usually invited to discuss topics of scientific interest, Clark said. By Diane Moravec

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Party Rules f etween the alcohol policies and a Student Conduct Board, KSC stir J dents are learning to live by the rules. Two alcohol-related deaths last summer prompt- ed college officials and the community to call for some regulation of alcohol at college parties. “We’re not preaching abstinence, just responsi- bility,” said Barbara Snyder, vice president of student affairs. On July 16, Jeffrey Rehberg, 19, of Loveland, Colo., died from a fall at a fra- ternity house party where alcohol was present. Less than a month after the first death, Gina Pearson, 20, of Kearney, died in a motorcycle accident after leaving a different fra- ternity house. This time, there was not a party in pro- gress, according to Brian Phares, fraternity president and Inter-Fraternity Council president. “After this summer, many places were looking down at the Greeks. We had to shift the focus back to the good points and away from the bad. We want to show a fraternity is a place to start a new life and not end it,” he said. The new policy created by IFC, the governing body for the fraternities, set guidelines a fraternity must follow to have a party. It includes punishments for violations, Phares said. “The policy deals with a system for registering, monitoring and enforcing parties and functions (closed sorority fraternity parties),” Phares said. All parties must be registered with IFC ahead of time and have set start and end times. Each party will have two moni- tors to watch for possible infractions, Phares said. To attend to a party, guests must have a special invitation from a fraternity member and be on the guest list, he said. An infraction of rules may be dealt with by the violating house or, if necessary, IFC. Punishments maybe as lenient as probation or a fine. “But, the more violations the more severe the penalty becomes,” Phares said. Additional infractions could cause a loss of a fraternity’s social privileges, loss of Rush privi- leges or expulsion from IFC. IFC’s alcohol policy also includes liability educa- tion, participation in the SADD driving pool, having an alcohol awareness week and alternative beverages at parties. f We want to show a frater- nity is a place to start a new life and not end it. Phares Panhellenic, the sorority governing body, has prepared a policy but KSC officials rejected it, accord- ing to Doris Grage, Panhellenic president and Omaha senior. The policy stated that no one under 21 years of age could drink alcohol and each sorority would deal with violations according to individual group i rules. “Greeks are starting to realize alcohol is a prob- lem on this campus and this (both policies) is one step toward solving the problem,” Grage said. Another possible solution to the alcohol problem is to place all the Greek organizations in one area on t college property, a Greek row. They would be bound h by KSC regulations because of being on college- owned property, Snyder said. p Fall of 1990 is the projected date for Phase 1 of tl the project to be finished. This would consist of four on-campus housing units west of the Cushing Colise- c um parking lot, Snyder said. S( Serving up their award- winning mocktails, Colleen and Holly Hayward took part in competition during SADD's Alcohol Aware- ness Week. Photo by Barb Well man 22 Alcohol policies