For many involved in Greek life, weekly chapter dinner is a great time to be able to bond with the people in your fraternity or sorority. On April 8, Kappa Kappa Gamma, the Gamma Alpha Chapter, continued a longstanding tradition of reading “This is Your Life” letters to graduating seniors with a story about Hannah Whetstone, senior in news and sports media.

Whetstone said she had been looking forward to her parents reading her letter and reflecting on how far she has come as a woman. 

“I loved the story my parents shared,” Whetstone said. 

The letter described her curiosity as a child and even how she would spend the night in the barn to see what the animals did at night. Her parents also wrote her a personal letter that wasn’t read aloud. 

“It was just so sweet … to hear how proud they are of me and to reflect on my childhood was really, really nice,” Whetstone said.

Special traditions are one of the biggest things that make Greek life so attractive to college students. But another aspect is the chapter’s desire to help members grow as people, which Kappa Kappa Gamma does by hosting a program each month to educate its members on different topics. 

Kappa Nationals arranged a presentation on April 8 called “Courage to Commit”. The presentation was focused on educating about sexual crime, consent and how college students can stay safe and take care of each other in dangerous situations. 

Between one and four college-aged women are victims of sexual crimes, but 90% of sexual crimes go unreported. Knowing what to do in these situations could be the thing that keeps them from progressing. 

Grace Hornback, Kappa Kappa Gamma’s vice president of member development, said this presentation was especially important because it gives a chance to change the culture of the chapter. 

“Whether this is through friendships, work settings or romantic relationships, it is so important to not be scared to talk about hard topics,” Hornback said. “This is another way that we can support our sisters and create a space where each girl feels seen and loved within the chapter.”