[KSUViolet06]

The Murray State News - News
Issue: 2/6/04

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Sorority obtains home base
By Rob Whitfield

Several proud members of Omega Xi Sorority placed letters on their newly-acquired house on Monday.

This accomplishment is another step toward fulfilling Omega Xi's desire to provide the best possible sorority experience for women without charging dues, said Beth Foster, senior from Murray and president of Omega Xi.

Omega Xi was founded in January 2002 by a core group of five women.

"We thought Murray State could really use a diverse sorority that didn't charge its members dues," she said. "If someone couldn't afford to join a sorority that wanted to, (we thought) that was really, really, sad. We wanted to give that opportunity to more people."

The sorority targets girls who prefer not to or are unable to pay membership dues.

"The great thing about (a sorority) with no dues is that (women) who don't have money, even to buy a T-shirt or pizza ... can still have pizza (or) a T-shirt because we find a way to all pitch in or fund raise to make sure she gets that," Foster said.

Acquiring a house was one of Omega Xi's goals.

Foster said Omega Xi members hope their house will serve old members while encouraging new members to join.

"We use the house for our rush events ... (and) also social events and just hanging out," she said. "That's the major thing: (to) always have a place (for members) to go. We had a set plan," she said. "We took members and we got a house."

Amanda Selah, freshman from Union City, Tenn., and vice president of Omega Xi, said the no-dues policy helped influence her to join the sorority.

"We have no dues, all the girls are really nice and it was a great way to make friends on campus," she said.

Selah said she also believes the addition of the house will help interest potential members.

"I love having the house here so I can come hang out with my sisters," said Selah. "I think it's a very big step in our future (by) helping us attract members."

The house is financed by members who pay rent to live in the house. Foster said the sorority's treasury, which is supplemented by fund raising and member donations, also contributed to expenses relating to the house.

"We pay our rent and the sorority helps out," Foster said. "We fund raise money and the girls pitch in when they can."

She also said that while they are currently leasing the house, Omega Xi plans to purchase a house in the future.

"We are renting the house right now, but we do have plans to buy the house or build our own house," she said.

Jim Baurer, Curris Center director, said because the sorority is non-Panhellenic and because the University does not grant housing exemptions for students to live in the Omega Xi house, no university regulations apply to the building.

"They're not in Panhellenic Council," he said. "So they're not governed by Panhellenic rules. The only rules we have (for Greek houses) are to ensure that the houses are safe (before) giving housing exemptions. But this group would not be eligible for housing exemptions and therefore would be outside (those) rules and regulations."

Foster said although not required, Omega Xi would be willing to allow a fire marshal to inspect the house for safety purposes.

While ecstatic about the addition of the house, Foster said the Omega Xi sisters will always strive toward new goals.

"Even though we have (done) a lot, there's a lot more that we want (to accomplish)," she said. "Our next goal, ... expanding nationally, is not far off."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------