Kayla Nelson
Staff Writer
There is no better time to put on your superhero suit and head down to the Idaho State University Hutchinson Quad to help Alpha Xi Delta support Autism Speaks.
Alpha Xi Delta will be putting on a 3K and 5K fun run to raise funds for the organization Saturday, April 18 at 10:30 a.m. on the quad.
All proceeds go to Autism Speaks and will assist in finding a cure for autism.
“The race is more than just helping cure autism. A lot of people still don’t know what autism is, so the AmaXing Challenge is also about getting the word out,” said Amanda Nielsen, Alpha Xi Delta chair.
There will be activities including splatter a Xi, a photo booth, raffle prizes and guest speakers to help keep people in high spirits for the big race.
The registration fee for the 3K is $15 per individual or $40 per group. The 5K registration fee is $20 per individual or $60 per group.
“Our goal is to raise $2,500 for Autism Speaks. Right now we have $800,” said Nielsen.
The ISU chapter of Alpha Xi Delta was formed in 2005 and currently has 32 members.
Alpha Xi Delta follows a set of rules which help them to maintain professionalism.
“Anything a sister does reflects the sorority as a whole, so we must look professional,” said Nielsen. “We watch what we say and how we do things. Whenever we wear our letters we do not wear shorts or flip flops. We have strict rules for wearing our letters.”
The AmaXIng Challenge has been put on at various colleges throughout the nation by Alpha Xi Delta sororities. Autism Speaks is a philanthropy supported by Alpha Xi Delta sororities.
“Another thing we try to exemplify is called Heart Sunshine, which is always emanating positivity,” said Nielsen. “We want to hold ourselves to higher standards, but we never look down on people. We want to be open and be friendly and have this whole warmth about us.”
Alpha Xi Delta recruits new members in the fall along with other Greek sororities at ISU. Mainly, sororities do this by speaking with interested people and getting to know them to see if they would be a good fit.
“In a sense the Greek sororities are a small community on the ISU campus,” said Julianne Nguyen, Step-It-Up chair.
People interested in the sororities are invited to a preference night where each club bids on people to join the club. If a bid is placed on an individual, he or she becomes a new member.
Following the preference night, an initiation process that is confidential among Alpha Xi Delta sisters takes place.
After the process there is a ritual that is also kept secret among sisters.
“As a national chapter we are against any form of hazing. ISU as a whole is also against hazing,” said Nguyen. “We don’t cross that line whatsoever. You don’t have to worry about any form of hazing. The main thing we do is just talk and get to know new members.”
To pre-register for the AmaXIng Challenge, contact Nguyen at 208-440-1080 or via email at ude.usinull@2lujyugn.
