FSU Alpha Chi Omega

Friday of Healthy Relationships week, the ladies of Alpha Chi Omega joined FSU PD for RAD Training. VP Member Programming Leah and VP Risk Management Ryleigh coordinated the chapter’s training. R.A.D. is a program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for women. The R.A.D. system is a comprehensive, women-only course of instruction that begins with awareness, prevention, risk, and risk avoidance. It then progresses to teaching hands-on self-defense training, but it is not a martial arts program.

The course is taught by nationally-certified R.A.D. instructors, and provided each sister with a workbook and manual. The manual outlines the entire physical defense program which facilities women students’ personal growth, and further serves as an information source after completion of the course.

The University Police Department also permits women students, who have graduated from the R.A.D. course, to attend R.A.D. training sessions without charge at any time throughout their lives.

The R.A.D. system’s instructional objective is to develop and enhance the options of self-defense, so such options become viable considerations to the woman who might be attacked. R.A.D. is a twelve-hour course, which is broken up into four, three-hour sessions offered during evenings, or two, six-hour sessions offered during weekends. The students are dressed in special protective gear when they are attacked by an aggressor, who is also dressed in special protective gear. Students must fight their way to an exit or designated safe place upon being attacked. This dynamic simulation empowers the women participants by teaching them the essentials of fighting back, and fighting back effectively!.

R.A.D. is offered all over the United States and Canada. Once graduating from R.A.D., students can return and practice their self-defense skills at any location where R.A.D. is offered. Therefore, the women participants acquire self-defense skills in a relatively short period of time, and, moreover, are offered the opportunity to relearn, master, and practice these skills throughout their lives.

At Florida State University, R.A.D. has been offered since the fall of 1996. R.A.D. classes are open to any woman student, faculty, staff, or local community member. Currently, R.A.D. has been taught to over 1,500 women at FSU! We are proud to share many of those women are Alpha Chi Omegas!

Note we took no chapter photos at the training at the request of FSU PD Officers.

We kicked off the day with a Welcome and General Session: The Practice of Leadership In this session, we discussed how each collegiate officer was elected by her sisters due to the leadership behaviors she embodies. While leadership can appear as a natural trait, it is a practiced skill that takes time to define. We spent time discussing the definition of leadership, we took the Leadership Practices Inventory and discussed the five practices of exemplary leadership.

Krystal N. Clark then joined Alpha Chi Omega to speak on inclusivity and belonging in recruitment. In this session, we learned about what it means to create a sense of belonging and how we can continue to be more inclusive in our chapter. Krystal discussed the changing landscape of campus and Panhellenic life. She spoke to how implicit bias plays a role during recruitment and identity biases that may exist. After spending time with Krystal today, we see the role we play as a leader in cultivating a more diverse and inclusive recruitment and membership experience.

Next were able to join breakout rooms with fellow VP Recruitments, VP Recruitment Information Chairs, and Chapter Advisors for a session on Inclusivity and Belonging! Here we were able to discuss challenges, share best practices, and more…

Next up, we broke out by officers for various sessions, elevating the conversation, advising strategies, officer roundtables, and more… We didn’t capture a ton of photos in said sessions, as we were working to be engaged and take notes.

We even had a mini dance session to energize ourselves mid-day!!!

Collegiate Growth Academy Day 2 – the day kicked off with a Policy Review- During this session we reviewed some of Alpha Chi Omega’s recruitment-related policies. We then moved into a session on COB, followed by a great session on Project Management. In this session we reviewed the six key steps to effective project management. Taking time to learn about project management will allow us as a chapter to successfully plan and execute our upcoming primary recruitment. We then moved into Putting Words into Action – where we discussed effective communication and facilitation & closed out the weekend with a great closing session!!!

While Virtual – Collegiate Growth Academy was an engaging experience and we are so thankful for the experience, the connections, and the takeaways… Alpha Chi Omega utilized the Whova app to manage the conference and it was wonderful! We were able to see our agenda, share photos, ask questions, download contact info, etc!

Well, it’s official the signs are up for public notice of the new build! After the signs were up and photos were snapped, CA- Britain and HD- Brittany traveled to have the affidavit notarized & items submitted to the city to make it official. Fun story, while getting things notarized at the local blueprint shop – the ladies learned every Friday is pie day and the owner passes out homemade pie to all who come in.

Alpha Chi Omega had two sisters who were selected to travel with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life delegation from Florida State University To the AFLV Central Conference. AFLV (Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values) exists to accelerate progress in fraternity/sorority communities through change-enabling experiences. AFLV Central includes the National Black Greek Leadership Conference (NBGLC) and is the largest, most diverse gathering of fraternal stakeholders in the country. Each year, more than 3,000 participants from more than 200 campuses come together for an experience with programming at all levels of the fraternity/sorority experience.

Member Ally Columbus traveled as a member of the Panhellenic Executive Board and member Bree Sutherland traveled as a Panhellenic Community Member. The members were greeted with a beautiful snow day when they arrived in Indianapolis, so after getting checked into their hotel, they took to the town for some photos. Ally & Bree were able to make the Alpha Chi Omega Meet up and snap some photos with Alpha Chi’s from across the country before the opening session.

Alpha Chi Omega partnered with FIJI and FSU Best Buddies to host “Palentines!” The event was a huge success with nearly 100 people in attendance. Alpha Chi chef, Duski provided baked Ziti and drinks for attendees. The dining room at 518 was decorated and Buddies and their pals, and sisters arrived for an evening of fun festivities! Cookies were decorated and valentines were made!

What is best buddies? Best Buddies is an International Non-Profit Organization that Promotes equality and one-on-one friendships with those with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. Best Buddies was founded in 1989 by Anthony Shriver, son of the creator of the Special Olympics Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Anthony Shriver started this organization after recognizing the potential in University students to broaden the opportunities that people with intellectual disabilities should experience. From one school, this program has grown into one of the leading non-profit organizations. This program is operative in all 50 states here in the United States, as well as in 50 countries internationally and even 6 continents. Best Buddies at Florida State University was founded by Anthony Shriver himself in 1990.

Ways to be involved

We are proud of our sisters who are involved with best buddies in the ways below! We also have two sisters on the 21-22 Leadership Team. Carley Stubbs is the activities director and Valarie Blondal is the PR Director!

College Buddy: To be partnered with a person who has an intellectual or developmental disability. This person would make a commitment to seeing their buddy at least two times a month and having contact with them at least once a week.  

Associate Member: A person who may not have the time to commit to a one-on-one friendship, but is an active member of the club. Comes to meetings and events and is part of one of the many committees within the club.

Volunteer: A person or organization who might not be interested in being an active member of the organization, but would like to help at events.