Melting Pot of Holidays

Although it is already March, I always like looking forward to (and back on) the winter holidays! This past December, Psi-EK had a great B/S event: Christmahanukwanzikah. This holiday party for everyone offered sisters and brothers an opportunity to enjoy the winter festivities together. The evening was full of food, games, gifts, and even some holiday Drum Corps watching! May and Josh—the Directors of Brotherhood/Sisterhood Relations—executed this event well, moving from activity to activity through the party. One of my favorite games of the night was “Would You Rather.” That game really taught me a lot about my sisters and brothers.

Christmahanukwanzikah is definitely one of my favorite events of the year. It is always around finals week, so life tends to be a little more hectic. However, taking a break to spend time with brothers and sisters was a great choice! The joint bond is so great—seeing everyone in a cheery holiday mood is so calming. And by the end of the night I had given and received my first holiday gift! 

Sarah Cox

The Spaghetti Dinner

     The room was a twitter as sisters of Tau Beta Sigma supplied the glowing apartment with ice, sodas, garlic bread, and trays upon trays of pasta. These preparations could only mean one thing: the annual TBS spaghetti dinner was finally here.
     Sisters, proudly wearing their UCLA-TBS navies, staffed and ran the event. Groups of people (non-members), some brought together by instrumentation, others brought together by class, entered the venue and kicked off the evening with libations and a name-tag ice-breaker game instigated by some active sisters.
As the evening continued on, people continued to mingle, but slowly, everyone made their way through the buffet line. The room now echoed not only with effervescent conversation, but also with the pleasant hums of happy, no-longer-hungry people.
     After awhile, bonding took new form as the group divided into two groups to play a round of the band’s favorite game: “Spanking Yoda”. Hoots and hollers resounded with the sight of odd cartoons, and equally odd phrases. During this time, home-baked sugar cookies were passed around and joy permeated every attendee.
     As guests left the apartment, everyone was full: full of spaghetti, full of delight, full of sisterhood.

-Emily Crook, Alpha Pi

Band Alumni Reunion 2012

As an enthusiastic member of the Bruin Marching Band and avid collector of all things having to do with UCLA history, one of the football games I look forward to the most at the Rose Bowl is Band Alumni Reunion Day (BAR).  As you probably already know, once every two years past marching band members come from far and wide (greatest distance awards have gone to alums from Korea and the Netherlands!) to relive their college band days.  One of the reasons BAR is so successful is because the Psi and the Epsilon Kappa chapters of KKPsi and TBS at UCLA work on overdrive the weeks preceding the grand day, doing everything from stuffing envelopes with music to calling lists upon lists (in very tiny font) of alumni for confirmations.  Spearheaded jointly by our respective chapters’ alumni officers and band staff, we succeeded in hosting over 200 alumni this year!  Although BAR involves a lot of planning and man-hours, or shall we say brother-and-sister-hours, every phone call is worth it when we get to meet all the awesome past marching band members.  It is so interesting to hear their stories about what has changed in the band and, surprisingly, how much has stayed the same.  Some of our pep tune arrangements are multiple decades old!  Woah! 
I personally got to bond with an alumni female snare drummer and was amazed at her story.  She joined band her senior year of college because that was the first year that females were allowed in the UCLA marching band!  I remember her saying that joining band was one of the best decisions of her life.  Hearing her fond memories of her only year in band made me pause and appreciate that I get to have four years of band with all my sisters and brothers.  I can’t wait for the day that I get to attend BAR as an alum!

Keri Downs, 
Epsilon Kappa Secretary 

We all scream for Diddy Riese!

The annual band trip to Diddy Riese, a great ice cream sandwich shop, is one of my favorite band camp traditions! Besides getting a delicious dessert for a great price, I love that this event really encourages band members to meet one another! This year we set off for the famous little shop after the second day of band camp. As more and more people arrived, the line grew until it was at least a 30 minute wait for ice cream. But that was the best part.

Emily, Michael, and Marlee waiting in line for Diddy Riese

While waiting patiently for my turn to order, I walked down the line to meet new band members! There are always a ton of attendees, so it really is an easy and fun way to get to know people outside of your section. As a fourth year band member, this event helped mark the beginning of an amazing senior year in band. Walking through the crowded line, I was reminded of how much band has influenced my years in college. The people surrounding me were family. Introducing myself to freshmen was like being at a reunion and meeting the distant relatives who you share so much with! The event was successful and sweet, and based on the excitement in the line, the Bruin band members are ready to rock!

Sarah Cox, Alpha Xi

Going Back to Your Roots and Lending a Helping Hand

When I was a high school sophomore I was recruited into the marching band, as one of only a few new members. We were a very competitive program at a school of over 3000, yet somehow it was a miracle that year that we even reached 30 members. I never understood how we couldn’t get more people to join what I thought was such a wonderful activity, and to this day what I call one of the most beneficial life changes I ever made. I always thought it would be great to have someone help us recruit, because we seemed to have some difficulty being such a small group.

Once I became a Sister of Epsilon Kappa I knew that I wanted to be able to be that help I had wanted as a high school student. This is why I didn’t have to think twice about the opportunity to help John C. Fremont High School’s marching band during their annual club recruitment day. EK showed up to their band room early to help set up an area on the quad and we got to know the 7 band members. That’s right, only 7. These kids were passionate and had photos, trophies, lists of places they tour, and the drive to get as many people as possible interested in trying marching band. The one they didn’t have with their small numbers was an easy way to help represent  each section. This is where EK came in during the recruitment rally. We had an example of each section’s instruments and a few mouth pieces so that anyone who wanted to try an instrument could.

A lot of kids were nervous, but we helped them open up a bit and try the different instruments out. One example that sticks in my head was a student who had played drums before but didn’t think he would be good enough to try band. After I offered him the snare drum to try out, he drew more of a crowd than I could have hoped to do on my own. And he was really good! I was happy to see him add his name to the sign-up sheet. It was wonderful seeing kids break out of their shells, and in doing so they made their friends feel more comfortable trying the different instruments out too. By the end of the event there were almost 50 people who signed up for marching band and colorguard! This was a number nobody expected, and the day was a huge success. Of course this meant one thing, taking a bunch of silly photos with their marching band before we packed everything up and helped them get their stuff back to the band room. 

I’d like to think that we helped show that marching band members may be called band geeks, but it doesn’t mean we aren’t cool kids at the same time! These kids were an inspiration, and it was not only fun, but so rewarding to have the opportunity to help them restore their band to a larger size. Service is one of the main reasons I joined EK, and it was the perfect way to end my time as an Active Sister. There’s always someone to help, and there’s always a way to make time once in awhile for some service.

Mlitb,

Philip Caltabiano, Alpha Omicron 

B/S Song Learning with Alumni!

With the B/S Song only being a few years old, it came to the Alumni officers’ attention that all of the alumni might not know the song. So, Jowilyn and I hosted an event dedicated to Alumni learning the B/S Song before we sung it at Second Degree this year. We were so excited to have alumni and so many actives present at the event. As the event began to progress, we quickly realized that it was just as important for the actives as well as the alumni to practice the B/S Song. From my own experience, I had only seen a hardcopy of the song once; when it was taught to the candidate classes Alpha Omicron and Beta Xi jointly. There were so many things that we as actives needed to fix, which made it a useful event for all in attendance. Most importantly, I learned that “and we’re for greater bands” is not nearly as high as most of the sisters had been singing it. After correcting and clarifying, we sung the song with and without the piano until we felt comfortable with our sound. The following night, we sounded wonderful as we celebrated the bond that is PsiEK!

-Micah Shaw, Alpha Omicron

Secretary of History and Alumni

B/S Camping 2012!

         Had someone asked me four years ago what I’d be doing over my Spring Break, organizing a camping trip for twenty-six of my dearest friends would have never even entered my mind. In fact, I had never been camping until three years ago, when I went on my first ever camping trip—an outdoor adventure at Joshua Tree that I always describe as being one of my favorite memories of my college, TBS, and PsiEK experience. It was the event that fully emerged me into the joint Bond between Epsilon Kappa and Psi; it single-handedly set the tone for the rest of my active membership. I remember looking at Erin Cubbon, by Big Sis and current Director of Brotherhood/Sisterhood Relations for EK at the time, and being so proud to be her Little. I couldn’t even imagine trying to put on this event myself. And then there I was, three years later, snuggly nestled in her shoes.

            I have been truly blessed. Of the myriad events the DOBSRs put on, this always seemed the most daunting to me, not only because I have very little camping experience, but also because of the tremendous amount of logistics involved. Suddenly, there was this huge responsibility on my shoulders: I had to make sure we had a place to stay, that all food and supplies were accounted for, and that rides were organized, with the added bonus of having to reassure any wary parents that their son or daughter was not going to fall off the side of a mountain. But, as I said, I have been truly blessed. None of this could have happened without the hard work of my DOBSR counterpart and Little Bro, Kelsey Chesnut. It has been an incredible year getting to work with her, and I could not imagine a better counterpart for this office. She made planning this event as stress free as possible. We both pride ourselves on our “chillaxed” mentality and approach, and we have proven to each other, time and time again, that everything will work out. Although Kelsey has always been an amazing counterpart, she blew me away in the way she took initiative when I became overwhelmed with academia. This was definitely a whole new learning and growing experience for the both of us.

            There is a major trade-off when it comes to organizing B/S Camping: to manage the event effectively, you are forced to miss out on some of the activities; however, the greater effort you put into ensuring the success of the event directly correlates to amount of fun you will have and the incredible memories you will make. So despite the fact that we had to bear 40mph winds that broke three of our tents and rains that kept us in tents for much of the first evening, we were able to bond over PB&J assembly lines and delivery services as we crammed into the remaining tents. Nothing could bring these Bruins down, and to sit around a roaring campfire, eating s’mores in a desert perfumed by fresh rainfall… It was all I could ever ask for. The stars put on a show for us that night.

            The following day I can hardly put into words .We began with a breakfast buffet of bagels, cereal, muffins, fruit, milk, juice and an array of Nutrigrain bars for the hikes. Half of us split off to hike until sunset, while the rest of us went for a morning hike and came back for lunch and activities. This was the part of the trip I had been eagerly awaiting, because this hike was the event that cemented my love and appreciation for my Brothers and Sisters. Helping one another climb mountains, overcome obstacles, strive for the highest—this is the epitome of both of our organizations. I often found myself in a parallel state of conscious activity and complete reverie, lost in a world of déjà vu, remembering the moment when my Big Brother, Eric Kveton, reached out for my hand and pulled me onto the next plateau. This time I had the support of Chris Carandang, Brad Scott, Amanda Young, and countless other Brothers who were always there with a helping hand. Out of the events of the entire trip, however, nothing made me more proud than to watch Briana Popeney go through the same transformation I went through three years ago, from timid rock climber to fearless mountain explorer. My next favorite B/S Moment of the trip had to have been the impromptu cabbage adventures. Kelsey and I had accidentally left three heads of cabbage in the refrigerator crisper back in Westwood, and we needed them in order to make dinner properly. Thus, Kelsey, Robyn Monroe, Alanah Nowotarski, and I set off to find cabbage in the desert. Ask me and I’ll tell you the rest of that story. ;)

            PsiEK B/S Camping this year was one of the most rewarding experiences of my time as a Sister. Once again, it brought me closer to my Brothers, but this trip was different. I truly felt myself come into my own. I was finally the type of Sister I had always looked up to and aspired to be. The love and support of my Brothers and Sisters has carried me through my entire UCLA career and it will continue to propel me forward as I take on the new responsibilities of district office. I can honestly say that without B/S Camping, I would not be where I am today. Thank you to everyone, past and present, who made this all possible.

MLITB!

Marlee Newman, Alpha Nu

Director of Brotherhood/Sisterhood Relations, 2011-2012

Western District Vice President of Special Projects, 2012-2013

Blast from the Past!: B/S Camping 2009

PsiEK’s Spring Break Trip to Joshua Tree

Had someone asked me a year ago what I’d be doing over my Spring Break, camping in the desert would have never even entered my mind. I’ve never really been the outdoorsy type, but I had always imagined what fun it would be to go camping. So when the opportunity presented itself in the form of a joint PsiEK Spring Break trip to Joshua Tree, I knew immediately that I wanted to be a part of it. Clear skies, campfires, and what better way to get better connected with my new brothers and sisters?

Upon arriving at our campsite, it was great to see some familiar faces, including my Big Sis, Erin Cubbon, who helped coordinate the entire trip as the Director of Brotherhood/Sisterhood Relations for EK. We spent our first day pitching tents, climbing the rocks at our campsite, and eating a dinner of spaghetti, dinner rolls, and salad. Mission Tortilla chips abounded! It was a truly glorious meal, and honestly one of the most filling dinners I had eaten all year. After dinner, we gathered around the campfire for some singing and bonding games (“Friends are nothing ‘til they sleep together…”—“Ooh, ain’t that funky now!”) It was a fun-filled evening in the crisp, cold desert air, amongst friends who brought warmth to our hearts like the dancing flames before us.

      The next day, we all woke up bright and early to a delicious pancake breakfast, completely with cereal, juice, milk, and fruit. It was like having a continental breakfast at a hotel. SO GOOD! After eating, a majority of the brothers and sisters decided to go rock climbing. I was ready for some adventure, but had no idea of what I was getting myself into. Without a doubt, this was the most incredible part of the entire trip for me. The natural beauty around us, the strength we found within ourselves, the trust we put in the hands of our brothers and sisters and the love and help they offered in return—the feeling climbing those rocks was an amalgamation of multiple emotions that are just too powerful to put down on paper. Being the Disney fan that I am, I can only compare it to the moment Simba walks up pride rock and lets out that tremendous roar that always sends chills throughout my entire body. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure I heard some a cappella “King of Pride Rock” at the peak of the climb, courtesy of Anthony Barbir and Vanessa Houseman. Pretty sure? Actually, I’m certain I have a video of it… J

Once we returned back to camp, I had pretty much the greatest lunch of my entire life. No joke. After hours of climbing rocks, stories high, with the hot desert sun beating down on your body, any meal is like a four-star gourmet masterpiece. PB & J, tortilla chips, and Famous Amos cookies were lunchbox fare no more. When everyone had finished eating, our wonderful DOSA, Danäe Paterson, commenced some wonderful games and activities to bring the brothers and sisters together. Later, we built another campfire, roasted marshmallows, made some delectable s’mores, sang songs, and enjoyed one last bonding activity wherein everyone learned how much of an impact they had on each other through simple anonymous taps on the shoulders.

With that, our last night at Joshua Tree was complete. After watching the sunrise the next morning, we packed up, cleaned our campsite, and headed back for one last return to UCLA before going our separate ways and continuing on our individual Spring Break adventures. A lifetime’s worth of fun in three days, and yet break had barely just begun! This was a truly unforgettable experience and I will cherish the memories forever.

-Marlee Newman, Alpha Nu 

Reading to Kids!

In the Los Angeles area there is an organization called “Reading to Kids” that aims to promote reading and learning skills in elementary school children at a number of different schools.  Once a month, they group together and divide the kids into grade levels to read a book having to do with that month’s theme.  At the end of the day, the kids actually get to take a copy of the book they read home with them!  This month, their theme was music, so they got to read cute books about music (the kindergarteners got to read Tubby the Tuba!).  We had the opportunity to play some of our UCLA songs for the kids after they read their books!  

We played our fight songs, some of our stand tunes, all with clarinets, alto saxophones, and percussion. Of course, we taught them the 8-clap! This event was such a fantastic service event and showed us that we don’t have to limit what we do based on numbers or instrumentation. As long as we are passionate about what we’re doing; the event can be a success.  It was a lot of fun to play for them, and I hope we get to do it again soon!

http://readingtokids.org/Home/main.php

-Keri Downs, Alpha Xi

Fall Bake Sales!

Monday morning classes are almost always a drag, especially those 8 am ones. The weekend seems to disappear and school abruptly returns. Getting ready in time—or even waking up—can be a struggle. Making it over the hills of Westwood feels like a success, but then looking up BruinWalk from the bottom is simply daunting. But wait! There is something going on—a bargain of some sort?

The hustle and bustle is worthy of further research. Suddenly a table covered with goodies ranging from chocolate cupcakes and brownies to s’mores bars and blueberry muffins is in sight—and what a deal! Only 50 cents for a delicious ‘made with love’ baked good and a napkin?! It seems the sisters of Epsilon Kappa have done it again—improving Monday mornings one customer at a time.

During Fall of 2011, EK held two bake sales, both on Mondays! Not only did these events raise money for our chapter, but they gave us the opportunity to spend time together in the kitchen! There was so much sisterly love surrounding the goodies that it only makes sense that they were delicious! Even selling the sweets was a treat (no pun intended). Because the sisters of EK come from various majors, we don’t always see each other during a school day. Spending time at the bake sale gives us another chance to be with one another.

At the last bake sale, another sister and I walked up and down BruinWalk with a ‘mini bake sale in a bowl’. We brought the sale to the customers—and it worked! The two of us made our way to the Bruin Bear and found a group of high schoolers eating lunch. We showed them our baked goods and simply explained how great of a deal it was, which was followed by ten quick sales! By spending a little time at the sale, I was able to help our sorority earn money while catching up with my sisters. If I thought our prices were a good deal, I think I just found a better one!

-Sarah Cox, Alpha Xi