Pi Phis plant for peace on 9/11

Ali ('12) and Jenny ('14) enjoyed forging paths and planting seeds for sustainability and solidarity to commemorate 9/11.

Unlike any other weekend, when most students opt to sleep in after late nights of going out or studying, MD Gamma’s Alexandra Cohen, ’12 and Jenny Ferentz, ‘14 dedicated one Sunday morning to doing something different — on September 11^th, these sisters chose to perform community service at Hopkins Hillel’s Urban Garden. 

The girls, along with ten other JHU students and seven members of the local Baltimore community, spent an hour preparing soil and planting several Fall species, including lettuce, arugula, chives, cilantro, spinach, beets, and radishes.  The primary goal of Hillel’s Urban Garden Community is to harvest and serve the ripe produce at holiday meals later in the semester.  It also aims to educate various student groups on the importance of sustainable food growth and more importantly, on the interconnected nature of environmental stewardship and faith-based action.

Both originally from New York, Ali and Jenny found additional meaning in Sunday’s planting event.  Reflecting on the day, Cohen shares, “…9/11 has been marked by mourning and remembrance of the heroic Americans who lost their lives in terrorist attacks against our country.  As a New Yorker, I feel particularly effected by the tragedy, but I also recognize the incredible humility of those who came together to strengthen and rebuild our great Nation’s pride and security.  On this, the tenth anniversary of September 11^th, I found it important to vow to never forget the events that took place on that horrible day in history, but to also act to build community and work towards the betterment of American society.  I chose to plant in Hillel’s Garden on 9/11 to recognize the potential for renewal of hope in America and in the world.  As our seeds will sprout into healthy and lush plants, America, too, will continue to grow out of this era of fear, and will hopefully one day experience peace with its current enemies.  It was important for me to act philanthropically on 9/11 to show my solidarity with those who remember our fallen and those who wish to build, or plant, a stronger society built on Fraternal values.  It also doesn’t hurt to know that in a few weeks I’ll get to eat some tasty vegetables that I planted!” 

Appropriately, Ferentz wore a t-shirt marked with a large peace sign. She spoke of the experience, "The leader of the day gave us a kavannah (in English, "intention") for our planting – to think about something that we want to exist in the future that the plants we were putting in the ground could grow to represent. At first, my mind went directly to hope and peace, but then I decided that the seeds I placed in the earth would stand for unity and a commitment to believing in a tomorrow more safe than today. I am so happy I was able to participate in this activity on such a landmark memorial for my generation." 

The Garden planting event was part of an initiative through the Jewish Volunteer Connection of Baltimore and Kayam Farm in Reisterstown, MD.  Participants citywide elected to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 by contributing to a variety of community service projects.  To follow the growth of the Hopkins Hillel Urban Garden, ‘like’ the Facebook page here.

Other Chapter members marked the day by attending a Commemoration event and candlelight vigil hosted by Johns Hopkins University Muslim Association (JHUMA), Hopkins Hillel, and Students Educating and Empowering for Diversity (SEED).  Jenny attended the planting and the campus-wide commemoration event.  “The 9/11 ten year memorial service was an important event to go to as a New Yorker, an American, and as a "9/11 baby."  I definitely felt like a part of the Hopkins community as the night went on, and overall it was a unifying and meaningful event.”

— Ali Cohen

Pi Phis are everywhere!

We may have been far apart this summer, but Pi Phi was still dear to our hearts! Whether its wearing your letters or chatting up a stranger, our sisters have found that the Pi Phi connection extends way beyond our chapter. Here were some of our experiences this year:

Kristin B.
I was walking through my neighborhood and saw an older woman struggling to carry groceries from her car to her house. When I stopped to help, we began talking and I mentioned I was a Pi Phi. She got really excited and said she was a Pi Phi as well, started talking about her college days, and all the Pi Phi songs and events. It's neat to see just how lifelong Pi Phi is!

Nicole C.
It was right after Initiation and I was walking to class in the morning. The girl behind me commented that she liked my Pi Phi bag and it turned out she was also a Pi Phi. She's a JHU grad student from Virginia Tech. She wished us all luck and was happy for us.

Anna H.
I was working in retail over winter break, just a few weeks after we had gotten initiated. There was a customer who was wearing a JHU sweatshirt, so I started chatting her up. She went to JHU Med School, and when she saw my Pi Phi lavaliere, she recognized me as one of the new charters, and was super exited for us. I expected active members to kind of know that we just started a chapter, but it's really cool that alumnae keep so up to date and involved, too.

Emily K.
I went to the pool with my friend and wore our Homecoming tank top. And older woman stopped by and asked if I was a Pi Phi and proceeded to tell me that she was too. She went to Florida State University and lives in Las Vegas now. She was hilarious and sweet, and told me that she was excited for our chapter. She said that we have an enormous and amazing network of women across the country with Pi Phi and wished our chapter the best!

Christina W.
I was visiting law schools and feeling very overwhelmed by everything. When chatting with an alumni of one, I felt an instant connect. Willing to share her law school experiences with me, it wasn't surprising to learn that she was a Pi Phi at Stetson University! Later, I was helping with a book drive in NYC and was wearing my Pi Phi sweatshirt. Turns out a lot of the volunteers and teachers were Pi Phi alumnae - always continuing to support literacy!

A magical summer

There's been quite a lot of magical moments this summer! First, we celebrated the 2011 Convention in Orlando, FL at Disney World. Now, we (along with the rest of the world) get to see the final installment in the Harry Potter series. Here's how some of us celebrated (or rather, mourned) the final film:

Caitlin Hoff keeps it classy as Fleur Delacour

Jenna McLaughlin supports Gryffindor

MD Gamma goes to UIFI

We were lucky enough to send two of our fabulous leaders, Vanessa Valdivia and Natalie Copeland, to the UIFI (North American Interfraternity) Conference. Natalie shares her experience below:

I spy a Pi Phi sweatshirt and a Pi Phi house.

The adventure that was the UIFI conference began before I even got on the plane to head to Indiana.  While waiting for the very small (as in I had my own one-person-row) plane I met another participant, a Beta Theta Pi from University of Connecticut.  We traveled to Indiana and rounded up even more Greek participants after we reached our destination where there was no bus or person insight.  We eventually took over the main food court in the air port and waited for awhile. That was probably the most down time we ever actually had. 

            Once we reached the Alpha Delta Zeta house, where all 77 (men and women) were going to sleep, the real adventures began.  We set up our bunks and we were off.  From making paper bag “mail boxes” to being thrown into your smaller “chapters” of 10 or 11 people, the conference started with crazy jump-roping games and team building exercises.  From there, my chapter bonded, and throughout the week we were drawn into an intense, honest and dark discussion about the current reputation of the entire Greek system across the country.   

            The two lead facilitators eased us into the serious aspects through discussions of morals and values by first having us move around a room to show who agreed, or disagreed, with simple things like “Is it okay to go 5 miles over the speed limit?” and so on.  After two horrible videos and a serious discussion later, no one really wanted to talk about the Greek system any more.

            As a pick-us-up for the next day, the facilitators had us perform some community service.  My group went and helped out around a preschool at a local women’s shelter.  The children were all adorable and no older that 5 or 6.  We took them to a park and played, which was nice.

            Now, I’m not going to say we resolved everything that we had talked about by Friday and all left feeling good.  Rather, I was more worried leaving UIFI than I ever was actually going there.  Still it was a great experiences and it made me consider how the rest of the world views the entire greek system, not just Pi Phi.  Even though we talk about wearing “our Pi Phi hats,” it’s more than just a “Pi Phi hat”  — it’s an entire larger community of individuals that we are representing and not always representing in the  best light. The main question that UIFI left me and a lot of other participants with was: How can you change this negative stigma? 

            Overall, the entire experience was amazing. Coming from Hopkins with such a small greek population it was eye-opening to meet a large group of individuals from many different organizations. I am really glad that Pi Phi allowed me to have such an opportunity and I can’t wait to see all of my sisters again in the fall! 

June Members of the Month: Our 4k Riders

The Members of the Month for June are Meg Lavin, Ilana Selli, and Vanessa Valdivia. These three women are currently participating in the 4K for Cancer ride from Baltimore, MD to San Francisco, CA. In order to participate, each lady individually raised $4,5000 — talk about commitment to philanthropy! Follow their travels by clicking on their names below.

Meg at Fraternity Day of Service

Meg Lavin is a junior studying History and History of Art. She is also a member of the ROTC.

Left to right: Ilana and Vanessa on their way to formal

Sophomore Ilana Selli and senior Vanessa Valdivia are both neuroscience majors. They are also Big and Little!

We are impressed by these three ladies' dedication and perseverance in the battle against cancer. Our thoughts are with you during the 4K!

May Members of the Month: Aishwarya Rajagopalan and Lauren Silvey

Accomplished students celebrated the end of the semester at the Student Awards Banquet, which included several recognitions for leaders within Greek life. We were excited to be included in this year's winners and to leave a mark as our first school year on campus came to a close.

Dia and Lauren Silvey (right) during recruitment

Lauren Silvey won the award for Senior Academic Excellence. She studied Writing Seminars and is among the 2011 graduating class — some of MD Gamma's first ladies to graduate!

Aishwarya (left) with Devon, Brittany, and Vanessa at the Homecoming game

Aishwarya Rajagopalan won the award for Outstanding Greek Sophomore. Her efforts in campus life include involvement as a Peer Health Educator and Relay for Life. She has used such experience to benefit the sisters of Pi Phi in her role as Health & Wellness Chair.

We're so proud of these ladies for their excellent representation of Pi Phi and May Members of the Month!

April Member of the Month: Natalie Copeland

The month of April brought with it the anticipated Spring Fair festivities on the Homewood campus. Eager to become involved in the fundraising events, MD Gamma was inspired to host a "Pie a Pi Phi" booth much like other chapters around the country. Natalie Copeland, Chair of Spring Fair, went above and beyond in her organization for the event. She helped to procure campus celebrities like Rob Turning, head of Greek Life, to volunteer to be pied alongside MD Gamma sisters. Despite poor conditions, the booth raised more than anticipated for First Book, Pi Phi's national philanthropy. For her devotion to the cause and successful planning of our first "Pie a Pi Phi," Natalie deserves special recognition as April's Member of the Month. 

Supporting philanthropy!