Skirting

Traditions

Northern Iowa Women Est. 1876

MEGAN

MOELLER Motherhood and Education P. 6

UNI WomenThroughout

History P. 14

GO GREEK!P. 10

From the Editor

P. 2

In this month’s edition of “Skirting Traditions”, we offer our fellow female students an opportunity to read and reflect. As 2013 comes to a close, we wish for our readers to reflect

on their past year on campus and learn from other women who have passed through the University of Northern Iowa. The years that a student spends at a University may seem slow but in turn pass by quickly.

I believe that it is important for all women to realize their highest potential and follow through with their aspirations or career goals. If we don’t put ourselves to a higher standard, then we will not push ourselves to wanting and accomplishing more. We can all learn from women in our present and past who have put themselves in leadership roles and made a dif-ference for women in the future.

The opportunity for women to receive an education and learn is something we all take for granted. As you reflect on your year and make new resolutions for 2014, think of positive long-term goals not short-term.

Happy New Year!

Elizabeth Stemlar

Happy 2014!

From the Editor

Elizabeth StemlarEditor-in-Chief

estemlar@gmail.comFacebook.com/ElizabethStemlar

Twitter: @elizabethstemla

P. 3

J anuary

J anuary Cover Stories

P. 2From the Editor

P. 6Megan Moeller:

Motherhood and EducationP. 10

GO GREEK!P. 14

UNI WomenThroughout History

Left to right: Fiance, Travis Leuer, Megan Moeller and their son, Ayden.

A Balance of Motherhood and Education

By, Elizabeth Stemlar

Spending quality time with my son is way more important than a party.” said University of Northern Iowa senior, Megan Moeller. 10,655 stu-dents are enrolled at the University of Northern Iowa, and over 57% of

these students are female. The University of Northern Iowa is known as the #13 top 4-year University for 2013, but is continually recognized for its edu-cation program. This attracts many students from across the country to the little town of Cedar Falls, IA, and especially future female students. College freshman immediately have to learn to jump into the hectic college lifestyle, adapt to their new surroundings, new class load, and make new friends. This does not even include the social, emotional, personal and physical changes that a student has to make in a short period of time.

[Continue, p. 8-9]

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Average female college students learn how to balance their social time amongst their friends, personal time, involvement in student

organizations, work schedule, and study time. Amongst the many female students that attend the University of Northern Iowa, each student learns to time management their hectic lifestyle dif-ferently from the other students accordingly to their personality and surroundings. One of these University of Northern Iowa stu-dents is Megan Moeller, a 21 year-old senior studying for a degree in Nursing. But what makes her college experience much more challenging, goal oriented and different from her peers, is that she is now pushing forward with her education for her 6 month-old son, Ayden and fiancé, Travis. “Ayden may the cutest 6 month-old, he is a pretty great baby though. He cries when he needs something or is tired, he is definitely a momma’s boy but is hard when I just need to get some homework done or just need a break.” said Megan. “But I love watching him grow and develop a personality, right now he’s starting to babble and it’s so cute.”

Megan not only has to manage her personal schedule, but now has to management her son’ schedule as well with her fiancé, family and daycare schedules to help. Many other female students have to learn how to time manage with other person’s schedules in mind other than just their own. If they’re managing their personal life schedule with school, it may at times become a challenge. Some female students choose to voluntarily or involuntarily have children or get married in college but still find time to manage both worlds. “Well things are a little more hectic now than was originally planned because I have a 6 month old, but I am still planning on graduating in May with my bachelors like always. His in home daycare is help-ful; we pay for fulltime care no matter how long he is there-- so some days I leave him at daycare for naptime so I can get some homework done. So when we are at home together I can spend a lot more quality time with him.” said Megan. “I get ahead whenever possible and do not procrastinate. I use the extra time I have to be getting stuff done ahead of time.

Some nights after he goes to bed, I will study when it is quiet or wake up before he does.” Megan relies on her available resources, family support, and personal goals to achieve what she needs to get done in the present and future. Her current obligations still do not stop her fu-ture career goals of becoming a Pediatrician or OBGYN nurse and to work in Iowa City/Coralville or Cedar Rapids area. In the midst of all of her schoolwork and taking care of Ayden, she still finds time to volunteer with activities at the University of Northern Iowa, such as bake sales, flu shot clinics, and Salvation Army, also planning her wedding. “I planned a lot of wedding stuff this summer so that helped immensely and my mom is a great help. Overall I don’t know what I would do without Travis; he is a great support system and helps so much with Ayden. But who doesn’t love seeing their best friend play, care and love their child. They are great together and are basically my whole world.” said Megan. do more during Christmas break.” “But

honestly I don’t know how school and having a 6 month-old would work if I didn’t have Travis, we’re waiting until next August to get married so I would have more time to plan until after I graduate but ill probably do more during Christmas break.” Some female students are able to handle all the extra stress and challenges that come along with taking care of a child, or may just be able to handle only their own schedules. But Megan had the opportunity to either give up or continue her life the way she planned it, and she does. Megan offers some advice to other mothers who are continuing their education. “Breathe, schedule, schedule, get a planner and write everything down. It is too easy to forget with being so busy and remember to eat! Make sure you have your priorities straight, drinking every weekend is not going to get you good grades and a good job.” said Megan. “Spending quality time with my son is way more important than a party, relax whenever you can and allow people to help you when they offer it. Surround yourself with positive people who are going to help and support you.”

P. 9

Rho Gamma’s at the Uni-versity of Northern Iowa

walking hand in hand preparing themselves for Rho Gamma

Reveal.

P. 10

Today,Tomorrow,Forever

GREEK

Female students at the University of Northern Iowa are granted the opportunity to participate in Formal Sorority Recruitment. By participating in this event, these women are revealed opportunities of being a part of only one of four chapters offered at the campus, which include; Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Phi, Alpha Xi Delta or Gamma Phi Beta. As part of the recruitment process, these potential women go through a process of learning and talking with current members of these chapters. At the end of recruit-ment, these women are granted an invitation/bid to join one of these chapters at the Unviersity of North-ern Iowa. Another component to conclusion of recruitment is Rho Gamma reveal on bid day. Rho Gamms is a sorority woman selected by the Panhellenic Council that acts as a recruitment mentor that guides potential members through the recruitment process. A Rho Gamma is required to dis-associate from her current chapter during the recruitment process. On Bid day, all the Rho Gamma’s are revealed to the sorority community to the new members and are allowed to return to their chapters. The process of Rho Gamma Reveal is an emotional day alongside bid day, re-uniting with their current and new sisters.

By, Elizabeth Stemlar

Rho Gamma Reveal of Chelsea Smith from

Alpha Xi Delta

Top: Rho Gamma’s circle up together for the last time after Rho Gamma Reveal.

Bottom Left: Rho Gamma from Alpha Delta Pi, recei-eves a happy reaction from her sisters.

Bottom Right: Rho Gamma Reveal of Catherine Ver-cillo from Alpha Phi.

Top Right: Rho Gamma from Alpha Phi is greeted with

happy tears after being separated from her friend in Alpha Delta Pi

for three months.

Bottom Left: Sisters from Alpha Delta Pi wait anx-

iously for their sisters to be revealed and reunited with their

chapter.

P. 13

Women throughout history university of northern ioWa

1876-2013

Webster 1876

gilchrist 1880

mcgovern 1881

aldrich 1901

aitchison 1903

Walker 1908

lawther 1921

eaton 1935

Women throughout history university of northern ioWa

1876-2013

duyn 1942

arrasmith 1945

holmes 1956

barnett 1958

walton 1965

haywood 1995

remy 2004

rankin 2013