The Road Not Taken

This week has been a particularly memorable week for KDS, the St. Lawrence community, and those who were close to alumna Barbie Burgmeier '15. It was only just a few short months ago that Barbie's passing caused a great sadness in our hearts, but it feels like it was just yesterday that she was swinging on the porch swing laughing along with her sisters. On Thursday, March 3rd, we celebrated what would have been her 23rd birthday. This celebration was not confined to the walls of KDS, but was celebrated in many different cities by her friends and family as well.

Above, Sean Kelly '15, a former houseboy, and sister Emily Battaglia '16, share a toast for Barbie's birthday in Washington, D.C. Below, alumna Lexi Williams '15, provided Sergi's pizza for those who were in the Canton area in order for everyone to come together on that night and celebrate. Many other sisters and alumnae gathered together in their mutual cities to celebrate Barbie's birthday.

On Friday, Barbie's family arrived in Canton, where we had a small reception to dedicate the new porch swing. When news of Barbie's passing first spread, a fund was started to replace the swing on the porch at Kappa Delta Sigma and place a plaque on it commemorating Barbie's contributions to the house and St. Lawrence. The amount of money raised far surpassed the cost of the swing and plaque, and the rest of the money was donated to Barbie's brand new scholarship started at St. Lawrence for women in science.

Featured from left to right: Alumna Amber Lawyer '14 dedicating the new porch swing in Barbie's honor.
(Also pictured: sister Sarah DiBacco '16, and sister Emily Baldwin '16).

Finally, earlier this afternoon at 1pm, a service was held at Gunnison Memorial Chapel to remember Barbie and celebrate her life. We enjoyed performances by the St. Lawrence University Sinners, the Laurentian Singers, and the University Chorus, which Barbie herself was a member of. We discussed her love of music, ability to make people laugh, and her natural ability to be a leader that everyone looked up to. Readings were made by Caroline Fleischauer '15, Morgan O'Hare '16, Alexis Williams '15, Marisa Taro '16, Kyani Vasquez '16, Annie Deitderich '16, Emma Fleming '16, Lauren Stemler (Barbie's Community Assistant Advisor), Alex Schreiber (Barbie's advisor for biology and her professor), our University Chaplain Kathleen Buckley, and Barbie's sister, Marissa Schwalm.

We would like to give special thanks to Kathleen for helping us organize this service for Barbie, and for your guidance to all of us through this difficult time.

We would also like to give special thanks to Barbie's family for all that you have done to include and Kappa Delta Sigma in your thoughts and hearts.

Below is a video to tribute to Barbie's time at St. Lawrence created by Marisa Taro '16 that was played at today's service. Please share and watch as many times as you please!

'Twas the Night Before Bid Day

"'Twas the night before bid day,

And all through the school,

Not a sister was stirring--not even a few,

Our matching shirts were hung on their hangers with care,

With hope that PNMs would love what we wear.

The babies tucked so tightly in their beds,

While visions of bids danced through their heads.

My sisters packed their mints and I some warm tea,

Then settled into bed all warm and snuggly.

When all of Greek town began to scatter,

I heard in the hallway some nervous chatter.

Away to the bathroom I flew like a flash,

Put on my makeup in a very quick dash.

The sun on the crest made our letters glow,

As PNMs began to line up in a row.

When what to my wondering eye should appear

But our recruitment chair with a look of no fear.

With a little tandem bike, so lively and quick,

We knew in an instant the stopwatch would tick.

More rapid than eagles her courses they came,

And chapters chanted and called out their names.

Then conversations started without a delay,

And Spring Bid Day 2016 was on it's way."

-via Anonymous

Greek 101 and Spring Recruitment

From left to right: [Top row] Jordan Ahrens '16, Brittney Ehrlich '17, Abby Haley '16, Lexie Vining '16, Liz Miller, '17
[Bottom row] Marisa Taro '16, Olivia Kolb '16, Keegan Bowman '17, Audrey Milazzo '17, Kara Hurley '17
Check out that sorority squat!

Last night the girls from KDS headed over to Greek 101 and met some wonderful potential new members! Spring recruitment is now in full swing, and we couldn't be more ready to accept new members into our home come this Saturday.

In the mean time, our first recruitment event will be tomorrow, January 31st from 12-2pm. We will be giving tours of our lovely 53 Park Street home! If you cannot attend this event, don't fret! Get a sneak peek here of our house with this video that was taken at last year's spring house tour event. We will also be featuring rooms from the house each day on our Instagram!

Our final recruitment event will be a skit night from 6-8pm on Friday, February 5th. We will have two rounds of skits, one from 6-7pm, and another from 7-8pm, to make sure as many people can see our skits and get to know us as possible.

In Love and Friendship