Wednesday, May 10, 2017 Greek community donates $30,000 to ‘Nebraska by Heart’
Painted, tiled, colorful and creative hearts popped up around the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus this spring, but those in front of Greek chapters are unique. Most fraternities or sororities with a six-foot heart in their yard chose to become a sponsor for the Nebraska by Heart public art project celebrating the state’s sesquicentennial.
Each sponsoring organization donated $3,000, which pays for the manufacturing of the heart, provides a materials stipend for the artist and assists with Nebraska by Heart project expenses. Sponsoring chapters got to choose the particular heart displayed on their lawn.
“Our AXO house is the entrance to Greek row, so it was only fitting that we display a heart,” said Willie Shafer, an Alpha Chi Omega alumna. “Our House Corps Board reviewed all the hearts available for display and after much discussion and voting decided on the white heart which most resembles a lyre–our badge.”
For Alpha Omicron Pi, the chapter based their selection on the artist. Junior Allie Laing, a member of Alpha Omicron Pi at Nebraska, submitted two designs to the Nebraska by Heart program in fall 2016; and both designs were approved for the project.
“As a chapter, we were thrilled to support Allie and her work, so we raised funds within our chapter our alumnae groups, and in the community with a GoFundMe page,” said Taylor Lofdahl, president of Alpha Omicron Pi.
The organization secured Laing’s second submission, entitled ‘We Are Nebraska.’ The heart will be installed at the chapter house later this month.
“Allie is an outstanding member of our chapter, and this heart is certainly a representation of the impact she has made in our sisterhood and community.”
For other Greek organizations like Sigma Chi, an alumnus donated to the project and chose the Greek house as a display location.
“The heart campaign was a program that my wife and I decided to contribute to,” said Mark Whitehead, a Sigma Chi alumnus from Kansas State who resides in Lincoln. “We chose to display our heart at the Sigma Chi House; and they indicated they would be willing to do it.”
Greek chapters that sponsored hearts include:
Organization | Project Name |
---|---|
Alpha Delta Pi | 78a) The Music of the Wind |
Alpha Chi Omega | 79c) View of hte Heart of the Storm |
Alpha Omicron Pi | 95a) We Are Nebraska |
Alpha Xi Delta | 36c) The Greatest of These is Love |
Beta Theta Pi | 18a) You Are Here |
Delta Delta Delta | 33c) Wave |
Kappa Alpha Theta | 40a) Beauty |
Kappa Delta | 50a) Interpretations of Life |
Kappa Kappa Gamma | 15c) The Key |
Phi Delta Theta | 20a) Defibrillator |
Additional chapters with hearts on display include:
Organization | Project Name |
---|---|
Sigma Chi | 23d) Elements |
Alpha Phi | 61b) It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This |
In total, the project received sponsorships for 83 hearts. The hearts are scheduled to remain on display until the auction on October 6, 2017 at the Salt Dogs Stadium in Lincoln.