With the constant barrage of images in our media today that defines what the “perfect” body type is, it comes as no surprise to learn that there are over 10 million reported cases of eating disorders among women. The Delta Phi Epsilon sorority at the College devoted the past week to their philanthropy, eating disorder awareness. Throughout the week, the sorority has held various events on campus, calling attention to their cause and fundraising for the organization ANAD, National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.
“Pie-A-Deepher” was the sorority’s first event of the week. The event was a fun way to get people to recognize their cause, along with raising money for their philanthropy, explained sorority member Alex Goncher, senior psychology major. In exchange for $3, students got to pie a sister of the sorority.
Danielle Levine, sorority member and senior criminology major, said they chose the “Pie-A-Deepher” event because it was something different and other chapters of DPhiE have done it as well. “It was really successful … We raised over $350,” Goncher said.
Tuesday night, Delta Phi Epsilon presented a speaker, former Miss America of 2008, Kristen Haglund, who spoke on behalf of Eating Disorder Awareness Week. Haglund spoke about her battle with anorexia and how she overcame the disease. She called it “an issue that is not very sexy.”
Haglund made sure to note that eating disorders do not only affect women, but men too.
She talked about how the media, such as magazines, are constantly persuading their readers to go on some type of diet. Haglund, told the audience, the only type of diet she recommends is a “media diet.” A diet, which she explained, is a restriction of our media consumption.
She expressed the severity of an eating disorder and how it becomes a false sense of “peace” or “comfort” when things in their life become out of control. Haglund asked the audience to imagine “the kind of life that it is to be starving all the time … It’s not fun.”
“Real women eat pasta,” she said and the audience laughed.
“We’re not going to let society define what beauty should be,” Haglund said. After discussing her road to recovery with the help of nutritionists, pyschologists and the support of her parents she talked of the importance of being aware and to look out for friends and for yourself.
“You don’t have to be perfect, to be significant,” said Haglund as she assured the audience that all are original and beautiful in their own way.
Students at the College had a chance to reflect, relax and relieve their own stresses at Delta Phi Epsilon’s next event, a free yoga class held at Decker Lounge on Wednesday.
Stephanie Phang, sorority member and sophomore finance major, said, “We chose yoga as our event because not only does it exercise the body, but it exercises the mind as well.” She went on to say, “It’s also a stress reliever, which is perfect for college students.”
“I feel relaxed, and my mind feels relaxed,” said Navid Radfar, sophomore biology major who attended the yoga class.
That evening the sorority held a fundraiser at Palermo’s and received 10 percent of the proceeds.
A dodge ball tournament was held on Thursday. Danielle Levine, sorority member and senior criminology major, said they co-sponsored the tournament with the Inter-Greek Council. Levine said that two freshman teams competed to win a cash prize.
Delta Phi Epsilon wrapped up their Eating Disorder Awareness week by selling cupcakes in the student center for $1. Along with a cupcake, they gave away a small purple ribbon representing eating disorder awareness.
