The Earthquake of 1989 As an unhoused chapter, Upsilon at Stanford was perhaps least directly im- pacted by the quake. Not surprisingly, though, some of the historic Mission style Sometimes Life buildings on the campus were badly dam- Presents Unusual aged. Several chapter members were forced to move to alternate housing when Opportunities to an entire women's dorm was declared unsafe. Stanford Delta Gammas joined Do Good forces to help the residents move their belongings to new quarters. As resident By Barbara Brister, TA-Montana State, PCC XVIII West advisers, several members received train- ing in dealing with quake-related stress. Ten Upsilon members traveled to the hard-hit area of Watsonville where they acted as interpreters in the field, and assisted in the collection and distribution of clothing and food at a local food bank. Zeta Epsilon chapter's two adjoining houses at Santa Clara University received only minimal damage, but the swimming INSPECTED pool between them splashed over into the president's room. After a few days, large spiders were drawn to the mildewed car- pet. Fortunately, the house corporation came to the rescue with replacement car- peting and padding. As a chapter, Zeta Epsilon members donated clothing and money to the Red Cross and donated to the university's fundraising efforts, which netted close to $10,000 for quake victims. Members of Gamma chapter at the Uni- versity of California, Berkeley experi- enced a crumbled chimney and some foundation damage. They await the final reports from structural engineers to de- termine the extent of rebuilding that is Upsilon chapter members volunteered at a Watsonville earthquake relief center. necessary. The Gamma collegians were very re- Where were you on October 17, 1989 at damage. After calling Executive Offices sourceful in their efforts to help. Bulletin 5:04 p.m.? Not many residents of North- on Wednesday to report that we were all boards were utilized to publicize relief ern California will ever forget where they alive and unscathed, each of us began the opportunities. The chapter house was were, or what they were doing, as the task of trying to get back to normal. offered as a place to stay for anyone "Little Big One" hit. Because I had decid- Delta Gammas everywhere can take stranded in the East Bay due to the col- ed to stay after work to type a Delta pride in the actions of the Province XVIII lapse of the Bay Bridge. Members indi- Gamma report, I was at my desk on the West chapters in the days following the vidually donated blood, money and cloth- 33rd floor of a relatively stable Financial World Series quake. Each chapter con- ing to the Red Cross, while the chapter District office building, instead of in an tributed time, money, food, clothing and helped to sponsor a party where the price elevator or on the street. other intangibles toward helping those of admission was a can of food or article As PCC for Province XVIII West, I felt who were not SO fortunate. of clothing. an urgent need to contact the local chap- Gamma Eta chapter members at San Unlike the impression given by nation- ters after the tremor struck. With the Jose State University, showed good crisis al media, San Francisco and the Bay Area epicenter in the Santa Cruz mountains, management by verifying that all Delta have not been reduced to rubble. While Gamma Eta chapter at San Jose State Gammas were present and accounted for some individuals' homes were damaged, University and Zeta Epsilon at Santa Clara immediately after the quake. In anticipa- for the lucky ones, the Quake of '89 University were nearest the center. tion of another more severe quake or meant little more than a few new cracks Stanford University, where Upsilon chap- aftershock, chapter members stocked up in apartment walls, a few days off from ter is located, has many historic build- on food and fresh water, and tested fire work, and two days without electricity ings, and Gamma chapter at the Univer- extinguishers. and hot water. sity of California at Berkeley was close Through a local radio station, the col- It certainly was an experience none of enough to the pancaked Cypress Free- legians were able to let their parents us will ever forget, but I am proud to say way to cause major concern. know they were all okay. Gas and water that the Delta Gamma collegians of Prov- If you have ever tried to call long dis- were turned off until safety could be ince XVIII West responded in a way which tance on Thanksgiving, you have an idea confirmed, and water rationing was dis- brought credit to us all. of what it was like to try to reach those cussed. On a broader scale, the girls chapters. A 10 to 15 second wait to get a collected canned goods for donation to dial tone made it even more challenging the Red Cross, and gave clothing and to verify that everyone was fine, and that financial assistance to local relief agen- the houses had not sustained irreparable cies. THE ANCHORA OF DELTA GAMMA SPRING 1990/37