Student organizations are vital to Ohio State. There are more than 700 registered student organizations on campus. More than 50 of these organizations are religiously affiliated. Alpha Nu Omega sorority members want students to know that they are ministers for God who do know how to have fun.

TaNikka Sheppard, a senior in sociology, founded Alpha Nu Omega.

“We just celebrated our one year anniversary on Dec. 12,” she said. “We are currently made up of 12 active members, but we plan to add new members during winter and spring quarters.”

“I always knew that God had a special calling for my life, and that is ministry,” Sheppard said. Ministry is doing God’s work and being where God wants you to be while serving his creation, Sheppard said.

Sheppard has memories of high school, when her friends talked about which fraternity or sorority they would join once in college. She knew that the only way she could be in a sorority is if it would also serve God.

Sheppard said that there were no organizations at OSU that were for her, so she had to create one.

“When I got to OSU, I was so intimidated by the other sororities’ rich histories and meaning, but I got a vision that I was going to do this,” Sheppard said. “In the middle of 2000, I had to face up to my New Year’s resolution, which was to start Alpha Nu Omega,” Sheppard said.

Many people laughed in my face and asked me how I was going to start a sorority with just one person, Sheppard said.

After she overcame the obstacles within herself she began to write the sorority’s constitution.

“Almost all the paperwork was finished in one week,” Sheppard said. “At the end of the week I was so worried that I would not find an adviser, but of course God sent a woman that said she would be the adviser.”

Sheppard realized she was still lacking members.

“It was just the adviser and me for a while, but then God sent the right women to become members,” she said.

“I felt that Alpha Nu Omega was a sorority that I could be a part of and be happy and not compromise myself,” said Shannon Crosswhite, a senior in psychology.

Sheppard would like students to know that Alpha Nu Omega is not exclusive to black women.

“We are looking to God to send whoever he will and that could be any woman of any race,” Sheppard said.

Alpha Nu Omega is a ministry before a sorority, said Crosswhite.

“Even though Alpha Nu Omega has participated in community service activities, we feel that ministry better explains our work because service reflects the individual, but ministry reflects God,” Sheppard said. “We also emphasize the importance of sisterhood and individual growth with Christ.”

Alpha Nu Omega members participate in weekly Bible study sessions, mentoring to at risk youth, and adopt-a-senior program.

“We also team up with other Christian organizations on campus,” Sheppard said.

On Feb. 11 and 12, Alpha Nu Omega will be hosting a discussion that is entitled “Lifting the Veil.” Issues about sex and sexual sin will be discussed. The OSU community is invited to the discussion and a time and location will be available later this week, Sheppard said.

Women that would like to become members must complete a 40-day period of prayer and fasting.

“This initiation process is modeled after Jesus when he went into the wilderness for 40 days,” Sheppard said. “The neat aspect of the initiation is that it is totally based on honor, honesty, and responsibility.”

“I don’t want people to think that we are a bunch of dry Christians that sit around quoting scriptures all day,” Sheppard said. “We like to have fun.”

Students who wish to learn more about Alpha Nu Omega or other organizations can log on to the Student Activities’ Web site.

Useful Links:OSU Student ActivitiesAlpha Nu Omega Chapter Page