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The Omicron chapter of Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity will celebrate its 70th anniversary Oct. 11 during Homecoming and Family Weekend.

From 1955 to 2003, AKL brothers enriched Pacific with a commitment to the fraternity鈥檚 Five Ideals: Judeo-Christian Principles, Leadership, Scholarship, Loyalty and Self-Support. Though the chapter has closed, its impact鈥攐n its members and on the university鈥攔emains strong. 

At Homecoming, a robust reunion will feature 25- and 50-year pinnings, the Sweetheart Song, and an opportunity to tour the former 鈥渘ew鈥� AKL house. An Omega Chapter ceremony at Morris Hall will honor members who have passed away.

The celebration also includes a tribute to the late Daisy Mae Ables Berry, AKL's longtime and much beloved house cook.

鈥淒aisy didn鈥檛 just nourish our bodies with food. She gave so much to everybody. It didn鈥檛 matter who you were鈥攕he just really cared about you,鈥� said Reunion Co-Chair Tom Clark 鈥�85. 鈥淚n many ways, she was more of a house mother, too. She was always present, and she engaged with the students and listened to them.鈥�

Daisy was small in stature but had a larger-than-life personality. She is remembered as a good listener and a very spiritual woman who was firm but loving.

鈥淪he had her rules, she enforced them, and you respected her for it,鈥� Clark said. 鈥淟etting students do whatever they want means you don鈥檛 care, but she cared enough to say something.鈥�

Daisy oversaw the employment of many student hashers and kitchen managers over the years. She welcomed neighboring students to the house for free meals and often invited them to volunteer at her church鈥檚 pancake breakfast.

Students cared so much about her that they often sought ways to give back.

鈥淒uring the summers, brothers would do repair work around her house. One summer a couple of brothers painted her house. This was all done out of love for Daisy鈥攖his tiny woman was loved by all,鈥� recalled Alan Cook 鈥�77.

To honor her legacy, chapter members have established the . Reflecting Daisy鈥檚 nurturing spirit, the fund supports student emergency needs and the Pacific Food Pantry. The chapter aims to raise $10,000 during its reunion.

A generous challenge from Sharon Levin 鈥�84 and her husband Ismayil Guracar 鈥�85--an AKL brother and little sister鈥攚ill match up to $5,000 in gifts.

鈥淭his kind of support would have been huge for me,鈥� Levin said. 鈥淭here were times I wasn鈥檛 sure I would make it through Pacific, so the opportunity to give back spoke to me. Being able to help students, letting them focus on school instead of survival, makes me incredibly happy.鈥�

During the 2024-25 academic year, the emergency fund helped nearly 150 students meet urgent and unexpected needs. Last semester alone, the Pacific Food Pantry supported nearly 400 students facing food insecurity.

鈥淲e learned how Pacific helped a student whose family lost everything in the Palisades Fire,鈥� Levin said. 鈥淭his proves that helping students stay in school is more than waiving tuition. Sometimes, it鈥檚 ensuring they have clothes on their back, food in their stomach and a roof over their head. All of it matters.鈥�

AKL members look forward to reconnecting at Homecoming and learning more about the experiences of current Pacific students. They encourage others, in attendance or not, to join them in celebrating a woman universally loved for nourishing bodies and souls.

Said Levin, 鈥淧eople disagree on various things, but nobody disagrees on Daisy Mae. Nobody.鈥�

To register for Homecoming and Family Weekend, .

To donate to the Daisy Mae Ables Berry Memorial Fund, .