The Alpha Eta Circle strives to not only start a conversation surrounding important campus issues, but also take action through campus wide initiatives which utilize the resources and influence of all of our members. 

ODK Opinions (2020-) 

Ramble In (2016-) 

ODK started thinking about things that were missing from Tech's campus. Two big areas were approachability of faculty/staff and connectivity in the student body. In 2016, ODK started a tradition made popular by Auburn, called Hey Day. Partnering with SGA, it was made part of Grad week and encouraged graduating students to meet others before they embarked on their post-grad journey. In 2018, it was rethought and created as an event that ODK holds called Ramble In. On the first day of classes, students, faculty, and staff are given a name tag and encouraged to say hi to others wearing the name tag. Not only can they get a King of Pops and ability to win cool prizes, they can also make the first day of classes more exciting. The Reck, Buzz, and President Peterson helped welcome students into Georgia Tech. 

Buzz's Backyard (2016-) 

Buzz's Backyard started off as a new member project in ODK. A new class of Deeks asked what could improve Georgia Tech? Their answer was a collaborative play space that was iconic and relieved stress. Mental health was always a concept that was talked about, but we are lacking in space for people to express relieving the stress. While Georgia Tech has space for students to destress in different forms, there's a need for more gathering spaces. We are currently working with Health Initatives to make this play space a reality. 

Campus Active Art Space Initiative (2016)

The Active Art Space Initiative is an initiative which grew out of the interest of several ODK members to place a playground on campus. Through the brainstorming phase, it was determined that the an Active Art Space, similar to several installations in the metro Atlanta area would complement the need for an active area and the goal to integrate art into Georgia Tech's campus. The project has support from the Office of the Arts and the Center for Community Health and Well-Being and is in its earliest development stages.

Inclusive Post-Secondary Academy (2015)

The Inclusive Post-Secondary Academy (IPA) is an initiative which started in the Fall of 2015 that grew from a discussion at an ODK meeting. Dr. Blum, former Dean of the College of Business came to speak at a general meeting, in hopes to gauge the student body's feelings towards an academic program focused on educating students with intellectual disabilities. An advisory committee was formed shortly after the meeting, and work began to create and approve a curriculum. The IPA found a director, as well as new students to fill the Student Advisory Council. The Inclusive Post-Secondary Academy Student Advisory Council (IPASAC) then developed the Excel Program which has garned much success today. 

LGBTQIA Resource Center (2014)

ODK, along with SGA, the Pride Alliance, and oStem worked with the Office of the Dean of Students to help establish Georgia Tech's first LGBTQIA Resource Center. ODK's role was to act as the student voice behind the resource center by building up student support and uniting relevant stakeholders in order to create a more cohesive and concentrated effort to help further civil rights for the LGBTQIA community and improve student life at Georgia Tech. ODK leveraged its role as Georgia Tech’s premier leadership society to unite leaders across organizations for the betterment of an entire community of underrepresented Yellow Jackets.

Mental Health Think Tank (2014)

Each year, ODK at Georgia Tech holds a Think Tank event to discuss and address campus issues. There are many grassroots efforts on campus too, but the goal is to pool all existing resources, interest groups, and students to interact in a transparent manner and to work side-by-side as equals to bring about rapid change. ODK held its first Think Tank event in Fall 2013. This think tank addressed the pressing issue of mental health in the GT community. Different groups with varying perspectives on mental health (including professors, student organizations, departments, staff, etc.) participated in multiple round-table discussions to come up with solutions and delegate existing efforts to tackle the challenges we face. These solutions were reported to the President's Mental Health Task Force to include in their institute-wide action plan.

Student Center Expansion Committee (2014)

ODK worked alongside the Institute-wide Student Center Expansion Committee (SCEC) to develop a strategy for informing students about the expansion effort, gathering student opinion on what should be included in a new facility, and unifying student support for the project. The efforts of ODK members contributed significantly to the direction of the project and increased campus support.