On May 2, Union’s three sororities hosted an information session for potential new members (PNMs) to learn about each organization. Union currently has three sororities; Sigma Delta Tau (Greek letters ΣΔΤ), Gamma Phi Beta (Greek letters ΓΦΒ), and Delta Phi Epsilon (Greek letters ΔΦΕ). Each sorority discussed its history, sisterhood events, philanthropy organizations and events, dues, campus involvement, and diversity efforts. Each new member of a Greek organization must undergo new member training after they receive and accept an invitation to join a Greek organization.
Each organization denounces acts of discrimination and aims to create a more inclusive and accessible Greek and campus community. Members of each sorority are also involved in a variety of other activities and organizations such as Union’s sports teams, dozens of clubs, the Union Scholars Program, honor societies, and study abroad programs. Each sorority also hosts a variety of philanthropic events to raise funds and awareness for specific charity organizations.
Sigma Delta Tau
Sigma Delta Tau’s Beta Xi chapter was founded at Union in 1977, and it was also the first sorority on campus. The sorority was founded by seven Jewish women and it aims to promote academic achievement, build leadership skills, instill a sense of philanthropy, and create a lifelong bond of friendship amongst its sisters. Its philanthropic organizations are Prevent Child Abuse America (PCAA), the Sigma Delta Tau Foundation, and Jewish Women International. The chapter hosts a fall gala, new member pasta dinner, a philanthropy brunch, and more.
Gamma Phi Beta
Gamma Phi Beta’s Epsilon Epsilon chapter was founded at Union in 1986, and the organization was founded upon a rock: “Since the rock is the firmest and most enduring substance, able to withstand the ravages of lime, and offering the strongest protection, it seemed fitting that Gamma Phi Beta should be thus founded,” according to a presentation at the event. The sisters value love, labor, learning, and loyalty, and hosts events such as apple picking in the fall and “sister of the week.” Their philanthropy is Girls on the Run, and this past month they hosted Moonball, a volleyball tournament, to raise money and awareness for it.
Delta Phi Epsilon
Delta Phi Epsilon’s Zeta Kappa chapter was founded at Union in 2017, and the organization’s motto is “Esse Quam Videri — To be, rather than to seem to be.” The five Ss of the organization are scholarship, self, service, social, and sisterhood. Their philanthropies are The National Association for Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the Delta Phi Epsilon Educational foundation. The organization also hosts a yearly Deepher Dude event, where fraternity brothers do tasks to compete for the prize of “Deepher Dude,” to raise $10,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
“I’ve never felt more at home and more loved and honored than with the girls that I stand with today in Delta Phi Epsilon, as well as the girls in Gamma Phi Beta and Sigma Delta Tau,” Olivia Riley ‘25, sister of Delta Phi Epsilon and the Junior Panhellenic Recruitment chair, said. “Finding that in the Panhellenic community is absolutely huge and a rare one of a kind experience.”
Union’s sororities and fraternities have a primary recruitment round each fall term, and students
must have sophomore standing or above to go through recruitment. Some sororities may also host “continuous open bidding” or COB to recruit new members throughout the year. The sororities also hosted a mock recruitment event on May 9 so PNMs can learn more about going through recruitment.
This article was originally published in the print edition of Concordiensis on May 11, 2023.