National sororities at the University of the South (Sewanee)

[carnation]

I just saw KDatUTC's thread about KDs at Sewanee and checked the website and sure enough, they're the first national sorority there! I had heard that all their groups planned to nationalize--I believe that all the fraternities except 1 have.

Does anyone know any more about it?

[33girl]

carnation - I think all the fraternities have always been national except the Phi Delts went local recently (I'm guessing due to the dry policy).

[Tom Earp]

carnation, I never understood why the Soroitys at U of The South were locals and the Fraternitys were Internationals.

I do not know it had anything to do with it being a religious affiliated college or not.

Am glad to see a National Soroity get a toe hold on campus and hope that others will follow!

Congratulations to the newest Soroity KD!!!!!

[DeltAlum]

This has nothing really to do with the topic, but in our Fraternity magazine a year or so ago there was a story about Major Archibald Butt, a Delt from University of South (Sewanee, 1888) who was a hero on, and went down with, the Titanic.

He was military aide to U.S. presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, and there is a small statue to his honor somewhere in Lafayette Park in D.C.

[FuzzieAlum]

I would think, although I have no real authority here, that if they were sending all their locals national, they wouldn't start by bringing in a NEW national colony - they'd start converting the locals, either one by one or en masse.

Sewanee has some very unique traditions, and their Greek system is pretty strong, so I don't know that the girls are the mountain feel they are missing out by being local.

[AOIIBrandi]

Congratulations to KD and Sewannee

I am glad to hear the University is moving forward, and that a religiously affiliated school is opening to national expansion.

[MysticCat]

The University of the South (Sewanee) is affiliated with the Episcopal Church. Historically, colleges affiliated with the more mainline denominations, such as the Episcopal or Presbyterian churches, have not had the general bias against greek groups that some more conservative denominations have had.

[carnation]

Oh, I'd doubt that being Episcopalian has anything to with the sororities being locals. Most of the Episcopalians I know are national Greeks and come from longtime Greek families!

[MysticCat]

You're exactly right, Carnation -- I don't think I was clear. I was responding to AOIIBrandi's statement that she was glad to hear "that a religiously affiliated school is opening to national expansion." The point I was trying to make was that while some religious groups/schools might (do) have a problem with greek groups in general, or might (do) limit greek groups to locals so as to exercise more control and oversight, my experience is that Episcopalians (and Presbyterians, and I'm sure some other groups) historically have not had objections to or biases against GLO's, whether national or local. After all, I'm sure you know that Pi Phi (like its sister in the Monmouth Due, Kappa) was founded at a college that was at the time and still is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.

[carnation]

Mystic Cat-- I was responding to an earlier post wondering whether the religious background of Sewanee had anything to do with the women having locals! Yeah, the Episcopalians would be about the *last* church to object to national Greeks!

A couple of years ago, there was a Sewanee woman on GC who was asking for help in colonizing a national there. I don't know if she's part of KD now or what but she said that she assumed that there was no particular reason why the girls had locals other than they'd started out that way and no one had made the move to nationals.

Possibly their administration has told them that they must go national, like mine did, due to liability concerns. I also know that they were heavily pursuing several women here but all of them told Sewanee that they would never consider a college that didn't have nationals. (Another reason why my college here is going after nationals--to be competitive.)

[imsohappythatiama]

*bump*

Just wondering if anyone has any recent information about Sewanee possibly being open for expansion--either through adding new colonies, or colonizing current local groups.

How has the KD chapter been doing?

[kddani]

i have no idea how they're currently doing, but I believe they may have had some problems in the beginning being the first national... I think the local tradition there was very strong, I don't think they were too happy about nationals coming in. Have no idea how they're currently doing though, and that's just what I heard! I don't believe that the founding class was very large either. But I haven't heard anything else bad, so I guess that's good!

[carnation]

I'm pretty sure that Firekracker was at their installation--I believe those were the pictures she showed me!

The local tradition is strong but it's not all that old--less than 30 years. Sewanee also has 2 rather exclusive social clubs, Pink Ribbon Society and White Ribbon Society, that a woman can be a member of and still belong to a Greek-letter sorority.

[NutBrnHair]

Due to their remote location -- it might be difficult for them to get a 3rd-party vendor for social occasions (unless they take a bus to Chattanooga) -- sometimes that makes it difficult to comply with National policies.

I, too, wonder how KD is doing and if other NPCs will follow.

[NutBrnHair]

Kappa Delta Sorority Becomes the First National Sorority
at The University of the South
By: Kathy J. Ramirez, Chapter Development Consultant
And Marquette A. Guerin, Chapter Development Consultant

As four members founded Kappa Delta Sorority, similarly, four young women came together to begin the process of bringing a national sorority to The University of the South. On April 13, 2003, Kappa Delta became the first national sorority at The University of the South in Sewanee, TN. The University of the South was founded in October of 1857 and has been a home for local sororities since 1977, just 26 years. The population of this private university is close to 1,200.

As Kappa Delta's 203th chartered chapter, Eta Epsilon did not start off with a traditional colonization weekend. We began in September functioning like the other local groups and participated in the required Inter Sorority Council events. Fall semester, with the help of our interest group, we participated in Around The World and trash pick up. During one of our two pre-recruitment events, we decorated picture frames, which we then donated to the Children's Advocacy Center in Chattanooga, TN. We also volunteered to help with the campus Homecoming Run and with the decorations for Lessons and Carols, and a few members became troop leaders for a local Girl Scout Troop.

Spring semester, the colony participated in formal recruitment with the help of local KD chapters at Middle Tennessee State University, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, and Vanderbilt University. It was great to have the area chapters in Sewanee as it gave the Sewanee community and the colony an idea of the national support. We had a successful recruitment and on Bid Day went on a chapter retreat to Tullahoma, TN.

As the members went through the new member process, they were very excited as no other groups on campus had a program like ours. Also, during the new member process we had many sisterhood events such as "Friends and Fajita Night" and Sterling's Coffee Hour. We also co-sponsored a Mr. Sewanee Pageant with Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. As the Greek Advisor said, "This was one of the best Greek events anyone has ever put on in Sewanee." We enjoyed getting the campus and community involved as well as educating the campus on our organization. During our six-week new member experience, the chapter learned about not only about Kappa Delta and sisterhood but also about what it means to be part of a national organization.

On April 13, 2003, ten women were initiated into the Eta Epsilon Chapter of Kappa Delta. National Vice President--Membership Margaret Holt Duncan conducted the initiation ceremony, assisted by National President Julie Landgren Johnson and Former National Vice President--Extension and Former National Secretary Gale M. Fuller.

The initiation reception was held at the home of Melissa Webb, who is an area alumna from Alpha Mu Chapter. At the reception Julie Johnson presented the Eta Epsilon Charter to the Chapter President, Jill Robinson; Gale Fuller offered the traditional White Rose Toast, and Lane Jennings gave the invocation.

Dean Eric Hartman, Dean of Students, welcomed Eta Epsilon to The University of the South and congratulated the young women on being the first national sorority at The University of the South. He also welcomed the newest chapter to the Greek community. Delta Pi presented the Loving Cup and Beta Kappa presented the Baby Cup.

The Eta Epsilon chapter council includes President Jill Robinson, Vice President--New Member Education Jessica Martin, and Vice President--Membership Shannon Lynberg. Other initiates are Kara Allen, Jean Faulkner, Frances Hartline, Kelli James, Kristin Luna, Callie Jennings, and Lane Jennings.