Delta Sigma Theta and Lambda Chi Alpha
Largest national black Greek organization brings awareness to MSU
By: Robyn Smith
Issue date: 3/3/06 Section: Lifestyles
The Murray State News
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The women of Delta Sigma Theta pride themselves on being a public service sorority.
Since the founding of the sorority at Howard University in Washington on Jan. 13, 1913, members have been "empowering their communities through committed service," according to Delta's Web site.
"I got involved with Delta because of the history," said Launa Wood, Delta vice president.
The 22 original founders broke away from Alpha Kappa Alpha because they didn't think AKA was doing enough for the community.
Wood, senior from Jackson, Tenn., said the first thing the Deltas did nationally was march in a woman's suffrage parade.
"This was really monumental because they were black, but they still marched in the front lines with the white women, even though they knew they would still not get the right to vote," Wood said.
Delta was established at Murray State May 22, 1970, and was reactivated April 24, 2005.
Today, Delta has more than 200,000 members nationally and is the largest black Greek organization in the world, Wood said.
The major programs of the sorority are based on the organization's Five Point Thrust, which includes economic and educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health and political awareness and involvement.
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Fraternity collects food, money for local Needline pantry
By: Janet Robb
Issue date: 3/3/06 Section: Lifestyles
The Murray State News
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By tossing watermelons and collecting food, Lambda Chi Alpha has given back to the community in a big way.
During the past five years, Marshall Welch, Lambda Chi vice president of external affairs, said the fraternity has collected at least 100,000 pounds of food for Needline.
"Our philanthropy is actually the national philanthropy ... called North American Food Drive," said Welch, senior from Murray. "In the past, (nationally) we've raised somewhere close to 8 to 9 million pounds (of food)."
Every fall, Lambda Chi chapters across the nation collect food for local food pantries. Welch said they give their donations to Needline because they know it goes directly back into the Murray community.
"It's more of an impact on the local community than if we sent it off to ... Red Cross," Welch said. "If we gave money and food to Red Cross, it wouldn't necessarily be given out here. It could be shipped off. With Needline they give back directly to the community, and there are a number of families who have a dependency on Needline."
Lambda Chi, which Warren A. Cole founded Nov. 2, 1909, at Boston University, strives to bring together students of good moral character. Welch said the story about how Cole started the fraternity was interesting.
"Cole was more of a businessman than one seeking fraternal status," Welch said. "He proposed it at two different universities and ... he said this other school is doing it, you want to get on the ball and said the same thing at the other school."
The Lambda Eta chapter established itself at Murray State May 18, 1968, but the chapter originally started as a colony under different Greek letters.
"It was a colony of another fraternity, not as large," Welch said. "They had other chapters at other institutions but not very many at all, and then that was in 1965. In 1968, we adopted or, I guess you could say, Lambda Chi Alpha adopted us."
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