Sigma Delta Tau was officially inaugurated Saturday as the 16th national sorority of the Inter-Sorority Council at the University.
The organization held its initiation for more than 70 new members. Amy Krouse, Sigma Delta Tau national president, attended the ceremony to present the national charter "so as to officially recognize them as a full chapter of Sigma Delta Tau," Meg Shamburger, program coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Life, said in an email.
When a new group is established at the University by a national organization, it is only considered a colony until all of the necessary requirements set forth by its organization are completed, Shamburger said. "Once they complete all of the necessary requirements, they can be chartered and move from colony status to a fully recognized chapter."
At the private initiation ceremony, members took oaths and became life-long sisters of Sigma Delta Tau, Shamburger said.
"It brings all the sisters together and makes them feel a part of Sigma Delta Tau," said Michelle Marchiano, president of the University chapter of Sigma Delta Tau.
Girls from other Sigma Delta Tau chapters in Maryland and New York also attended, as well as Sigma Delta Tau alumni. "The amount of support from other chapters and past members was overwhelming and totally awesome," Casey Yardumian, secretary for Sigma Delta Tau at the University, said in an email.
Yardumian heard about the sorority while it was tabling on the Lawn. She sent in a resume to the advisory team to help the sorority get started and was chosen to take the secretary position.\nAt the ceremony, the members got together to "learn about what makes up SDT, what makes us unique," Yardumian said.
In the fall of 2009, the ISC voted to open for extension at the University. This allowed the community to begin searching for a 16th sorority. "The ISC decided that Sigma Delta Tau would be not only a great addition to our Greek community but would also meet the needs of our associate chapter," Shamburger said. Sigma Delta Tau was established in 2009 as an associate member chapter.
Sigma Delta Tau's goals for the upcoming school year include recruitment and creating a strong bond between the girls. "Our biggest challenge is to bring all the girls together and make the sisterhood strong while also trying to recruit new girls in the fall," Marchiano said, adding that although the sorority was aiming for about 100 new members, "everyone was still shocked that we got over 70."
Sigma Delta Tau's executive board includes Michelle Marchiano as president, Mimi Stein as vice president, Casey Yardumian as secretary, Alana Heifetz as treasurer, Whitney Chronister as ISC representative and Katie Schneider as social chair.
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