Sigma Delta

{{About-distinguish2|the local sorority founded at Dartmouth in 1988|the Yale freshman fraternity founded in 1848}}

{{Infobox fraternity

| name = Sigma Delta

| letters = {{lang|grc|ΣΔ}}

| coat of arms =

| crest = Sigma_Delta_logo.png

| image_size = 180

| alt =

| founded = {{Start date and age|1988}}

| birthplace = Dartmouth College

| affiliation = Independent

| affiliation2 =

| status = Active

| type = Social sorority

| scope = Local

| mission =

| vision =

| object =

| motto =

| virtues =

| pillars = Strength, Friendship, and Acceptance of Difference

| slogan =

| maxim =

| tagline =

| colors =

| symbol = Snake

| flag =

| flower =

| tree =

| jewel =

| mascot =

| publication =

| philanthropy =

| chapters = 1

| members = 110

| lifetime =

| nickname =

| free = Sigma Kappa (1977-1988)

| free_label = Former name

| address = 10 West Wheelock Street

| city = Hanover

| state = New Hampshire

| ZIP code = 03755

| country = United States

| website = {{url|https://www.sigmadelt.org/}}

}}

Sigma Delta ({{lang|grc|ΣΔ}}) is a collegiate sorority at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire in the United States.

History

Sigma Delta was founded in May 1977 at Dartmouth College as the Zeta Lambda chapter of Sigma Kappa national sorority.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-30 |title=Sigma Delta {{!}} Greek Life and Societies |url=https://students.dartmouth.edu/greek-life/greek-chapters/overview/intersorority-council/sigma-delta |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=Dartmouth College |language=en}} It was the first sorority to be founded on Dartmouth's campus. Women were not permitted to enroll at Dartmouth until 1972; the sorority provided a place where the college's coed students could meet.

By the late 1980s, Dartmouth's student population had diversified and the Sigma Kappa chapter experienced an influx of minority women who wished to have not only a female space, but also a space that would embrace their personal identities as women regardless of age, class, religion, or ethnicity. In the fall of 1988, Dartmouth's Sigma Kappa chapter split from the national organization and became a local sorority.{{Cite web |title=Sigma Delta |url=https://www.sigmadelt.org/ |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=Sigma Delta |language=en-US}} Its members made this decision to move away from "the patriarchal, puritanical and heteronormative conventions ingrained in sororities affiliated with national chapters".{{Cite web |last=Czachor |first=Emily Mae |date=2015-02-02 |title=Dartmouth Sorority: It's OUR Party! |url=https://msmagazine.com/2015/02/02/dartmouth-sorority-its-our-party/ |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=Ms. Magazine |language=en-US}} In addition, they felt that the national sorority's rituals were too heavily steeped in religion.

The sorority changed its name to Sigma Delta and was established as Dartmouth's first local sorority. As of 2024, it has 110 active members.

Symbols

The sorority's symbol is the snake. Its philosophy or pillars are strength, friendship, and acceptance of difference.File:Dartmouth College campus 2007-06-23 Sigma Delta 03.JPG

Chapter house

The Sigma Delta chapter house is located at 10 Westlock Street in Hanover, New Hampshire. The house is owned by Dartmouth College.{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.sigmadelt.org/about-us |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=Sigma Delta |language=en-US}}

Membership

Sigma Delta's membership is open to all students who identify as female are gender noncoforming, and are nonbinary.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Marco |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Amid ambiguity, ISC, sororities examine rules for non-binary inclusivity |url=https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2020/05/amid-ambiguity-isc-sororities-examine-rules-for-non-binary-inclusivity |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=The Dartmouth |language=en-US}}

Notable alumni

Connie Britton - actress
Mindy Kaling - writer and actress

Controversies

In September 2010, Sigma Delta was charged with three counts of serving alcohol to minors during three incidents in the spring and fall of 2010.{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Mark |date=2010-10-02 |title=Town, Greek System, at Odds Again |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/valley-news-town-greek-system-at-odds/159193033/ |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Valley News |page=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/valley-news-town-greek-system-at-odds/159193033/ A1], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/valley-news-hanover-charges-sorority-wit/159193408/ A5] |language=en-US |publication-place=West Lebanon, New Hampshire}}

In 2015, Dartmouth's sororities decided to ban alcohol. However, Sigma Delta was able to reject this decision because it is an independent sorority and not a part of the National Panhellenic Council.{{Cite news |date=January 19, 2015 |title=Sorority Anti-Rape Idea: Drinking on Own Turf |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/20/us/sorority-anti-rape-idea-drinking-on-own-turf.html?referrer&_r=3 |access-date=November 16, 2024 |work=The New York Times}}