Diversity focus of new sorority
The five founding members of Oregon State's Delta Phi Omega look to diversity and growth
Lauren Dillard
Issue date: 10/2/06 Section: News
|
A new sorority on campus, Delta Phi Omega, is tapping into the spirit of Greek life and making some great friends along the way.
"We want to make an impact and be an asset to social change," President and Social Chair Rachel Chin said.
"We wanted an outlet for minorities to get involved with Greek life. We wanted to get involved in our own way."
DPO at OSU is just one colony of a national sorority. Chin and Vice President Sonia Rajput said the colony at OSU is only the third on the West Coast.
It is also the first Asian interest sorority in Oregon.
Each member of the sorority is required to do 15 group hours of community service and five individual hours of community service every six months.
Together, the five members share the following ideals: respect, loyalty, honesty, friendship and sisterhood.
"Those are really esteemed values," Rajput said.
"Those five virtues are always upheld no matter where we are. It's just a part of who we are," said Secretary and sisterhood chair Stephanie Beamer.
Five students from equally diverse backgrounds have found a home and a community to belong to - they even finish each others sentences.
"I think we all bring something to the table," Rajput said.
"I didn't really know what a sorority did," Historian and Service Chair Stephanie Zhao said, "but I was already interested in what this one had to offer."
DPO will be part of fall rush, and is currently recognized by Greek Life. They are not currently recognized by OSU.
They will be recognized after the paperwork is processed. The other pieces have already fallen into place, and the sorority has a faculty advisor, a charter and an activities committee.
"They want us to continue our work and let us prosper," Chin said regarding the Office of Greek Life and its attitude toward the new sorority.
Chin and the other members of her sorority are also working toward establishing another Greek entity called Unified Greek Council.
Much like the Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils oversee some of the fraternities and sororities, UGC will oversee other multicultural sororities and fraternities, including Omega Delta Phi, Sigma Beta Rho and Gamma Alpha Omega.
The sorority holds weekly Monday meetings and is interested in adding new members.
For now, the sorority members will wear their letters and remember the feelings that they inspire.
"This was the best fit for me," said Beamer.
For more information on the national organization visit http://www.deltaphiomega.org. For more information on the OSU chapter send an e-mail to dpo.osu@gmail.com
This story was corrected on Oct. 3, 2006:
In the Oct. 2 issue of The Daily Barometer, a story titled "Diversity focus of new sorority" should have said that the group is founding the Unified Greek Council. An incorrect name appeared in the story. Also, the name of the fraternity Sigma Beta Rho appeared misspelled in the story. The Daily Barometer regrets the errors.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Rachel Chin
posted 10/02/06 @ 6:46 PM PST
Hi, this is Rachel Chin, president of Delta Phi Omega. I just wanted to make 2 corrections from the article that was written about us. We are founding the Unified Greek Council, which was misquoted as University Greek Council. (Continued…)
Post a Comment
Comments by registered users are approved by default.