When women first enrolled at Stevens in 1971, there were no sanctioned sororities. Fraternities on campus instead had “little sister” groups with which they partnered for social and service purposes, although the women were never given membership. That all changed a couple of years later when a group of nine women formed a local interest group, Zeta Omega. This group then partnered with the national organization Phi Sigma Sigma in order to form the Delta Zeta Chapter, making it the first sorority at Stevens in 1982. Now, Stevens is home to seven active sororities, of which approximately 40% of undergraduate women here belong.
Service is one of the focal points of sorority life at Stevens, and each sorority has its own philanthropic cause. This allows women on campus to make a difference in the lives of others, all while creating lifelong friendships. The following is a comprehensive list of sororities at Stevens and their philanthropic causes:
ΦΣΣ, established in 1982
Phi Sigma Sigma’s philanthropic cause is supporting school and college readiness. Sisters work to support their national philanthropy, the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation, in partnership with the Kids in Need Foundation to serve this purpose by hosting various events to raise money for the foundation and promote its ideals on campus.
ΔΦΕ, established in 1985
Delta Phi Epsilon’s philanthropic causes are supporting the Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) through donating. ANAD is a nonprofit organization that provides free support and services to anyone struggling with eating disorders and body image, while the CFF supports various research initiatives in search of a cure for cystic fibrosis, a progressive, genetic disease causing persistent lung infections which hinders the ability’s ability to breathe over time.
ΘΦΑ, established in 2011
Theta Phi Alpha, formerly known as Omicron Pi, a little sister program of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity, was first recognized as a sorority in 1988 before joining the national organization Theta Phi Alpha in 2011. Theta Phi Alpha’s philanthropic causes are The House that Theta Phi Alpha Built and the Glenmary Home Missioners. Their support for The House that Theta Phi Alpha Built’s mission to alleviate homelessness is reflected in their efforts to give back to the Hoboken community by volunteering, and they support The Glenmary Home Missioners by raising funds that the organization then uses to provide food, water, clothing, and medical treatment to those in need in rural areas of the US.
ΣΔΤ, established in 2015
Sigma Delta Tau’s philanthropic causes are Prevent Child Abuse America (PCAA), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Jewish Women International (JWI), and the Sigma Delta Tau Foundation. PCAA is an organization committed to preventing both child abuse and neglect before it happens and does so by promoting programs and resources that enable communities to prosper. AFSP similarly uses programs and events to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. JWI provides Sigma Delta Tau chapters with prevention programming to create safer Greek communities, and the Sigma Delta Tau Foundation supports sisters through the likes of annual scholarship opportunities and educational programs, enabling personal and professional growth.
ΩΦΒ, established in 2016
Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. is a multicultural sorority on campus. Their philanthropic cause is combating and championing domestic violence awareness and violence against women through donations and raising awareness. The Omega Phi Beta Sorority national organization also established the Ray of Hope to End Violence Against Women (ROHW) in 2011, which aims to raise awareness of violence against women and funds various organizations that focus on ending domestic violence and abuse.
ΑΦ, established in 2017
Alpha Phi’s philanthropy is women’s heart health, which they support through the Alpha Phi Foundation. Alpha Phi annually hosts a variety of heart and health events and programs on campus in order to raise money and awareness for women’s heart health, such as their Red Dress Brunch which takes place on Babbio Patio. The Alpha Phi Foundation ultimately looks to advance women’s lives through philanthropic causes such as leadership and programming, awarding scholarships, and helping members in need through the Forget Me Not Grant Fund.
ΣΨΖ, established in 2019
Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, Inc., is another multicultural organization on campus. Their national philanthropy is supporting Combat Violence Against Womxn, which they accomplish through volunteering at domestic violence and local shelters, attending and hosting self-defense workshops and classes, donating proceeds of activities to organizations that support the same cause, and organizing collection drives for local charities and domestic violence shelters. Sigma Psi Zeta is also an official partner of It’s On Us, a White House Initiative to end sexual assault on college campuses.
ΛΤΟ, established in 2020
Lambda Tau Omega Inc. is the third multicultural sorority at Stevens. The national philanthropy is in support of Prevent Child Abuse America. The sorority has a “nationally-adopted project named ‘Pinwheels for Prevention,’” in which all national chapters hold events and programs to increase awareness about child abuse. While they work on this initiative year-round, Lambda Tau Omega dedicates the month of April to concentrate on this philanthropy.
Beyond hosting events to raise money and awareness to various causes, the sororities listed above also give back locally by volunteering throughout Hoboken, such as at the Hoboken Homeless Shelter, the Jubilee Center, among other organizations.
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