Alpha Sigma Tau
Encyclopedia
Alpha Sigma Tau is a national Panhellenic
sorority
founded on November 4, 1899, at Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University
). The Sorority has over 80 chapters and colonies
active nationwide.
The next meeting was a little party at the home of Mrs. Depew on Forest Avenue where Helene and Adriance Rice, Eva O'Keefe and Harriet Marx roomed. The party was indeed gay and festive with decorations of gold and purple. Even the cake was golden with purple icing. Here it was decided that the next day should witness the introduction of a newly born sorority to the world at large and to the student body in particular. Accordingly the members attended chapel en masse, everyone wearing the chosen colors. Imagine their surprise and chagrin when the members of the Zeta Phi informed them that the Alpha Sigma Tau had appropriated their colors. The group then chose emerald green and gold.
Mrs. E.A. Lyman was chosen patroness. During the first year of its existence the sorority did not display any marked activity. The charter was not received until the second year when Edith Silk, Myrtle Oram, Zoe Waldron, Grace Townley, Marie Gedding, Louise Agrell and Mable Pitts had joined the organization and with the organizers were the charter members. On the suggestion of Mrs. Lyman, Miss Pearce and Miss Norton were asked to be patronesses. The charter members were very, very close friends and have ever remained so ..." http://www.alphasigmatau.org/students/who-we-are/history/
The late Lenore Seibel King and Carrie Washburne Staehle have been recognized as Presidents Emerita
.
the ethical, cultural, and social development
of its members, specifically:
to develop the character of each member through a study
of ethics so that she will show in all her relationships
sincerity, honesty, love and understanding;
to help each member enjoy the cultural advantages
in life so that she will know how to select those
things which are most worthwhile; and
to develop in each member the social graces to the extent
that she will be able to take her place in life with true dignity and poise.
Jewelry that can be attached to Badge
New Member Pin, worn by new members
Mother's Pin, worn by mothers of initiated members
. In 1947, AES merged with the National Panhellenic Conference
, and the Sorority became a Panhellenic group.
as its national philanthropy in 1945. Each collegiate chapter supports the school annually, contributing to the success of environmental and cultural education programs.
from 2.3 to 2.5. All sisters joining after the fall 2008 semester are required to meet this national standard.
and community service
. The Sorority's official philanthropy is Pine Mountain Settlement School
, and its official service project is Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, individual collegiate and alumnae chapters coordinate local philanthropic fundraisers and service projects.
as its national philanthropy in 1945.
At its founding, Pine Mountain Settlement School was a leader in rural educational standards, creating a forerunner of what is now famously known as the Head Start curriculum. Today, Pine Mountain Settlement School serves as an environmental education
center and provides educational outreach services, such as summer reading camps and after-school tutoring, to the poverty-stricken Appalachian
community in located in Harlan County, Kentucky
.
On December 4, 1991, Pine Mountain Settlement School became a National Historic Landmark
, noted for "[launching] one of the most important efforts to adopt the urban settlement house
to a rural community."
as its national service project in June 2004.
Alpha Sigma Tau members contribute to Habitat for Humanity in various ways, including partnering to build houses with and for families in need, thus expanding upon the Sorority's creed "to contribute to the progress of mankind."
. After Hurricane Katrina
, Alpha Sigma Tau chapters rallied to Operation Home Delivery. In April 2007, Alpha Sigma Tau chapters across the nation supported Habitat for Humanity's Act! Speak! Build! Week.
, "The Alpha Sigma Tau National Foundation, Inc. was established to promote the acquisition, development and disbursement of charitable contributions from donors to promote and fulfill the educational and philanthropic programs of the Sorority."
Alpha Sig-Nal is a monthly newsletter distributed to National Staff and to chapters, both collegiate and alumnae. This bulletin relays messages from National Council and Staff and discusses upcoming events and other items of importance to the Sorority.
Focusing on alumnae news, THE CREST is published at least biannually and is viewable online.
The original location of the National Headquarters was St. Louis, Missouri
. This was adopted in 1949 by National President Dorothy Robinson. National Headquarters was relocated to Birmingham, Alabama
, in 1994.
, an increasing number of women are gaining professional networks through their sorority ties. To explain the growing connection, the newspaper cites a United States Department of Labor
statistic of 21.4 million women in management and hiring positions in 2002 as compared with 14.7 million a decade before.
In keeping with this trend, the Sorority launched an online network in 2007. The network, called inCircle, aims to connect alumnae and collegiate members both socially and professionally.
National Panhellenic Conference
The National Panhellenic Conference , founded in 1902, is an umbrella organization for 26 national women's sororities.Each member group is autonomous as a social, Greek-letter society of college women and alumnae...
sorority
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
founded on November 4, 1899, at Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
). The Sorority has over 80 chapters and colonies
Colony (fraternity or sorority)
A colony is a probationary body of a national fraternity or sorority. A group wishing to become a member of a fraternity or sorority must first petition for status as a colony. If the colony prospers, the colony may later be chartered, thereby becoming a full chapter of the fraternity...
active nationwide.
Founding
As told by founding member, "There were present at this first meeting, Helene Rice, her sister Adriance, Eva O'Keefe, Harriet Marx, May Gephart, Mayene Tracy, Mable Chase and Ruth Dutcher. There were then in existence on campus three other sororities: Pi Kappa Sigma, Sigma Nu Phi and Zeta Phi (now inactive). The name Alpha Sigma Tau was chosen and purple and gold were chosen for the colors. Thus it was Alpha Sigma Tau, the third oldest educational sorority, was organized. A dozen or more very enthusiastic girls were present at this meeting.The next meeting was a little party at the home of Mrs. Depew on Forest Avenue where Helene and Adriance Rice, Eva O'Keefe and Harriet Marx roomed. The party was indeed gay and festive with decorations of gold and purple. Even the cake was golden with purple icing. Here it was decided that the next day should witness the introduction of a newly born sorority to the world at large and to the student body in particular. Accordingly the members attended chapel en masse, everyone wearing the chosen colors. Imagine their surprise and chagrin when the members of the Zeta Phi informed them that the Alpha Sigma Tau had appropriated their colors. The group then chose emerald green and gold.
Mrs. E.A. Lyman was chosen patroness. During the first year of its existence the sorority did not display any marked activity. The charter was not received until the second year when Edith Silk, Myrtle Oram, Zoe Waldron, Grace Townley, Marie Gedding, Louise Agrell and Mable Pitts had joined the organization and with the organizers were the charter members. On the suggestion of Mrs. Lyman, Miss Pearce and Miss Norton were asked to be patronesses. The charter members were very, very close friends and have ever remained so ..." http://www.alphasigmatau.org/students/who-we-are/history/
National Presidents
| Years | Name | Chapter |
|---|---|---|
| 1925 - 1928 | Grace Erb Ritchie | Alpha |
| 1928 - 1934 | Luella Chapman | Sigma |
| 1934 - 1949 | Carrie Washburne Staehle | Alpha |
| 1949 - 1955 | Dorothy Bennett Robinson | Pi |
| 1955 - 1964 | Mary Alice Seller Peterson | Iota |
| 1964 - 1972 | Elizabeth Wilson | Pi |
| 1972 - 1984 | Lenore Seibel King | Psi |
| 1984 - 1986 | Gail Shockley Fowler | Alpha Lambda |
| 1986 - 1992 | Patricia L. Nayle | Phi |
| 1992 - 1996 | Mary Charles Ashby | Chi |
| 1996 - 2002 | Martha Drouyor DeCamp | Alpha |
| 2002 - 2008 | Patricia Klausing Simmons | Delta |
| 2008 - present | Christina Covington | Alpha Lambda |
The late Lenore Seibel King and Carrie Washburne Staehle have been recognized as Presidents Emerita
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
.
Purpose
The Purpose of the Sorority is to promotethe ethical, cultural, and social development
of its members, specifically:
to develop the character of each member through a study
of ethics so that she will show in all her relationships
sincerity, honesty, love and understanding;
to help each member enjoy the cultural advantages
in life so that she will know how to select those
things which are most worthwhile; and
to develop in each member the social graces to the extent
that she will be able to take her place in life with true dignity and poise.
Symbols
Although Alpha Sigma Tau encourages each chapter to choose a local mascot, there are several symbols that represent all sisters.National symbols
- Colors: emerald green and goldGold (color)Gold, also called golden, is one of a variety of orange-yellow color blends used to give the impression of the color of the element gold....
- Flower: yellow roseRoseA rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
- Jewel: pearlPearlA pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...
- Symbol: anchorAnchorAn anchor is a device, normally made of metal, that is used to connect a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the vessel from drifting due to wind or current. The word derives from Latin ancora, which itself comes from the Greek ἄγκυρα .Anchors can either be temporary or permanent...
Sorority jewelry
Badge, worn by initiated members- Gold sorority lettersGreek alphabetThe Greek alphabet is the script that has been used to write the Greek language since at least 730 BC . The alphabet in its classical and modern form consists of 24 letters ordered in sequence from alpha to omega...
on black bordered with goldGoldGold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
. The badge may be surrounded by pearls. - Variations for national officers:
- National staff members may have rubiesRubyA ruby is a pink to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum . The red color is caused mainly by the presence of the element chromium. Its name comes from ruber, Latin for red. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires...
in the pin points - National council members may have emeraldEmeraldEmerald is a variety of the mineral beryl colored green by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium. Beryl has a hardness of 7.5–8 on the 10 point Mohs scale of mineral hardness...
s in the pin points - Past and present national presidents have diamondDiamondIn mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
s in the pin points
- National staff members may have rubies
Jewelry that can be attached to Badge
- CharmPendantA pendant is a loose-hanging piece of jewellery, generally attached by a small loop to a necklace, when the ensemble may be known as a "pendant necklace". A pendant earring is an earring with a piece hanging down. In modern French "pendant" is the gerund form of “hanging”...
displaying chapter letters - Charm symbolizing office held in chapter
- Anchor charm symbolizing alumnaAlumnusAn alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
status
New Member Pin, worn by new members
- Gold sorority letters intertwined vertically
Mother's Pin, worn by mothers of initiated members
- Gold sorority letters touching diagonally
Association of Education Sororities
Alpha Sigma Tau was founded as an educational sorority and soon gained membership into the Association of Education SororitiesAssociation of education sororities
The Association of Education Sororities was the umbrella organization for teachers' sororities. AES operated in the United States from 1916 to 1947.- History :...
. In 1947, AES merged with the National Panhellenic Conference
National Panhellenic Conference
The National Panhellenic Conference , founded in 1902, is an umbrella organization for 26 national women's sororities.Each member group is autonomous as a social, Greek-letter society of college women and alumnae...
, and the Sorority became a Panhellenic group.
Pine Mountain Settlement School
In part due to the Sorority's educational background, Alpha Sigma Tau adopted Pine Mountain Settlement SchoolPine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain Settlement School is located on Pine Mountain in Harlan County, Kentucky. The settlement school focuses on Appalachian and environmental education.-Founding:...
as its national philanthropy in 1945. Each collegiate chapter supports the school annually, contributing to the success of environmental and cultural education programs.
Order of the Open Book
Established in 1995, the Order of the Open Book is a national honor society recognizing academic excellence among Alpha Sigma Tau sisters. Members may join as undergraduate or graduate students.Grade point average
At the 2008 National Convention, the Sorority raised the minimum collegiate GPAGrade (education)
Grades are standardized measurements of varying levels of comprehension within a subject area. Grades can be assigned in letters , as a range , as a number out of a possible total , as descriptors , in percentages, or, as is common in some post-secondary...
from 2.3 to 2.5. All sisters joining after the fall 2008 semester are required to meet this national standard.
Philanthropy and Service
Alpha Sigma Tau has a long history of philanthropyPhilanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
and community service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
. The Sorority's official philanthropy is Pine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain Settlement School is located on Pine Mountain in Harlan County, Kentucky. The settlement school focuses on Appalachian and environmental education.-Founding:...
, and its official service project is Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, individual collegiate and alumnae chapters coordinate local philanthropic fundraisers and service projects.
Pine Mountain Settlement School
Alpha Sigma Tau adopted Pine Mountain Settlement SchoolPine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain Settlement School is located on Pine Mountain in Harlan County, Kentucky. The settlement school focuses on Appalachian and environmental education.-Founding:...
as its national philanthropy in 1945.
At its founding, Pine Mountain Settlement School was a leader in rural educational standards, creating a forerunner of what is now famously known as the Head Start curriculum. Today, Pine Mountain Settlement School serves as an environmental education
Environmental education
Environmental education refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. The term is often used to imply education within the school system, from primary to...
center and provides educational outreach services, such as summer reading camps and after-school tutoring, to the poverty-stricken Appalachian
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
community in located in Harlan County, Kentucky
Harlan County, Kentucky
Harlan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1819. As of 2000, the population was 33,200. Its county seat is Harlan...
.
On December 4, 1991, Pine Mountain Settlement School became a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
, noted for "[launching] one of the most important efforts to adopt the urban settlement house
Settlement movement
The settlement movement was a reformist social movement, beginning in the 1880s and peaking around the 1920s in England and the US, with a goal of getting the rich and poor in society to live more closely together in an interdependent community...
to a rural community."
Charitable contributions
The first pledge classes of Alpha Sigma Tau sent much-needed school supplies. Today, the growing sorority is able to contribute much more, including a tractor, a fifteen-passenger van, a walk-in refrigerator, a heavy-duty washer and dryer, a commercial cooking range, furnaces, furnishings, renovations, and thousands of dollars per year.Habitat for Humanity
Alpha Sigma Tau adopted Habitat for HumanityHabitat for Humanity International
Habitat For Humanity International , generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or simply Habitat, is an international, non-governmental, non-profit organization devoted to building "simple, decent, and affordable" housing, a self-described "Christian housing ministry." The international...
as its national service project in June 2004.
Alpha Sigma Tau members contribute to Habitat for Humanity in various ways, including partnering to build houses with and for families in need, thus expanding upon the Sorority's creed "to contribute to the progress of mankind."
Habitat campaigns
In 2005, all Alpha Sigma Tau chapters participated in Hope Through Change, which raised money for Habitat for Humanity International to help rebuild following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
. After Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, Alpha Sigma Tau chapters rallied to Operation Home Delivery. In April 2007, Alpha Sigma Tau chapters across the nation supported Habitat for Humanity's Act! Speak! Build! Week.
Alpha Sigma Tau National Foundation, Inc.
According to the foundation's mission statementMission statement
A mission statement is a statement of the purpose of a company or organization. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a path, and guide decision-making...
, "The Alpha Sigma Tau National Foundation, Inc. was established to promote the acquisition, development and disbursement of charitable contributions from donors to promote and fulfill the educational and philanthropic programs of the Sorority."
Philanthropic goals
Incorporated in 1982, the foundation provides a variety of resources, including:- Over 30 scholarshipScholarshipA scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
s and 1 grant per year - Opportunity to support a charitable project
- Permanent headquarters for the Sorority
- Place for the storage and display of Alpha Sigma Tau's historical records
- Educational programming at the chapter, Regional Leadership Workshop, and National Convention levels
Publications
THE ANCHOR is the Sorority magazine, published twice annually. Its articles pertain to Alpha Sigma Tau, Greek life, and other issues affecting women today.Alpha Sig-Nal is a monthly newsletter distributed to National Staff and to chapters, both collegiate and alumnae. This bulletin relays messages from National Council and Staff and discusses upcoming events and other items of importance to the Sorority.
Focusing on alumnae news, THE CREST is published at least biannually and is viewable online.
National Headquarters
National Headquarters is the home of the Sorority's archives and publications. Photographs, awards, and other historical documents are on display. Additionally, Headquarters can connect people with collegiate and alumnae chapters, National Council and Staff, and the Alpha Sigma Tau National Foundation, Inc.The original location of the National Headquarters was St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. This was adopted in 1949 by National President Dorothy Robinson. National Headquarters was relocated to Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, in 1994.
Notable alumnae
- Colleen Coffey (Delta Eta) - Co-Author of I Heart Recruitment: The Eight Steps to Limitless Possibility for Sororities
- Gwen FrosticGwen FrosticGwen Frostic born as Sara Gwendolen Frostic, was an artist, author, and Michigan Women's Hall of Fame inductee.-Life:...
(Alpha) - Nature artist and environmentalist; Inducted into Michigan Women's Hall of FameMichigan Women's Hall of FameThe Michigan Women's Hall of Fame honors distinguished women, both historical and contemporary, who have been associated with the U.S. state of Michigan. It is housed in the Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame building, located at 213 W. Malcolm X St. in downtown Lansing, Michigan... - Jessica FurrerJessica FurrerJessica Furrer is a beauty queen who won the title Miss Arkansas USA 2005.Furrer competed for Arkansas in the Miss USA 2005 pageant held in Baltimore, Maryland in April 2005. She placed in the top fifteen in the pageant, which was won by Chelsea Cooley of North Carolina...
(Upsilon) - Miss Arkansas USAMiss Arkansas USAThe Miss Arkansas USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Arkansas in the Miss USA pageant.The state pageant was directed by Premier Pageants from 2002 to 2007 before becoming part of the Vanbros organization in 2007...
2005; Semi-finalist in Miss USA 2005Miss USA 2005Miss USA 2005, the 54th Miss USA pageant, was held in Baltimore, Maryland in April 11, 2005. It was won by Chelsea Cooley of North Carolina.Fifty-one state titleholders competed for the title of Miss USA in the Hippodrome Theatre on April 11, 2005... - Jessica Gendron (Beta Pi) - Co-Author of I Heart Recruitment: The Eight Steps to Limitless Possibility for Sororities
- Katie Heil (Alpha Xi)- Member of Pittsburgh PassionPittsburgh PassionThe Pittsburgh Passion is a women's American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The franchise began play in 2003 and is currently owned by Teresa Conn and Franco Harris. It is a licensed team in the Women's Football Alliance....
American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team - Terri UtleyTerri Utley-External links:**...
(Upsilon) - Miss Arkansas USAMiss Arkansas USAThe Miss Arkansas USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Arkansas in the Miss USA pageant.The state pageant was directed by Premier Pageants from 2002 to 2007 before becoming part of the Vanbros organization in 2007...
1982; Winner of Miss USA 1982 - Casandra Foley (Beta Tau) - Chief JusticeChief JusticeThe Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
2011;
Alumnae associations
Alpha Sigma Taus all over the United States participate in alumnae associations. These associations include alumnae chapters, clubs, social teams, support teams, and hope groups.Anchor Chapter
Alumnae sisters who live more than fifty miles from an active alumnae association are invited to join the Anchor Chapter or to form their own association with local alumnae.Emerald Chapter
In addition to joining a local association or the Anchor Chapter, alumnae may be invited to join the Emerald Chapter. The requirements for becoming a member of the Emerald Chapter include serving a minimum of four years as National Council or Staff or attending a minimum of three National Conventions.Networking
According to The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, an increasing number of women are gaining professional networks through their sorority ties. To explain the growing connection, the newspaper cites a United States Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
statistic of 21.4 million women in management and hiring positions in 2002 as compared with 14.7 million a decade before.
In keeping with this trend, the Sorority launched an online network in 2007. The network, called inCircle, aims to connect alumnae and collegiate members both socially and professionally.