Sigma Delta Tau
Encyclopedia
Sigma Delta Tau is a national sorority and member of the National Panhellenic Conference
, was founded March 25, 1917 at Cornell University
in Ithaca, New York
. The original name, Sigma Delta Phi
, was changed after the women discovered a sorority with the same name already existed. Today, Sigma Delta Tau has over 40,000 initiates from over 90 chapters around the United States
.
Sigma Delta Tau was founded by seven Jewish women; Dora Bloom Turteltaub, Amy Apfel Tishman, Marian Gerber Greenberg, Grace Srenco Grossman, Inez Dane Ross, Regene Freund Cohane, Lenore Rubinow. There is no religious requirement for membership to the sorority, nor is it affiliated with any one religion. Colors are cafe au lait and old blue. Symbol is the Torch, as is the name of the national publication.
The national philanthropy of Sigma Delta Tau is PCAA (Prevent Child Abuse America).
The current badge is a jeweled gold torch. On the front of the torch are the Greek letters ΣΔΤ, with 6 pearls and a diamond. The badge is worn strictly as an emblem of membership and only by initiated members.
New Members of Sigma Delta Tau wear a different badge, a gold torch enameled in old blue, representing the colors of the sorority, cafe au lait and old blue. The new member pin is only worn during the new member period, after which it is returned to the chapter.
The teddy bear is the official mascot of Sigma Delta Tau. The official flower is the golden tea rose and the sorority jewel is the lapis lazuli. The sorority coat of arms combines all the elements of Sigma Delta Tau.
Each Sigma Delta Tau chapter conducts an annual service project, educational program, or major fund raiser for the benefit of Prevent Child Abuse America. Together, the SDT chapters contribute more than $100,000 each year to their National Philanthropy.
April is "Child Abuse Prevention" Month. Many Sigma Delta Tau chapters participate in the National Blue Ribbon Campaign. Blue ribbons are distributed on campuses across the country to help spread the awareness of child abuse to undergraduates everywhere.
The Sigma Delta Tau Alpha Mu Chapter at the University of Miami currently holds the title of "Diamond Chapter" from National and has also raised the most funds for Prevent Child Abuse America totaling over $46,000 with their philanthropy.
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...
, was founded March 25, 1917 at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in Ithaca, New York
Ithaca, New York
The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area...
. The original name, Sigma Delta Phi
Sigma Delta Phi
Sigma Delta Phi , one of eight sororities at Grove City College, was a secret organization until 1920 when a charter was obtained while Weir C. Ketler was President of the College. The sorority originally consisted of 10 members. These women chose the symbols that would come to represent the...
, was changed after the women discovered a sorority with the same name already existed. Today, Sigma Delta Tau has over 40,000 initiates from over 90 chapters around the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Sigma Delta Tau was founded by seven Jewish women; Dora Bloom Turteltaub, Amy Apfel Tishman, Marian Gerber Greenberg, Grace Srenco Grossman, Inez Dane Ross, Regene Freund Cohane, Lenore Rubinow. There is no religious requirement for membership to the sorority, nor is it affiliated with any one religion. Colors are cafe au lait and old blue. Symbol is the Torch, as is the name of the national publication.
The national philanthropy of Sigma Delta Tau is PCAA (Prevent Child Abuse America).
Symbols
The membership badge is represented by the torch.The current badge is a jeweled gold torch. On the front of the torch are the Greek letters ΣΔΤ, with 6 pearls and a diamond. The badge is worn strictly as an emblem of membership and only by initiated members.
The teddy bear is the official mascot of Sigma Delta Tau. The official flower is the golden tea rose and the sorority jewel is the lapis lazuli. The sorority coat of arms combines all the elements of Sigma Delta Tau.
Mission statement
The mission of Sigma Delta Tau is to enrich the college experience of women of similar ideals, to build lasting friendships and to foster personal growth. Sigma Delta Tau shall encourage each member by providing intellectual, philanthropic, leadership and social opportunities within the framework of mutual respect and high ethical standards.Philanthropy
At the 1982 National Convention, the convention body unanimously agreed to adopt Prevent Child Abuse America as Sigma Delta Tau's National Philanthropy. Prevent Child Abuse America is a voluntary organization dedicated to the prevention of child abuse through citizen action.Each Sigma Delta Tau chapter conducts an annual service project, educational program, or major fund raiser for the benefit of Prevent Child Abuse America. Together, the SDT chapters contribute more than $100,000 each year to their National Philanthropy.
April is "Child Abuse Prevention" Month. Many Sigma Delta Tau chapters participate in the National Blue Ribbon Campaign. Blue ribbons are distributed on campuses across the country to help spread the awareness of child abuse to undergraduates everywhere.
The Sigma Delta Tau Alpha Mu Chapter at the University of Miami currently holds the title of "Diamond Chapter" from National and has also raised the most funds for Prevent Child Abuse America totaling over $46,000 with their philanthropy.
Notable alumnae
- Joyce Brothers (Alpha, Cornell) - psychologist, TV and Radio personality, writer
- Christy Carlson RomanoChristy Carlson RomanoChristy Carlson Romano is an American stage and film actress and singer. She is perhaps best known for her roles in the sitcom Even Stevens and the animated series Kim Possible, in which she is the voice of the title character, as well as the voice of Yuffie Kisaragi in Kingdom Hearts and Final...
(Gamma Tau, Barnard) actress on Disney's hit television show "Even Stevens" - Sherry LansingSherry LansingSherry Lansing is a former actress and American film studio executive. She is former CEO of Paramount Pictures, and when president of production at 20th Century Fox was the first woman to head a Hollywood studio In 1996, she became the first woman named Pioneer of the Year by the Foundation of...
(Sigma, Northwestern University) - CEO Paramount Pictures. First female to head a Hollywood studio. Named one of the most powerful women in America. - Terry Savage (Chi, University of Michigan)- Author and Nationally Syndicated Financial Columnist
- Marilyn Salenger (Upsilon Chapter, Indiana University) - Emmy Award Winning Anchorwoman – CBS She was the first woman to solo anchor a newscast and later created the first all women’s television news program in the United States.
- Gloria Cohen (Alpha Rho Chapter, New York University) - International President, Women’s League for Conservative Judaism
- Lynn Price (Kappa Chapter, University of Illinois) - Social Entrepreneur, Coach, Speaker, Author. Founder of "Camp to Belong"
- Phyllis Snyder (Alpha Chapter,Cornell University) - National President, National Council of Jewish Women
- Joan RiversJoan RiversJoan Rivers is an American comedian, television personality and actress. She is known for her brash manner; her loud, raspy voice with a heavy New York accent; and her numerous cosmetic surgeries...