Sigma Psi Zeta
Encyclopedia
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| Letters: | ΣΨΖ |
|---|---|
| Founded: | March 23, 1994 |
| Headquarters: | University at Albany, State University of New York State University of New York The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus... |
| Type: | Social |
| Scope: | National |
| Sisterships: | 12 Chapters 8 Charters 4 Colonies |
| Motto: | True to the colors red and gold, Sisters forever heart and soul. |
| Nickname: | Sigmas |
| Colors: | Red and Gold |
| Flower: | Yellow Rose with Baby's Breath |
| Homepage: | http://www.sigmapsizeta.org |
Sigma Psi Zeta (ΣΨΖ), a Multicultural, Asian-Interest sorority, was founded on March 23, 1994 at the University at Albany
University at Albany, The State University of New York
The State University of New York at Albany, also known as University at Albany, State University of New York, SUNY Albany or simply UAlbany, is a public university located in Albany, Guilderland, and East Greenbush, New York, United States; is the senior campus of the State University of New York ...
and incorporated in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on March 15, 1996 by the 10 Founding Mothers. The sorority's colors are red and gold and its flower is a yellow rose with baby's breath.
Sigma Psi Zeta is a cultural, social, educational and community service oriented Greek organization. It stands today as the third largest Asian Interest sorority in the nation. Its philanthropic focus is to combat domestic violence against women in its various forms. On a national level, Sigma Psi Zeta has adopted the New York Asian Women's Center as its adopted shelter.
Sigma Psi Zeta currently has active sisterships in the states/commonwealths of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, and Washington D.C. It has 24 sisterships across the United States and continues to expand.
History
In the Fall of 1993, a group of undergraduate women came together. These women, hailing from different cultural backgrounds, became close friends. While musing about the state of their campus and their friendships, the idea of forming a sorority casually came up. They believed that a sorority built on their friendships and sharing their vision could address a gap that existed on the SUNY Albany campus. This idea solidified. These women believed that a sorority built on their friendships, laughter, strengths and dedication would be a formidable force. Over the course of the semester, their group of friends grew closer and in size.On February 28, 1994, the Founding Mothers of Sigma Psi Zeta sat down together over dinner to discuss their common goal. They all aimed to establish an organization that encompassed the strength of today's Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
woman and her potential for making an impact on the world around her. They came together as friends, realizing the apathy towards Asian women and the dual-disadvantage for being "The Silent Minority." Sigma Psi Zeta stands for "Ten Rays of Sisterhood": integrity, legacy, scholarship, philanthropy, professionalism, community, sisterhood, culture, citizenship, and activism. The Ten Rays of Sisterhood link the natural progression of the organization to the sorority first envisioned in the fall of 1993 by its founding mothers.
On March 23, 1994, the State University of New York at Albany formally recognized the sisterhood of Sigma Psi Zeta. Since then, Sigma Psi Zeta has expanded into ten states and twenty-three schools.
On September 10, 2006, the Law Caucus of Sigma Psi Zeta became formally recognized as a branch of the sisterhood's National Governance. The Law Caucus comprises sister attorneys, law students, and law-bound undergraduates. The main objectives of the Law Caucus are to research and offer its opinions on legal matters directly related to sorority interests, offer invaluable resources and support to undergraduate sisters in pre-law programs, sisters preparing for law school, law student sisters, and attorney sisters, and generally provide mentorship and career services to law-bound sisters.
Founding Mothers
- Gina Han
- Sally Hsieh
- Jean Kim
- Jenny Kim
- Sandra Lam
- Winnie Liu
- Yan-Chieh Liu
- Michelle Macaraig
- Sung-Yon Noh
- Loan Trang
Background
In 1999, the sisters of SYZ formally adopted their National Philanthropy, to Combat Violence Against Women. The first Asian-interest sorority to take on this cause, SYZ hopes to bring awareness of this issue to our universities and communities as well as the community at large. Sigma sisters have built a campaign to help those affected by violence, to educate the community about the nature of this problem, and to empower our sisters to make a lasting commitment to the issue of violence against women.The National Philanthropy of Sigma Psi Zeta is to combat violence against women in its varied forms. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: rape, incest, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, exploitation, the trafficking of women and children, the abuse of migrant workers, intimidation at work, child abuse, harassment, and spousal abuse. Any kind of physical, emotional or mental duress constitutes violence.
2006-07 Philanthropic Projects
Sigma Psi Zeta has adopted two philanthropic projects for the 2006-07 academic school year- marrow registration drives and supporting the American Cancer Society. In hopes of finding a marrow match for a University of Rochester alum and chartering sister, all sisterships will hold marrow registration drives at their schools in the fall semester. In addition to these marrow drives, all sisterships will actively participate in American Cancer Society events and fundraising throughout the school year.Chapters
- [Α] Alpha Chapter - University at Albany, The State University of New YorkUniversity at Albany, The State University of New YorkThe State University of New York at Albany, also known as University at Albany, State University of New York, SUNY Albany or simply UAlbany, is a public university located in Albany, Guilderland, and East Greenbush, New York, United States; is the senior campus of the State University of New York ...
- Albany, NY - [Β] Beta Chapter - University at Binghamton, The State University of New York - Binghamton, NY
- [Δ] Delta Chapter - University at Buffalo, The State University of New YorkUniversity at Buffalo, The State University of New YorkUniversity at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
- Buffalo, NY - [H] Eta Chapter - University at Stony Brook, The State University of New York
- [Θ] Theta Chapter - University of Massachusetts AmherstUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstThe University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
- Amherst, MA - [I] Iota Chapter - University of RochesterUniversity of RochesterThe University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
- Rochester, NY - [Λ] Lambda Chapter - University of VirginiaUniversity of VirginiaThe University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
- Charlottesville, VA - [O] Omicron Chapter - Stanford UniversityStanford UniversityThe Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
- Stanford, CA - [P] Rho Chapter - University of WashingtonUniversity of WashingtonUniversity of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
- Seattle, WA - [T] Tau Chapter - University of Maryland at College Park - College Park, MD
- [Y] Upsilon Chapter - University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of PennsylvaniaThe University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
- Philadelphia, PA - [Φ] Phi Chapter - University of Colorado at BoulderUniversity of Colorado at BoulderThe University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
- Boulder, CO
Charters
- [K] Kappa Charter- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
(Virginia Tech) - Blacksburg, VA - [M] Mu Charter - University at Geneseo, The State University of New York - Geneseo, NY
- [N] Nu Charter- Drexel UniversityDrexel UniversityDrexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
- Philadelphia, PA - [Ξ] Xi Charter - University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Lincoln, NE
- [Π] Pi Charter - The George Washington University - Washington, D.C.
- [AA] Alpha Alpha Charter - Yale UniversityYale UniversityYale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
- New Haven, CT - [AB] Alpha Beta Charter - Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
- Evanston, IL - [AΓ] Alpha Gamma Charter - Villanova UniversityVillanova UniversityVillanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
- Villanova, PA
Colonies
- [Γ] Gamma - City Chapter of Queens - Jamaica, NY
- [E] Epsilon - City Chapter of Oneonta - Oneonta, NY
- [Z] Zeta - City Chapter of Manhattan - New York, NY
- [X] Chi - Shippensburg University - Shippensburg, PA