By Alina Samuels '03
In 2001 a
group of friends had an idea. They wanted to form their own organization in
which they could be sisters and commit themselves to community service. By June 9, 2001, after organizing, petitioning,
and researching, the group of friends became officially known as the Union
College Colony of Gamma Sigma Sigma.
Despite a
growing presence of sororities on the Union
College campus, the founding
sisters of Gamma Sigma Sigma felt that women were losing sight of the goals and
challenges set forth by their predecessors. The group decided that an organization was needed at Union
that fostered the ideas of scholarship, friendship, leadership, equality,
diversity, and a strong commitment to community service. Thus, Gamma
Sigma Sigma was born.
“We just wanted to be different. The
sorority seemed to fit our personality,” says senior member Rachel Burke. Gamma Sigma Sigma is uniquely a service sorority
rather than a social sorority. They formed an organization with the primary
intention of performing community service. “It's not just about service. We
have an aspect of sorority as well – a significant reason for being together,”
says Burke. The National Panhellenic Council does not recognize Gamma Sigma
Sigma because it is not a social sorority. However, the Inter Fraternity Council welcomed Gamma
Sigma Sigma as their newest Greek organization on the Union
College campus.
Their affiliation with IFC requires
the organization to be non-selective. Any Union
College student can join Gamma
Sigma Sigma to uphold its service ideals. There is one male member. Rushing
Gamma Sigma Sigma is an informational setting as well as a time to get to know
interested students.
“I didn't
come to college expecting to be in a sorority,” said sophomore Heidi Young. Many
of the members shared Young's sentiment. However, since its introduction to Union
College two years ago, Gamma Sigma
Sigma has grown from eight members to 31.
“The fact that that we are so different is the attraction to our
organization,” declared current President Lindsay Homenick '04. “I am proud to
lead this unique and purposeful organization – I really am.”
As a
service organization, the sorority requires members to perform a minimum of 10 hours
of community service a term. Annually, the members participate in the Capital
District MS Walk, and the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Bowl for Kids' Sake, Halloween
party, and Youth Olympics. “We're trying to establish ourselves as a place on
campus that people can come to us for community service help,” says Burke. “We
have a lot of potential to provide for the community.” Members also participate
in individual acts of community service. Many are “Bigs,” while others tutor for the ROAR (Reach Out and Read) program and local high schools.
Burke goes above and beyond the 10-hour minimum by heading a local Girl Scout
troop.
Gamma Sigma
Sigma does not have housing. They are in the process of looking for a social
place on campus to gather and plan events as a group. However, Burke sees not living
together as a positive. “We all have lives outside the sorority.” Gamma Sigma
Sigma meets weekly to discuss future events in the Campus
Center. Homenick says, “It's nice
for now, because it's accessible to everyone.” In the future Homenick
would like a space to call their own.
Gamma Sigma
Sigma is relatively young; however, with each passing term the sorority does
more and more community service. “We want to keep membership growing,”
says Burke, “and continue providing community service.” This past March, the
group celebrated its new charter and became the Zeta Phi Chapter of Gamma
Sigma Sigma.