Two years ago a group of Union friends interested in community service began to discuss ways of forming their own organization.
After months of e-mails, phone calls, and meetings, they found what they were looking for-the Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority-and on June 9, 2001, the group of friends became officially known as the Union College Colony of Gamma Sigma Sigma.
Nearly two years after that, the group celebrated its new charter as the Zeta Phi Chapter of Gamma Sigma Sigma.
The effort began among a group of friends who felt that women at Union were losing sight of the goals and challenges set forth by their “coed” predecessors. The group decided that an organization was needed that would foster the ideas of scholarship, friendship, leadership, equality, diversity, and a strong commitment to the service of the community.
“We just wanted to be different, and the sorority seemed to fit our personality,” says senior member Rachel Burke. Although the organization's primary intention is that of performing community service, “we also 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 InterFraternity Council welcomed Gamma Sigma Sigma as the newest Greek organization on campus. The affiliation with IFC requires the organization to be non-selective-any student can join Gamma Sigma Sigma to uphold its service ideals-and Gamma Sig now includes a male member, George Coolbaugh.
Since its introduction to Union two years ago, Gamma Sig has grown from eight members to thirty-one. “The fact that that we are so different is the attraction to our organization,” says current president Lindsay Homenick '04. “I am proud to lead this unique and purposeful organization.”
As a service organization, the sorority requires its members to perform a minimum of ten 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 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” in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program, while others tutor for the ROAR program and local high schools. Burke goes beyond the ten-hour
minimum by heading a local Girl Scout troop.
Gamma Sig does not have specific housing and is looking for a social place on campus to gather and plan events. However, Burke sees not living together as a positive. “We all have lives outside the sorority.”
With each passing term the sorority does more and more service for the community. “We want to keep membership growing,”
says Burke, “and continue providing community service.”