Colby College in Waterville, Maine is the second oldest college in Maine, and Sigma Kappa was the only Greek letter society founded in the State. In 1873, the freshman class was the first to have more than just one woman, four more came along. Mary Caffrey Low was the first female student to attend the College. Louise Helen Coburn, Elizabeth Gotham Hoag, Ida Mabel Fuller, and Frances Elliott Mann joined her two years later. Because there were so many males, the five women had a tough time fitting in. They were often secluded from everyone, teased by students, and even ignored by the staff.
The woman had a predilection to make a better environment for the future women to attend the College, because of the way they were treated by their male classmates and professors. During the freshman year of the four other women, they started a Greekletter society with Mary Caffrey Low. The women were presented with a letter from the faculty, advocating their petition on November 9, 1874. This day has been considered Founder’s Day. Frances mann came up with the name Sigma kappa and the majority of the symbolism of the ritual.
In February 1875, two more woman were initiated by Mary Low, enumerating seven members total on the Sigma Kappa roster. Small and informal meetings took place regularly until later on when the meetings became more formal. On November 30, 1878, the first banquet was held, following the initiation of three more members. Chapter membership was restricted to 25 in the first constitution. It was then that Sigma Kappa realized they needed to expand beyond Colby College, if they were going to continue to develop. Most woman colleges didn’t allow societies such as Sigma Kappa.
The term “sorority” had not yet been composed, so geek letter groups formed before 1874 were called fraternities. Boston University gained a new chapter on April 29, 1904, and Sigma Kappa officially emerged as a national sorority in Maine on April 29, 1904. The sorority has increased and progressed from its respectful emergence for over 126 years. From the wisdom and resilience, of the five women, their commitment to learning good moral and service, has engendered in over 126,000 women becoming initiated members of Sigma Kappa. Sigma Kappa understands the importance of school coming first.
I learned that being in a sorority helps the girls work harder, because if they fall behind in school and don’t receive a 3. 0 GPA, they can be kicked out of the sorority. The women of this chapter are special, because they pride themselves on the diversity and sincere personalities of all members. Although they are all different, they all share the same values which are, personal growth, service, friendship, and loyalty. The motto for Sigma Kappa is one heart, One way, which means that all members are connected. The age group for this sorority ranges from 18-22 (freshman- seniors enrolled at the University).
Every girl in Sigma Kappa, that I have talked to, tell me how welcomed they feel every time they walk into the house, and how important everyone in the chapter makes them feel. My interviewee, Kayla, explained to me that when she is bored, she always goes to the Sigma Kappa house, because “you can always find sisters there if you want to watch a movie, make cookies, or just hang out. ” This stood out to me, because the point of being in a sorority is to find your home, and these girls make sure you do. The most common language for sororities is Greek. Currently, all the new members in this chapter are learning the greek alphabet.
The acronym for Sigma Kappa is “SK. ” Sorority sisters can communicate through email, text messages, and a Facebook page. I am a new member at the moment, and I communicate with my sisters through an app called “group me. ” I love this app, because I am able to ask all the girls in the group me if they want to get lunch, and within seconds, I’ll receive 50 replies. It is also used to ask questions such as, what time the meetings are. I love having these sisters, because someone is always there for you. The girls usually meet at the chapter house, or buildings on the University campus for activities and meetings.
Although it is not required, all members of Sigma Kappa have the opportunity to live in the chapter home. I was informed by Kayla, that she lived in her sophomore year, and her favorite part was that the house had their own personal chef, who would make them three meals a day. During my observation of Julia, I learned that there is a time to have fun, as well as a time to know you are representing Sigma Kappa as a whole, and you must behave respectably. In the words of Paul Gee, “You project a different identity at a formal dinner party than you do at the family dinner table.
And, though these are both dinner, they are nonetheless different activities. “(442) This shows that at parties or social events with other Greek members, it is okay to have fun and enjoy yourself, but at meetings you must act put together and get down to business. It is extremely important to make sure that you are always conducting yourself appropriately. If a member does something to put a dent in the reputation of the chapter, it may result in getting expelled from the sorority. Formal meetings for new members occur every Sunday, while formal meetings for actives occur every other Monday, and informal meetings every other Monday.
White clothing must be worn by the new members at rituals, where they are initiated into the sisterhood, as well as the seniors being sent off at the end of their college experience. Ritual holds all members of the chapter accountable. Wednesdays are usually the day where all sororities wear their letters, so once a girl is initiated into Sigma Kappa, it is essential to carry oneself properly, because everyone knows what you are apart of, and you want a good reputation for yourself and sorority.
It is fun for the girls to walk around campus, and see someone wearing the same letters as you, when you had no idea they were in your chapter, just because there are so many girls, and it is hard recognize everyone when you have just been initiated. The symbols of this sorority are a dove and heart, and the colors are lavender and maroon, which have strong meaning, but are unfortunately not revealed until the ceremony of initiati Sigma Kappa gives the members numerous opportunities to take account in community service and philanthropy events.
There are four philanthropies of Sigma Kappa, the Sigma Kappa Foundation, Inherit the earth, Maine Seacoast mission, Alzheimer’s disease, and Gerontology. The Sigma Kappa Foundation has been supporting the sorority for over 50 years. They play a critical role in the prosperity and development of Sigma Kappa, supplying the financial assets needed to keep the sorority alive. Inherit the earth is the community service that all women, apart of the sorority can take place in, by working together to improve our environment. Maine Seacoast Mission is the sororities first national philanthropy.
The women provide funds to support the mission’s desperate needs. Gerontology is the study of aging, and Sigma Kappa supplies service and in their local fellowship to the elderly in their local communities. My interviewee, Julia, expressed to me that many girls in the chapter have relatives with Alzheimer’s disease, therefore it is very important to them. Every year, the women of the chapter participate in the Walk to End Alzheimers, which is an event to raise awareness for the disease. The sorority puts on events that involve the entire Greek community, as well as working with UNR to put on these events.
Recently, the girls put on their annual “kick in the grass” event, a soccer tournament among other members of Greek life to raise money for the Sigma Kappa Foundation. Sigma Kappa proves that there is still good in the world, when they are active with the community and focus on giving back. Sigma Kappa has been creating lifelong bonds between women for 141 years. The founders desired to construct a sisterhood that would bestow skills upon the woman and positively change her commonality, while strengthening her heart, mind and spirit.
The chapter appreciates the differences of each new member, and recognizes that every girl plays an important role to the sisterhood. Sigma Kappa’s purpose is to provide woman lifelong opportunities and support for social, intellectual, and spiritual development by bringing women together to positively impact our communities. Members are shaped by Sigma Kappa from their strong morals and values. Overall, Sigma Kappa is filled with many wonderful women, who are leading determined lives with a strong sense of character, and a happy heart.
