Sigma Sigma Sigma comes to Mizzou
by Constance Berneking, posted Sept., 19, 2008
Multiple recruitment team members stood surveying their watches until the time came. Five, four, three, two, one… sounds of air horns rang out simultaneously at every corner of Greek town. The 2008 Pan-Hellenic Association Formal Recruitment Week had officially begun. But this year, the 1,300 potential members visited a new addition to the Greek community—Sigma Sigma Sigma.
This summer, a spot for a chapter in MU’s Pan-Hellenic Association opened and the national sorority Sigma Sigma Sigma was invited to start a chapter at MU. Since Tri Sigma is a new organization on campus, it will be considered a colony, because it is not yet qualified to be a chapter. Specific qualifications and proper leadership skills of members must be shown to become an official chapter. The MU chapter of Tri Sigma is one of eight Tri Sigma chapters in the state of Missouri.
Tri Sigma participated in the first round of formal recruitment. However, Tri Sigma’s meeting was very unique. When potential members entered Reynolds Alumni Center, they sat and chatted with other active members from another Tri Sigma chapter from elsewhere in the state. At the closing of the meeting, a short presentation pointed out the basic principles of Tri Sigma. The meeting’s highlight was the unveiling of the plans for the new house. The Sigma house is set to open in the fall of 2010. The plans have not yet been finalized.
After the first round of meeting days, Tri Sigma stopped participating in Pan-Hellenic formal recruitment. Tri Sigma began its formal recruitment at the closing of the PHA’s recruitment week. They will accept as many qualified members as possible according to PHA standards.
Director of Chapter Services for Sigma Sigma Sigma, Lorin Phillips, described the kind of women they were looking for: “We are looking for juniors and seniors to provide leadership just as much as sophomores and freshmen.”
Each sorority must have a specific philanthropy, or charitable cause to benefit. Tri Sigma focuses its charitable duties on serving children. Phillips thinks that, with the availability of the hospital nearby, there are multiple possibilities to help children. The Sigmas will participate in all of the major Greek events, such as Homecoming and Greek Week.
Phillips said that what sets Tri Sigma apart is that, “Tri Sigma holds the opportunity to craft new traditions, the possibility to learn from the success of other organizations.”
Many leadership opportunities will be open for the new members.
“The women will work in 32 committee groups to start off,” said Philips.
In late November the women will elect the first set of seven officers. There will be some leadership provided to help the new members along. Tiffany Fay is a full time employee of Tri Sigma who is living in Columbia. She was hired to work with the new members and as an aide for the advisors.
