Sigma Gamma Rho joins the Greek community at Miami University

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The mother of fraternities, Miami University, will have a new sorority to add to its list.

Sigma Gamma Rho, a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPC), will begin the colonization process shortly.

Saturday, February 6, Sigma Gamma Rho held an informational meeting for woman interested in an organization built on “Sisterhood, Scholarship and Service”.

Karena Stewart, president of NPC, said Sigma Gamma Rho would be sending graduate members of the organization to Miami in order to hold the informational presentation in Ben Harrison Room at the Shriver Center.

Stewart said it is Sigma Gamma Rho’s first time on campus and their position in the NPC will depend on whether or not they can get enough members through the membership process.

Jennifer Smrye, Sigma Gamma Rho’s National Chapter membership services coordinator said it is a non-profit, service based historically black international sorority.

According to The National Chapter’s Web page the sorority is “determined to enhance the quality of life within the community through public service, leadership development programs and activities, and the education of youth. The sorority also addresses the concerns that impact society educationally, civically and economically and is a service-based organization.”

According to Toreatha Stitmon, vice president of NPC and member of Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho is one of the last historically black sororities that could be included in NPC.

“The National Pan-Hellenic Council is a historically Black Council composed of nine organizations and Sigma Gamma Rho is one of the last sororities under our umbrella,” Stitmon said.

Stitmon said Sigma Gamma Rho will be the last historically black sorority to join Miami, following the other three already present on campus – Alpha Kappa Alpha, Zeta Phi Beta and Delta Sigma Theta under the National Pan-Hellenic Council. There are only four historically black sororities in existence today.

Accordingly, Stitmon said the arrival of Sigma Gamma Rho on Miami’s Oxford campus is one with diversity in mind.

“I do think this organization is going to be another outlet for the diverse students of Miami,” Stitmon said.

Stewart said the attempt for Sigma Gamma Rho to come on campus is an endeavor to promote diversity. She said this may be an attempt to pacify students who have family members who have been a part of Sigma Gamma Rho in the past.

“There were students on this campus that were interested in this sorority and so they expressed their interest in a Cincinnati chapter,” Stewart said. “I think there were some women who had family members who were apart of this sorority and were interested in a chapter here at Miami.”

As for the recruitment and pledging process for Sigma Gamma Rho, the sorority will follow the NPC processing.

“We are not social-based sororities and fraternities, we’re service-based organizations and so recruitment is done at the discretion of the members in the chapter and it’s open call for all Miami students,” Stewart said.

Stitmon said her enthusiasm for Sigma Gamma Rho is because it will be under the NCP as an organization promoting improving the Oxford community.

“What we already do as a council is create different programs for people who don’t have the outlets to be educated about different things that are happening not only in the minority community but helping out with Miami’s community with programs and service and things of that nature,” Stitmon said, “Sigma Gamma Rho would be helping provide that for Miami students of diverse backgrounds.”

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