Delta Sigma Theta week serves campus community

Every year, many of the Greek organizations put on themed weeks where they host activities for the campus community. On Feb. 13, the ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. started their annual “Delta Week.” This year brought some familiar programs such as a resume workshop, Valentine’s Day party, community service and a discussion forum, but included something new as well.

Throughout the week, Central Michigan University students were invited to participate in these free festivities while learning more about what Delta Sigma Theta has to offer.

On Valentine’s Day, Delta Sigma Theta teamed up with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. to bring poetry, singing and a chocolate fondue fountain to campus at the event, the Chocolate Factory.

“We wanted to take the Hallmark fakeness away from [the holiday],” Flint senior and Delta Sigma Theta President Quentrese Cole said. “We just wanted to make it more personal.”

More than 50 people mingled in the basement of Sweeney Hall that evening. The attendees were treated to chocolate dipped strawberries and cake along with other tasty confections, all while viewing live performances ranging from a singing trio to poetry throughout the evening.

Hosted Feb. 16, a new Delta Week event called “iServe: What Service Means to You” was a tribute to social activist Dorothy Irene Height, who was the national president of Delta Sigma Theta for more than 10 years.

Kaite Young-Kendall, Volunteer Center employee, came to discuss ways of getting involved and volunteering on campus. Audience members were encouraged to ask questions about what certain activities are and how they can get involved.

Through programs such as Adopt-a-Grandparent, Lunch Buddies and Alternative Breaks, students can get involved serving certain issues in the Mount Pleasant community.

In one part of the program, facilitators and audience alike explained why they choose to serve.

Some of the reasons audience members stated for serving included a desire to give back to their community, because they like learning from other people’s experiences or because they want to make a difference.

Detroit senior and Delta Sigma Theta member Jasmine Smith was pleased with all of the events of the week.

“Support is support, and there’s no sense to put on programs if people don’t show up,” Smith said. “But they always do, and people are here so we will continue to have them.”

When someone imagines a sorority, they may envision a mass amount of women. Yet, for the women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. they break the mold and hold their ground on campus with only three members.

Delta Sigma Theta was the first historically black sorority on Central Michigan University’s campus and has been here promoting similar programs since 1971. While the sorority has already had three other event weeks this academic year, you can look for “A Week on Tenacity” coming up in April.

If you are interested in joining Delta Sigma Theta, there’s no formal recruitment process but they urge prospective members to come out to events and check things out.

“It’s really more of a personal commitment to join,” Cole said. “[Delta Sigma Theta] doesn’t focus on its members. It focuses on the people around them and service.”

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