Alpha Sigma Alpha Recolonized at SUNY Cortland

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National Alpha Sigma Alpha representatives, second and third from the right, met with students from SUNY Cortland's new colony.

CORTLAND, NY (11/12/2008)(readMedia)-- The colors crimson and pearl white will once again be seen on the SUNY Cortland campus, thanks to the recolonization of the Alpha Sigma Alpha national sorority.

For about a year-and-a-half, more than 50 students worked to bring the sorority back to SUNY Cortland. The new Greek organization was officially recognized by the College in mid-October. From Nov. 6-7, national representatives visited campus to interview interested women. The Alpha Sigma Alpha representatives formally established the colony for 43 new sisters with a pinning ceremony on Nov. 8.

"This is my dream come true," said Lauren Hedger, a senior special education and English major from Smithtown, N.Y. "We started this more than a year ago and it's a goal we've been working toward. It feels great to have achieved it. I am so proud of all of the girls."

In Spring 2009, more undergraduate women will be recruited to join. The formal chapter installation will occur near the end of the spring semester with invited guests to include national and College representatives as well as alumnae.

"This has been a long time coming," said Sandra Wohlleber, assistant director of Campus Activities and Greek Affairs at SUNY Cortland. "Our last addition of a National Panhellenic Conference sorority was in 1993. This is the first time a former sorority on this campus has come back. There has been an interest and a need for an additional Greek sorority on our campus as evidenced by the growing number of women going through recruitment each semester. The addition of Alpha Sigma Alpha will not only provide our undergraduates with a new option, it will require our current groups to re-examine their core values and promote themselves accordingly if they wish to stay competitive."

Alpha Sigma Alpha was chartered as the Gamma Clio chapter in 1946 at SUNY Cortland, but the chapter was closed in 1953 when the State University of New York forced all campus sororities and fraternities to sever their ties with national organizations because of the perceived exclusion of minority groups in some of these organizations. The Gamma Clio chapter then became a local sorority called Alpha Sigma, which became inactive in the 1970s because of the declining interest in Greek organizations.

"The national organization is incredibly excited to come back to SUNY Cortland," said Amber Shaverdi, national membership growth coordinator for Alpha Sigma Alpha. "Cortland's chapter was one of our first 50 and to come back to a place where we've had a history, especially to a campus that is experiencing growth, is exciting."

"We haven't had a new East Coast chapter in a long time," said Erika Butts, Alpha Sigma Alpha District Three facilitator. "It is rewarding to see that these women have the drive to be leaders and have brought a chapter that fits their personalities to campus."

Alpha Sigma Alpha exists to promote high ideals and standards for its members throughout their lives. The organization strives to develop women of poise and purpose and to assist members in fostering lifetime friendships.

The sorority's national philanthropies include the Special Olympics and the S. June Smith Center, a non-profit agency that provides early identification, education, training and therapy to infants and children with disabilities in Lancaster, Pa.

The Gamma Clio chapter will join five sororities, four fraternities and one service fraternity at SUNY Cortland.

For more information, contact Wohlleber at (607) 753-2321.

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