Sigma Psi Zeta

Sigma Psi Zeta (ΣΨΖ) Sorority, Inc., also known as Sigmas or SYZ, is a progressive multicultural sorority. It was founded on March 23, 1994 at the University at Albany and incorporated in New York on March 15, 1996 by the 10 Founding Mothers. The sorority's colors are red and gold and its flower is a yellow rose with baby's breath. It is a part of the National APIDA Panhellenic Association (NAPA).

Sigma Psi Zeta
ΣΨΖ
Founded	March 23, 1994 University at Albany
Type	Cultural interest
Emphasis	Asian-American
Scope	National
Motto	"Lead from the front."
Colors	Red and Gold
Flower	Yellow Rose with Baby's Breath
Philanthropy	To Combat Violence Against Women
Chapters	39
Nickname	SYZ, Sigmas
Website	http://www.sigmapsizeta.org

Sigma Psi Zeta is a cultural, social, educational and community service–oriented Greek organization. It is the third largest Asian-interest sorority in the nation. Its philanthropic focus is to combat violence against women in its various forms. Sigma Psi Zeta is an official partner of the White House initiative, It's On Us, which launched as a result of the ARC3 Survey.

Sigma Psi Zeta currently has active memberships in the states/commonwealths of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. It has 39 memberships in the United States.

History

Plans for the Sigma Psi Zeta sorority were formed in the Fall semester of 1993 at SUNY Albany by a group of female undergraduates from different backgrounds. The sorority was formed in part to address the dual difficulties faced by Asian women. On March 23, 1994 the sorority was officially recognized by the University. Within a year, a second chapter was formed at SUNY University at Binghamton.[1]

The founding mothers were:

• Gina Han
• Sally Hsieh
• Jean Kim
• Jenny Kim
• Sandra Lam
• Winnie Liu
• Yan-Chieh Liu
• Michelle Macaraig
• Sung-Yon Noh
• Loan Trang

Philanthropy

Since 1999, Sigma Psi Zeta's philanthropy has been to combat violence against women. The sorority has worked against violence against women in many forms, and has focused specifically on Asian women who are historically objectified and disempowered. Local chapters and colonies participate in events such as the Take Back The Night rallies, and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence's Domestic Violence Awareness month.[2]

Membership locations

Chapters

• [Α] Alpha Chapter – University at Albany, The State University of New York – Albany, NY
• [Δ] Delta Chapter – University at Buffalo, The State University of New York – Buffalo, NY
• [Η] Eta Chapter – Stony Brook University – Stony Brook, NY
• [Ι] Iota Chapter – University of Rochester – Rochester, NY
• [Λ] Lambda Chapter – University of Virginia – Charlottesville, VA
• [Ν] Nu Chapter – Drexel University – Philadelphia, PA
• [Ξ] Xi Chapter – University of Nebraska–Lincoln – Lincoln, NE
• [Ο] Omicron Chapter – Stanford University – Stanford, CA
• [Π] Pi Chapter – The George Washington University – Washington, D.C.
• [Ρ] Rho Chapter – University of Washington – Seattle, WA
• [Τ] Tau Chapter – University of Maryland at College Park – College Park, MD
• [Υ] Upsilon Chapter – University of Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, PA
• [Φ] Phi Chapter – University of Colorado at Boulder – Boulder, CO
• [ΑΒ] Alpha Beta Chapter – Northwestern University – Evanston, IL
• [ΑΕ] Alpha Epsilon Chapter – University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign – Champaign, IL
• [ΑΘ] Alpha Theta Chapter – Wichita State University – Wichita, KS
• [ΑΜ] Alpha Mu Chapter – University of Kansas – Lawrence, KS

Charters

• [Β] Beta Charter – Binghamton University – Binghamton, NY
• [Θ] Theta Charter – University of Massachusetts – Amherst – Amherst, MA
• [Κ] Kappa Charter – Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) – Blacksburg, VA
• [ΑΓ] Alpha Gamma Charter – Villanova University – Villanova, PA
• [ΑΔ] Alpha Delta Charter – Rutgers University – New Brunswick, NJ
• [ΑΖ] Alpha Zeta Charter – University of the Sciences – Philadelphia, PA
• [ΑΙ] Alpha Iota Charter – University of California, Berkeley – Berkeley, CA
• [ΑΚ] Alpha Kappa Charter – University of Minnesota – Minneapolis, MN
• [ΑΛ] Alpha Lambda Charter – Rochester Institute of Technology – Rochester, NY
• [ΑΝ] Alpha Nu Charter – George Mason University – Fairfax, VA
• [ΑΞ] Alpha Xi Charter – Syracuse University – Syracuse, NY
• [ΑΟ] Alpha Omicron Charter – Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis – Indianapolis, IN
• [ΑΠ] Alpha Pi Charter – University of Wisconsin – Madison – Madison, WI
• [ΑΡ] Alpha Rho Charter – Stevens Institute of Technology – Hoboken, NJ
• [ΑΤ] Alpha Tau Charter – New York University – New York City, NY

Inactive memberships

• [Γ] Gamma – Jamaica, NY
• [Ε] Epsilon – Oneonta, NY
• [Ζ] Zeta – New York, NY
• [Μ] Mu – Geneseo, NY
• [Χ] Chi – Shippensburg, PA
• [ΑΑ] Alpha Alpha – New Haven, CT
• [ΑΗ] Alpha Eta – New York City, NY

References

1. "Our Story". Sigma Psi Zeta. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
2. "Philanthropy Background". Sigma Psi Zeta. Retrieved 14 December 2013.