Sigma Psi Zeta () Sorority, Inc., also known as Sigmas or SYZ, is a progressive multicultural American sorority. It was founded on March 23, 1994, at the University at Albany and incorporated in New York on March 15, 1996. It is the third-largest Asian-interest sorority in the nation. It is a part of the National APIDA Panhellenic Association (NAPA).

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. Its founding mothers were Gina Han, Sally Hsieh, Jean Kim, Jenny Kim, Sandra Lam, Winnie Liu, Yan-Chieh Liu, Michelle Macaraig, Sung-Yon Noh, and Loan Trang.

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. The sorority was incorporated in New York on March 15, 1996.

Internally, the sorority uses the term "womxn" instead of "woman" or "women". Similarly, it uses "sxsters" or "syzters" in place of "sisters". Similar terminology has been adopted by other multicultural organizations.

Symbols The sorority's colors are red and gold and its flower is a yellow rose with baby's breath. Its motto is "Lead from the front."

Activities Sigma Psi Zeta is a cultural, social, educational, and community service–oriented Greek organization. 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.

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.

Membership Sigma Psi Zeta has 35 active units (23 chapters and 12 charters) in the states/commonwealths of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin.

Chapters

Following are the chapters of Sigma Psi Zeta. The sorority differentiates between three levels of organization at its campus units. Chapter status appears to be the ultimate goal. Newer or emerging groups are called charters. The third type is denoted as Interest Groups; an interest group must have permission to form from campus administration and must include at least ten members.

Active groups are listed here in bold, inactive groups are listed in italics.

ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatusAlpha University at Albany, SUNYAlbany, NYActiveBeta charter – xxxx ?, 20xx ?Binghamton UniversityBinghamton, NYActiveGamma – 20xx ?Saint John's UniversityJamaica, NYInactiveDeltaUniversity at BuffaloBuffalo, NYActiveEpsilon – 20xx ?SUNY OneontaOneonta, NYInactiveZeta – 20xx ?Pace UniversityNew York, NYInactiveEta Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NYActiveTheta charter – 20xx ?; 202x ?University of Massachusetts AmhersAmherst, MAActiveIotaUniversity of RochesterRochester, NYActiveKappa charter – 20xx ?; 20xx?Virginia TechBlacksburg, VAActiveLambda University of VirginiaCharlottesville, VAActiveMu – 201x ?SUNY GeneseoGeneseo, NYInactiveNu Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PAActiveXiUniversity of Nebraska–LincolnLincoln, NEActiveOmicron – 202x ?Stanford UniversityStanford, CAInactivePi George Washington UniversityWashington, D.C.ActiveRho University of WashingtonSeattle, WAActiveTauUniversity of Maryland, College ParkCollege Park, MDActiveUpsilonUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PAActivePhi University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, COActiveChi – 201x ?Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaShippensburg, PAInactiveAlpha Alpha – 201x ?Yale UniversityNew Haven, CTInactiveAlpha Beta Northwestern University Evanston, ILActiveAlpha Gamma charter Villanova UniversityVillanova, PAActiveAlpha Delta Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick, NJActiveAlpha Epsilon University of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignChampaign, ILActiveAlpha Zeta charterSaint Joseph's UniversityPhiladelphia, PAActiveAlpha Eta – 20xx ?New York CityNew York CityInactiveAlpha ThetaWichita State UniversityWichita, KSActiveAlpha Iota University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CAActiveAlpha Kappa University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MNActiveAlpha LambdaRochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NYActiveAlpha MuUniversity of KansasLawrence, KSActiveAlpha NuGeorge Mason UniversityFairfax, VAActiveAlpha Xi charterSyracuse UniversitySyracuse, NYActiveAlpha Omicron charter Indiana University IndianapolisIndianapolis, INActiveAlpha Pi charter University of Wisconsin–MadisonMadison, WIActiveAlpha Rho Stevens Institute of TechnologyHoboken, NJActiveAlpha Tau charterNew York UniversityNew York City, NYActive Alpha Upsilon Northeastern UniversityBoston, MAActiveAlpha Phi charterWestern Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MIActiveAlpha Chi charter Washington State UniversityPullman, WAActiveAlpha Psi charterTemple UniversityPhiladelphia, PAActive

Notes

See also

List of social fraternities and sororities List of Asian American fraternities and sororities Cultural interest fraternities and sororities

References