The weekend of October 10–12, 1952, student representatives of existing local sororities from eight colleges met at Beekman Tower in New York City.[2] Those organizations and their institution are as follows:
They decided on the name Gamma Sigma Sigma and the colors of maroon and white, and charters were then given to these groups.[5][6] Sigma Lambda Phi from the University of Miami did not attend the final day of the convention and did not commit to membership at the founding meeting. As a result, they are not considered a founding group of Gamma Sigma Sigma.
Activities
Collegiate and alumni chapters are required to perform a defined number of service hours during the year as defined in their bylaws. Chapters/individuals may receive awards for their service or for participating in special emphasis projects.[7]
All members are encouraged to participate in the nationally designated service areas, known as project I.M.P.A.C.T. (Individuals Making Progress Across Communities Together). The current I.M.P.A.C.T. areas are Heart Health and Teen & Young Adult Mental Health Awareness. The sorority partners with other charitable organizations, with the longest-standing partnership held by the March of Dimes. Other partners include: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Cancer Society, and Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.[1]
Governance
Collegiate chapters are led by an executive board with the following roles. President, Service Vice President, Membership Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Financial Secretary, Public Relations Coordinator, National Representative, and Alumni Liaison. All are elected by the chapter except for the Parliamentarian, who the President appoints.
The sorority's national governing body is the National Convention, held biennially in odd-numbered years. During each convention, the delegation elects the National Board of Directors, which coordinates the sorority's activities.[5] The delegation also chooses two service project areas for emphasis during the next two years.
Membership
Gamma Sigma Sigma is not selective. The sorority does not discriminate based on race, sex, or gender nor do they tolerate hazing in any form. Membership is determined by guidelines set by each chapter, within guidelines set by the national organization and academic institution. These tasks are in direct relationship to both chapter and national service programs. Members-in-training are not required to perform personal services for members, or any activity that can be construed as hazing. Gamma Sigma Sigma also accepts individuals who are members of other organizations, including social sororities, as members.
As of February 18, 2023, Gamma Sigma Sigma has 38 active undergraduate chapters and 3 rechartering chapters.[8] It has 42 Active Alumni chapters and colonies.
On February 2, 2021, a post on Twitter detailed a series of racist, nationalist blog posts made by a member of the University of Georgia's (UGA) chapter of Gamma Sigma Sigma. One offending post stated the enslavement of Black people in the United States “does not begin to compare to” Sept. 11, 2001. Another post stated that Black people should not get their holiday celebrating independence because “July 4th is about America. Not about race. Without America, the slaves would still be under British control and who knows how long slavery would’ve lasted.” Other members of the chapter were outraged by the posts and demanded that the offending member be removed from her executive leadership position in the chapter.
The issue was brought up in a February 9 chapter meeting attended by members of the sorority's national board. The national board members' efforts to impair the recall of the offending member along with the discovery that the national board had been informed about the hurtful posts months prior and had ignored them increased discontent within the UGA chapter.
In the month directly after the chapter meeting, the majority of the UGA chapter's members and all but one member of the executive board resigned. A new organization has since been created on UGA's campus focused on the same ideals of Gamma Sigma Sigma while also emphasizing inclusive practices.[11]
Notes
^The name Eta was reserved for Sigma Lambda Phi. However, they did not have Gamma Sigam Sigma until 1958; they were named Upsilon chapter at the time.
