Sigma Psi Zeta

Sigma Psi Zeta (ΣΨΖ), an Asian-Interest sorority, 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.

Sigma Psi Zeta is a cultural, social, educational and community service oriented Greek organization. It stands today as the third largest Asian Interest sorority in the nation. Its philanthropic focus is to combat domestic violence against women in its various forms. On a national level, Sigma Psi Zeta has adopted the New York Asian Women's Center as its adopted shelter.

Sigma Psi Zeta currently has active sisterships in the states/commonwealths of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, and Washington D.C. It has 23 sisterships across the United States and continues to expand.

History

In the Fall of 1993, a group of undergraduate women came together. These women, hailing from different cultural backgrounds, became close friends. While musing about the state of their campus and their friendships, the idea of forming a sorority casually came up. They believed that a sorority built on their friendships and sharing their vision could address a gap that existed on the SUNY Albany campus. This idea solidified. These women believed that a sorority built on their friendships, laughter, strengths and dedication would be a formidable force. Over the course of the semester, their group of friends grew closer and in size.

On February 28 1994, the Founding Mothers of Sigma Psi Zeta sat down together over dinner to discuss their common goal. They all aimed to establish an organization that encompassed the strength of today's Asian American woman and her potential for making an impact on the world around her. They came together as friends, realizing the apathy towards Asian women and the dual-disadvantage for being "The Silent Minority." Fact|date=January 2008

On March 23 1994, the State University of New York at Albany formally recognized the sisterhood of Sigma Psi Zeta. Since then, Sigma Psi Zeta has expanded into ten states and twenty-two schools.

On September 10 2006, the Law Caucus of Sigma Psi Zeta became formally recognized as a branch of the sisterhood's National Governance. The Law Caucus comprises sister attorneys, law students, and law-bound undergraduates. The main objectives of the Law Caucus are to research and offer its opinions on legal matters directly related to sorority interests, offer invaluable resources and support to undergraduate sisters in pre-law programs, sisters preparing for law school, law student sisters, and attorney sisters, and generally provide mentorship and career services to law-bound sisters.

Founding Mothers

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

Philanthropy

Background

In 1999, the sisters of SYZ formally adopted their National Philanthropy, to Combat Violence Against Women. The first Asian-interest sorority to take on this cause, SYZ hopes to bring awareness of this issue to our universities and communities as well as the community at large. Sigma sisters have built a campaign to help those affected by violence, to educate the community about the nature of this problem, and to empower our sisters to make a lasting commitment to the issue of violence against women.

The National Philanthropy of Sigma Psi Zeta is to combat violence against women in its varied forms. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: rape, incest, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, exploitation, the trafficking of women and children, the abuse of migrant workers, intimidation at work, child abuse, harassment, and spousal abuse. Any kind of physical, emotional or mental duress constitutes violence.

2006-07 Philanthropic Projects

Sigma Psi Zeta has adopted two philanthropic projects for the 2006-07 academic school year- marrow registration drives and supporting the American Cancer Society. In hopes of finding a marrow match for a University of Rochester alum and chartering sister, all sisterships will hold marrow registration drives at their schools in the fall semester. In addition to these marrow drives, all sisterships will actively participate in American Cancer Society events and fundraising throughout the school year.

Sistership Locations

Chapters

* [Α] Alpha - University at Albany, The State University of New York - Albany, NY
* [Β] Beta - University at Binghamton, The State University of New York - Binghamton, NY
* [Δ] Delta - University at Buffalo, The State University of New York - Buffalo, NY
* [H] Eta - City Chapter of Long Island, New York
* [Θ] Theta - University of Massachusetts at Amherst - Amherst, MA
* [Λ] Lambda - University of Virginia - Charlottesville, VA
* [T] Tau - University of Maryland at College Park - College Park, MD
* [Y] Upsilon - University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA

Charters

* [I] Iota - University of Rochester - Rochester, NY
* [K] Kappa - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) - Blacksburg, VA
* [M] Mu - University at Geneseo, The State University of New York - Geneseo, NY
* [N] Nu - Drexel University - Philadelphia, PA
* [Ξ] Xi - University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Lincoln, NE
* [O] Omicron - Stanford University - Stanford, CA
* [Π] Pi - The George Washington University - Washington, D.C.
* [P] Rho - University of Washington - Seattle, WA
* [Φ] Phi - University of Colorado at Boulder - Boulder, CO
* [X] Chi - Shippensburg University - Shippensburg, PA
* [AA] Alpha Alpha - Yale University - New Haven, CT
* [AB] Alpha Beta - Northwestern University - Evanston, Il

Colonies

* [Γ] Gamma - Jamaica, NY
* [E] Epsilon - Oneonta, NY
* [Z] Zeta - New York, NY