Rutgers–Camden Recolonized Sorority Aims to Defy Assumptions of Greek Life

CAMDEN – A wild reputation may precede college Greek life, but at Rutgers University—Camden, a recently reorganized sorority chapter is challenging those assumptions.

Among the ten officially recognized Greek organizations on the Rutgers–Camden Campus, the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority is the latest addition to the system. After being inactive at Rutgers–Camden for nearly a decade, two students initiated the sorority’s recharter more than a year ago. By May 2009, 27 diverse women joined a near century-old tradition of “justice, sisterhood, and love” and will receive their official charter in November.  

Contradicting preconceived stereotypes about Greek organizations, Delta Phi Epsilon is “dry,” meaning they do not serve alcohol or condone drinking at any event. According to Norwood resident Lea Milliaressis, the sorority’s recruitment team leader, members can expect a variety of bonding activities, including group study sessions.

“We are all academically driven and have a passion for our education,” says the junior art history major. “We strive to become the best we can be and help each other in that quest for personal growth and development.”

According to Carla Davenport Kantner, assistant director of alumni relations at Rutgers–Camden, national participation in Greek life dropped dramatically in the ‘90s. However, she says that Delta Phi Epsilon “made an impression right out of the gate.”

Kantner, a member of Delta Phi Epsilon, graduated from Rutgers–Camden in 1987. She said that students were once very active in Greek life, and many lived in houses near campus. She believes participation in these organizations is still important to Rutgers–Camden because it “creates a population of involved students that like to stay on campus.”

Because Delta Phi Epsilon’s national office is located in Philadelphia, Kantner notes they have a strong alumni presence in the area. Like most Greek organizations, their national chapter supports specific philanthropic initiatives, such as the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and their own Delta Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation. After receiving their official charter, the Rutgers–Camden chapter plans to organize fundraising events for these charities.

Although they are no longer recruiting new members for the fall semester, Delta Phi Epsilon will join the nine other Greek organizations on campus for a second recruitment effort in the spring. Students must complete 12 credit hours and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in order to be eligible.

For more information, visit http://oci.camden.rutgers.edu/greek.html.

 

Written by Courtney Preston.