The Epsilon Eta chapter of Delta Delta Delta sorority is now in its last year of sisterhood at N.C. State. The chapter plans to close at the end of the upcoming spring semester.
“Right now, we are all heartbroken,” said Delta Delta Delta president Katherine Jordan. “It is painful to see something you love and have worked so hard for go away. But, we have all grown stronger through the situation and we have found lifelong friendships through Tri Delta. I could not be prouder of the chapter.”
Tri Delta’s Executive Office granted the sorority its charter in 2007. Though the chapter initially had 102 members, membership had dropped to about 82 by last spring.
Shelly Dobek, interim director of Greek life, said Tri Delta’s national organization made the decision not to renew the sorority’s charter in partnership with the Department of Greek Life.
“It was the national organization’s decision, but we worked with them on the logistics of how to make that happen,” Dobek said. “Then we tried to support the chapter to make sure they were best prepared to move forward.”
The national organization had to re-evaluate the viability of the Epsilon Eta chapter after several consecutive semesters of decreased membership and retention, according to Dobek.
“It essentially comes down to the rebuilding of Greek Court,” Jordan said. “With a smaller chapter size, Tri Delta National would not be able to afford the multi-million dollar mortgage that the new chapter house would require. They did not see it as an investment worth their while.”
The national organization gave the chapter one final chance to hold a successful fall rush and gain enough support to save the chapter, but after a final analysis by Dobek and a vote by the national organization, national officials decided to cancel the fall recruitment and close the chapter at the end of the year.
“We looked at the first couple of nights [of recruitment] and made a decision before preference that we didn’t think we would be able to get them to where we needed to be,” Dobek said.
According to Jordan, the sisters of Tri Delta have stayed true to their original values in dealing with the organization’s unfortunate circumstance.
Jordan said she thought of her sisters’ potential “littles,” and the importance of equality after hearing about the cancellation.
“It would not be fair to the new members to be given a bid to Tri Delta and then only the opportunity for one year of life in a sorority,” Jordan said.
For the rest of the year, Tri Delta will continue to operate as an active Greek organization. The Tri Delta sisters will still live in the sorority’s house in Greek Village.
The sorority still plans to hold traditional philanthropy events such as fundraisers for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
In May, all chapter members regardless of age will receive Tri Delta Alumnae membership into the third largest women’s fraternity in the National Panhellenic Conference.
