Sigma Phi Omega
| Sigma Phi Omega | |
|---|---|
| ΣΦΩ | |
 | |
| Founded | 1949 University of California, Los Angeles |
| Type | Social |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Status | Active |
| Emphasis | Service, Asian-Interest |
| Scope | Regional |
| Motto | "The Reward is in the Doing" |
| Pillars | Strength and Character |
| Colors | Kelly Green and Maize Yellow |
| Symbol | White Dove |
| Flower | Yellow Rose |
| Chapters | 7 active |
| Nickname | Sigmas |
| Headquarters | 10683 Heather Ridge Drive San Diego, California 92130 United States |
| Website | www |
Sigma Phi Omega (ΣΦΩ), also known as Sigmas, is an Asian American interest sorority founded at the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California
History
[edit]Sigma Phi Omega was founded at the University of Southern California in 1949, and is the oldest Asian American sorority in the United States.[1][2] It was originally established as a social organization for Japanese and Japanese American women at USC and has since then come to consist of a diverse membership of women hailing from numerous racial and cultural backgrounds.[2]
Its founding mothers were:[1][2]
- Miki Haga
- Joyce Ishibashi Tawa
- Ida Kado Watanabe
- Kazuko Kay Matsumoto
- Helen Morita Matsunaga
- Cherry Okimoto
- Akiko Sato Miyamoto
- Edna Tanaka Okui
- Helen Taniguchi Wakamatsu
- Miki Tanimoto
- Dottie Uno
- Julia Uriu
- Grace Wada Iino
- Betty Wakamatsu Nishikubo
- Chiyoe Yata Oki
- Mitzi Okamoto
- Thelma Sasada Yamamoto[2]
Sigma Phi Omega was to join Chi Alpha Delta, an Asian-American sorority chartered at UCLA in 1928 that was reforming after World War II.[1] However, the founding mothers of Sigma Phi Omega decided to start their own organization.[1]
The Greek letters ΣΦΩ were chosen at random and were not used by any other existing college fraternities or sororities at that time.[1] (The Greek letters were, however, being used by a national high school fraternity.) Although Sigma Phi Omega did not originate as a sorority, one could speculate that the choosing of Greek letters was a public way of voicing an unsatisfactory opinion about the treatment of Asian Americans, specifically Japanese Americans, by the campus and Greek organizations.[2][1] Although was were no limitations, the organization's initial membership was primarily women of Japanese descent.[1]
The sorority operated as a single-chapter organization until 1973, when a chapter was established at California State University, Long Beach.[3] It became a regional sorority in 1991 with the formation of Gamma at the University of Texas at Austin.[3] By December 2013, Sigma Phi Omega had chartered ten chapters in California and Texas.[3]
Symbols
[edit]The motto of Sigma Phi Omega is ''The Reward is in the Doing''.[2] Its pillars are Strength an Character. The sorority's colors are Kelly green and maize yellow. Its symbol is the white dove.[2] Its flower is the yellow rose.[2] The sorority's nickname is the Sigmas.
Governance
[edit]Sigma Phi Omega's national board was established in May 1988 at its third annual convention.[4] The national board consists of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, California governor, Texas governor, and philanthropy chair.[4] Officers are elected at the annual convention, hosted by chapters in rotation. The sorority's headquarters and foundation are in San Diego, California.[5]
Philanthropy
[edit]Sigma Phi Omega has chosen domestic violence awareness and prevention & sexual assault awareness as its national philanthropy.[6] In October, all chapters organize a "SAFE (Stop Abuse For Everyone) WEEK" filled with seminars and discussions about domestic violence and fundraising events.[6] Chapters also sponsor and participate service activities.
In 2009, the sorority established the Sigma Phi Omega Sorority Charitable Foundation, primarily to oversee scholarship for members of the sorority.[7]
Chapters
[edit]Sigma Phi Omega has installed nine chapters located in California and Texas. Active chapter noted in bold, inactive chapters noted in italics.[3][8]
| Chapter | Charter date and range | Institution | Location | Status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | 1949 | University of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, California | Active | [1] |
| Beta | 1973 | California State University, Long Beach | Long Beach, California | Active | |
| Gamma | May 1, 1991 | University of Texas | Austin, Texas | Active | |
| Delta | December 18, 1991 | San Diego State University | San Diego, California | Active | |
| Epsilon | April 21, 1995 | University of Houston | Houston, Texas | Active | |
| Zeta | April 5, 1997 | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, California | Active | |
| Eta | May 1, 1999 – 20xx ? | Baylor University | Waco, Texas | Inactive | |
| Theta | May 20, 2005 – 202x ? | Southern Methodist University | University Park, Texas | Inactive | |
| Iota | May 2, 2009 | Texas A&M University | College Station, Texas | Active | |
| Kappa | December 8, 2013 | University of Texas at Dallas | Richardson, Texas | Active |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h "History". USC Sigma Phi Omega. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "About Us — Sigma Phi Omega". Sigma Phi Omega. Archived from the original on 2024-07-10. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ^ a b c d William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive)". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 5 Aug 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
- ^ a b "National Board". Sigma Phi Omega. Archived from the original on July 10, 2024. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ^ "Sigma Phi Omega Sorority Charitable Foundation". GuideStar Profile. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ^ a b "Philanthropy". Sigma Phi Omega. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ^ "Charitable Foundation". Sigma Phi Omega. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ^ Chapter list from Sigma Phi Gamma's official website, "Chapters" page, accessed 5 Aug 2021.