After 10 months of organizing and lobbying administrators, 17 women can now call themselves sisters of Delta Pi Omega sorority, following the group's provisional recognition by the College on Monday.
Since the revocation of Beta Theta Pi fraternity's recognition last month, there are now seven sororities and 14 fraternities in the Coed Fraternity Sorority system.
Delta Pi can be fully recognized next winter when a Minimum Standards committee will meet and review the sorority. If Delta Pi meets the minimum standards, the sorority will be given final recognition.
Provisional recognition still allows Delta Pi to "have all the privileges and services given to a fully recognized organization," according to Assistant Dean of Residential Life Deb Reinders. Delta Pi will now have College billing privileges, a member on the Panhellenic and the CFS Councils and numerous other benefits that come with being a recognized CFS organization.
Although Delta Pi President Andrea Stenger '99 said the new sorority's 17 members have already been holding Wednesday night meetings since the beginning of Fall term, they are excited at the new opportunities recognition will bring.
"We're all very excited to be officially recognized," Delta Pi member Emily Bahl '99 said. "It's been a long process and at times it's been kind of difficult." Organizations must write a constitution and bylaws and secure an advisor before becoming recognized.
Stenger said the sorority will consider requesting a physical plant. Reinders said it is not clear when or if Delta Pi's request will be granted. "Right now there are no physical plants available," she said.
According to Stenger, Delta Pi is considering a national affiliation and will be contacting the National Panhellenic Council to determine if a national affiliation would be possible.
"We want to see if any national sororities would want to come to Dartmouth," Stenger said. "But we also will decide if we even want to be nationally affiliated."
Many believe the creation of the new sorority is a step towards increasing equality between the fraternity and sorority systems on campus.
"We're helping to bring equality to the Greek system," Stenger said. "There are still many more fraternities than sororities, but the new sorority will increase opportunities for women at Dartmouth."
Panhell President Jess Russo '97 said Delta Pi's provisional recognition will decrease the size of the pledge classes, which are significantly higher than those of fraternities. She said smaller groups will strengthen the sorority system by creating more tightly knit groups.
Russo said the CFSC board has seen little discussion of women's issues. She said many meetings contained discussions which pertained only to the fraternities.
Delta Pi's provisional recognition "will give sororities a greater voice on the CFSC board," Russo said. "Now we will be able to bring more women's issues to the board."
The members of Delta Pi have still not determined whether or not they will hold a winter rush in the upcoming weeks.
"We're not really hurting for members," House Manager Emily Csatari '99 said. "But if someone is interested we are not going to turn them away."
