The sisters of Delta Pi Omega sorority have chosen Alpha Xi Delta as their national affiliation.
Representatives from the Alpha Xi Delta national headquarters, which is based in Indianapolis, Ind., will be coming to the College on Aug. 10 to pledge all current sisters. The official colonization will take place after pledge period in the Fall term, Delta Pi President Jil Carey '99 said.
After the initial pledge process in August, an educational leadership consultant will be educating the current sisters of Delta Pi about the national's rituals and values.
In the meantime, Delta Pi will create its local by-laws, which will be similar to those the sorority had prior to the national affiliation, Carey said.
Carey said the group made its decision to affiliate with Alpha Xi Delta on July 9.
The sisters of Delta Pi chose Alpha Xi Delta because the national sorority's goals are very similar to those which Delta Pi had already established for themselves, she said.
Carey said Alpha Xi Delta's philanthropy project, "Choose Children" and its "mission statement on promoting women as leaders and the strength of women's character" are very much like Delta Pi's own goals.
She said the sisters of Delta Pi also chose this national affiliation due to its lack of rituals which focus on religion.
"A lot of chapters were founded with Christian values," Carey said. "We didn't want someone to be intimidated by a Bible in the rituals."
Delta Pi member Emily Bahl '99 said, "We were impressed with Alpha Xi's organization, their interest and enthusiasm and their flexibility in working with us."
Delta Pi will take part in the Panhellenic Council's regular rush process this fall, the first time they will do so as a College-recognized sorority.
Carey said a team from the national headquarters will help with the rush process and answer women's questions.
She said that although the new affiliation may not affect the numbers pledging at her house, the national representatives will "more aggressively pursue having a large pledge class."
"A national's goal is to get your house up to the same total as other houses," she said.
Bahl said her house will benefit from the strength the national affiliation brings in its goals and traditions.
"It will serve as a source of support and guidance as we continue to develop our presence on campus," she said.
Carey said the national affiliation will allow students to become involved for a lifetime in the sorority because of the national's opportunities, such as alumni groups and becoming and education leadership consultant.
Delta Pi was founded last May and was officially recognized as the seventh Panhellenic sorority by the College on Jan. 6.
The group advertised in a Panhellenic newsletter about becoming national and several national organizations sent Delta Pi information and visited the campus.
Alpha Xi Delta sorority administrators came to Dartmouth in early April.
The sisters of Delta Pi initially decided to remain local last term, but reversed that decision at the beginning of the Summer term.
Alpha Xi Delta, established in 1893, has 112 chapters and Dartmouth will be the organization's first Ivy League chapter.
