Delta Sigma Theta -- the College's only national black sorority -- is in imminent danger of losing its College housing for next academic year, as its sisterhood will dwindle down to one sole member following June graduation.
Dean of Residential Life Martin Redman said the College will repossess Delta Sigma Theta's four-person River cluster apartment Fall term if the apartment is not filled to capacity "because of the nature of D-plan enrollment on campus."
At present, the sorority consists of four senior women. Three are slated to graduate this June.
Antrameka Knight '04, the current sorority president, said the sorority member not set to graduate will arrange her D-plan in order to conduct new member recruitment next year, pending the College's decision on whether to revise the current recruitment calendar.
Delta Sigma Theta members are currently working with administrators to secure its apartment's future viability.
Both sides are cautiously optimistic that some accord will be worked out. "My understanding is that the organization will continue on as usual," said Assistant Dean of Residential Life Deborah Carney.
Knight declined to comment on the progress of the sorority's discussions with the administration. However, she did note that "our apartment will be secure for next year."
Redman said that if Delta Sigma Theta withdraws its housing application before room draw, the sorority's apartment will be offered in the student lottery. Additionally, if the sorority demonstrates that it will not be able to fill the apartment at a later date, it will be offered to seniors off a waitlist.
However, Redman admitted that at this junction in time, the apartment is for Delta Sigma Theta to lose.
"At this point we are not going to take away their housing," Redman said.
Knight said the main reason behind Delta Sigma Theta's dwindling numbers and its housing troubles is the sorority's obligation to abide by both the College's and its national organization's recruitment schedules.
The two guidelines often conflict because the national recruitment schedule is based on the semester system.
Delta Sigma Theta's recruitment efforts are further complicated by the fact that it does not conduct traditional Dartmouth Greek rush, as laid out by its national guidelines.
Additional recruitment takes place through National Pan-Hellenic Council program events, such as "Meet the Greeks" --where students have the chance to meet members from all the traditionally-minority national organizations on campus.
The local chapter of Delta Sigma Theta was recognized by the College in Spring term 1984, and if the local chapter loses its housing, it will become the second national black sorority at the College to do so in the past two years.
Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority lost its housing last spring as the organization went defunct following the graduation of all of its members.
The sorority chapter had no members in the 2004 and was barred from recruiting members of the 2005 class because its national organization had issued a moratorium on recruiting new members during the 2002-03 academic school year following a hazing incident at one of its other chapters.
Last spring, Delta Sigma Theta garnered a number of 2003 Co-ed, Fraternity, Sorority/Order of Omega Achievement Awards, including recognition for fostering the principle of accountability and for community and philanthropic outreach.
Delta Sigma Theta is the largest African-American women's organization, with over 200,000 members. Delta Sigma Theta was founded nationally at Howard University in 1913 and at the College in 1985. Notable Delta Sigma Theta alumnae include former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, singer Aretha Franklin and physician Betty Shabazz.