Lambda Delta Sigma (Concordia)
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| Lambda Delta Sigma | |
|---|---|
| ΛΔΣ | |
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| Founded | 1919 Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota) |
| Type | Social |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Status | Active |
| Scope | Local |
| Motto | "Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve" |
| Colors | Navy blue, White, and Hot pink |
| Symbol | Pink Flamingo |
| Flower | American Beauty rose or the red rose |
| Jewel | Pearl |
| Publication | LDS Newsletter |
| Philanthropy | YWCA of Fargo |
| Chapters | 1 |
| Headquarters | 901 8th Street S. Moorhead, Minnesota 56562 United States |
| Website | lambdadeltasigma |
Lambda Delta Sigma (ΛΔΣ) is the only remaining Greek society at Concordia College. Founded in 1919 as a literary society, the ladies of Lambda Delta Sigma have since shifted to a philanthropic organization with their main charity being the YWCA of Fargo. The society operates under their original motto: "Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve".
Lambda Delta Sigma was formed as a literary society for women at Concordia College in 1919.
The original purpose of literary societies at Concordia was to “acquire skill at forensics- debating, speaking and parliamentary procedure”.[1] In Concordia's early years, being a part of a literary society tied into students’ English grades with points deducted for failure to attend meetings.[2] In fact, students received one eighth of a college credit for participating in these literary societies until 1927.[3] Even after students stopped receiving grade increases for participating in literary societies, students involved in these organizations prioritized academics. In 1937, the members of the Lambda Delta Sigma society earned the highest GPA out of all the organizations at the college, including other literary societies and extra-curricular clubs. The members of the society received an average GPA of 1.932 points out of the possible 2, as compared to the average campus GPA of 1.56.[4]
Members of women's literary societies at Concordia College presented original one-act plays at their annual open houses and competed against one another. These plays were written and directed by the members of the societies and faculty members screened the scripts before their debut.[5]
A majority of colleges had literary societies, and a large majority of them transitioned into sororities and fraternities as time progressed.[6] In 1929, an intersociety council formed to govern over the eight local societies operating on campus. This council governed the activities of the organizations and their rules for recruiting new members.[7] The aim of the intersociety council was to promote cooperation amongst the literary societies and to maintain a good relationship with the campus. A member from each of the eight societies was elected yearly to serve on this council.[8]
In 1924, 90 percent of female upperclassmen were involved in women's literary societies and 95 percent of male upperclassmen were involved in men's literary societies. Students were urged to join societies in order to adapt to college life and learn how to cooperate with others.[5] In 1932, there were 255 students at Concordia College involved in societies; this was more than half of the students enrolled at the college. Of the female undergraduates, 60% were members of a society.[7]
LDS as a local sorority
Following national trends,[9] in the 1940s the societies on campus that had formed as literary societies began to shift over to more social purposes and began to referring to themselves as fraternities and sororities. Two of the eight societies removed the word "literary" from their names in 1938 to address their new purpose as social Greek letter organizations.[7] They still kept some of their literary roots by such activities as performing short plays at social events. Societies on campus participated in homecoming festivities, held joint activities with their brother and sister societies, and hosted banquets and parties for their members.[5]
Lambda Delta Sigma, also referred to as LDS, likewise adjusted its focus to become a philanthropy (service) based, independent sorority. The Concordia College chapter of LDS is the only such group on campus. It is not affiliated with the National Panhellenic Conference as are the majority of national sororities.[10] During the 1960s and 1970s, membership was on an upswing for LDS, and in 1979, the society had 55 active members.[11] But towards the end of the 1990s, the number of new members had substantially dropped. In 1996, only four new members were initiated into LDS.[12] In subsequent years, membership has stabilized.
Symbols
The official colors of the Lambda Delta Sigma sorority are navy blue and white, the sorority has unofficially adopted hot pink as one of their colors as well. The original colors of the society were scarlet and white.[13] The flower of the society is the American Beauty rose or the red rose. The symbol of the sorority is the pink flamingo. The jewel of the society is the pearl.[14] The motto of the society is the same as it was in 1919: "Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve".