Sigma Omicron Pi
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The sisterhood of ΣΟΠ (Sigma Omicron Pi) (also known as SOPi) was founded in 1930 to further the awareness of women in Asian culture. As strong women participating in various social, academic, and community activities, ΣΟΠ maintain the objectives of unity, friendship, leadership, and community service established over 75 years ago.
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[edit] History
The sisterhood of Sigma Omicron Pi was established at San Francisco State University in 1930 by ten Asian American women with an interest in teaching. They chose the Greek letters, Σ, Ο and Π to represent themselves as the "Sisters of Pedagogy." The Constitution was derived from an existing "Honorary Society of Education."
The sorority became active in the Asian Community, although it was dormant during World War II. In 1946, a group of women from the University of California, Berkeley[1] re-established ΣΟΠ on their campus. Since its inception, ΣΟΠ has grown in membership with student chapters at:
- Beta Chapter, San Francisco State University, 1988 [2]
- Gamma Chapter, San Jose State University, 1992 [3]
- Delta Chapter, University of California, Davis, 1993 [4]
- Epsilon Chapter, California State University, Sacramento, 1993 [5]
- Zeta Chapter, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1995 [6]
- Eta Chapter, University of Maryland, 1997 (retired)
- Theta Chapter, University of California, Irvine, 2001 [7]
- Iota Chapter, Pennsylvania State University, 2001 [8]
- Kappa Chapter, University of California, San Diego, 2002 [9]
- Lambda Chapter, The Johns Hopkins University, 2002 [10]
- Mu Chapter, University of California, Riverside, 2003 [11]
Though the sorority was no longer centered around the interest of teaching, it still maintained its commitment to the Asian American Community. All of the chapters became heavily involved in their local communities, volunteering their time at community agencies and raising money to donate to favorable charities. ΣΟΠ earned a reputation as a benefactor to the Asian American cause.
The purpose of ΣΟΠ is to promote unity, lifelong friendships, leadership, and community service, which has been displayed over 7 decades. It offers women a supportive network of sisters to achieve academic and social growth, and provides an environment where sisters may utilize and develop their organizational skills.
[edit] Founding Sisters
- Elizabeth Hall
- Frances Hall
- Dorothy Lau
- Gertrude Lee
- Hannah Lee
- Louise Lee
- Fannie Lim
- Nancy Lim
- Emma Lum
- Beatrice Ng
[edit] ICC History
The Inter-Chapter Council, also known as ICC, was created in 1994 with the intentions of uniting the expanding sisterhood of Sigma Omicron Pi under one central governing body. ICC Cabinet consists of 6 officers who are elected annually by the collegiate chapters. These officers are: President, VP Sisterhood, VP Philanthropy, VP External, Treasurer, and Secretary.
The Council also consists of all chapter presidents and 1 delegate from each chapter. ICC coordinates annual and semester events such as ICC Presents, Annual Sisterhood Conference, Friendship Day, UNITY, fundraisers, and philanthropies. All of which is aimed to promote UNITY, FRIENDSHIP, LEADERSHIP, and SERVICE in addition to strengthening our inter-chapter relations and sisterhood nationwide.
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Elizabeth Hall - San Francisco school district's first Chinese American principal in 1953. [12]
- Tiffany Lam - Miss Hong Kong 2002, Miss Chinese International 2003 runner up, and TVB actress.
