Delta Sigma Theta

Motto

"Intelligence is the torch of Wisdom"

How many chapters?

-1000 collegiate and alumnae chapters

Colors

-Crimson and cream -Represent courage and purity

Five Point Programmatic Thrust

-Educational Development -Economic Development -Physical and Mental Health -Political Awareness and Involvement -International Awareness and Involvement

First Public Service

-March 13, 1913 -Women's Suffrage March -In Washington D.C.

Founded

-Monday, January 13, 1913 -At Howard University (Alpha Chapter) -By 22 collegiate women to promote academic excellence and provide assistance to those in need.

Delta Hymn

-Music written by Florence Cole Talbert; lyrics by Alice Dunbar-Nelson -Adopted in 1942

Three Values

-Serve -Lead -Empower

Where are the chapters located?

-United States -Canada -Japan (Tokyo and Okinawa) -Germany -The Virgin Islands -Bermuda -The Bahamas -Jamaica -The Republic of Korea

Elephant Tradition

-When she passed away her collection of elephants was donated to the Grand Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where they are on display in our archives. Today most Deltas collect elephants in her honor. -The elephant symbolizes strength and determination. The uplifted trunk represents high goals. The right foot forward represents forward movement.

Delta Oath

-Written by activist and suffragist Mary Church Terrell -1914

Delta Flower

-symbolizes the bond that they had with the Omegas whose colors are none other than purple & gold. -"violets must be individually selected you can not grab a handful without damaging some of them. They can not be roughly picked in a hurry." -The Violet is not the kind of flower that shows off its fullest beauty standing alone, but is naturally gregarious and looks best in mutual clusters"

Incorporated

1930

Current President

Beverly E. Smith (26th president). Initiated through the Epsilon Omicron Chapter at Bowling Green State University in October 1967.

Mission

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated is an organization of college educated women committed to the constructive development of its members and to public service with a primary focus on the Black community.

Official Symbol

Fortitude is Delta's official symbol. The replica of the sculpture is located on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. She symbolizes strength, courage, hope, wisdom, beauty, and femininity. Her facial features depicts courage and determination. The outstretched hands represent the receding of love, as well as the giving of one self to others. The statue is shown pushing forward, the tension on her thigh is representative of her strength. Fortitude stands to inspire women to move forcefully forward to meet life's challenges.

Southern Regional Director

Sandra K. Horton

How DST started ?

This can be traced back to the year 1912 at Howard University. The 22 members of the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority decided they wanted to change the direction of the organization. After splitting into committees and formulating reports on the idea at hand, they unanimously decided to change the name, colors, motto, creed, the shield, and the organization of Alpha Kappa Alpha. A graduate member (Nellie Quander) objected to idea at the finalizing meeting, and rallied enough support from other graduate members in the area and together they shot down the idea. The 22 members persistent in their cause were denounced of their membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha. They reorganzied under their own sorority known as Delta Sigma Theta. Thus the 22 founders of DST were in fact members of AKA. Thus from this the famous rivalry was started. *HINT: Delta (means change)