SIGMA PSI ZETA

Dear parents and guardians,

 

Welcome to Rutgers Sigma Psi Zeta's website! My name is Katherine Yabut, and I am currently a senior in the School or Arts and Sciences at Rutgers. If you are reading this, it is likely that your daughter is considering joining Greek life at Rutgers, and possibly Sigmas. Allow me to introduce our organization to you and the benefits sorority membership can offer your daughter.

 

A sorority is a society of women that is tasked with promoting the personal and professional development of its members through leadership and philanthropy, and is designated by Greek letters. Sigma Psi Zeta is a cultural, social, educational, and community service-oriented sorority, focused on addressing the unique issues facing women and in particular Asian/Asian-American women. 

 

For women, there are many advantages to joining a sorority. Research has shown that Greek members are on average 20% more likely to graduate, attain higher grades, and are more involved in the community and in philanthopic efforts than non-affiliated college students. Greek members are often engaged in leadership capacities both within their sorority and in other campus, community, and religious organizations. Unlike most other student clubs, the benefits of Greek membership extend beyond graduation: extensive alumnae networks provide support and special access to professional opportunities for members well after college.

 

What makes Sigma Psi Zeta special is that it offers all all this for its members and more. The tenets of Sigma Psi Zeta are the Ten Rays of Sisterhood: Integrity, Legacy, Scholarship, Philanthropy, Professionalism, Community, Sisterhood, Culture, Citizenship, and Activism. At the heart of the personal and professional development of our sisters during college and beyond are these principles. We uphold Scholarship by appointing an academic chair to monitor sisters' GPAs, set up group study hours, and provide tutoring through other sisters. We uphold Professionalism by periodically hosting workshops and providing leadership opportunities for sisters, drawing upon the Legacy of our alumnae network and 27 sisterships nationwide to aid in these efforts. We uphold Community, Culture, Citizenship, and Activism by working with other organizations and inspiring our sisters to become agents of social change against the injustices women and Asians/Asian-Americans face - especially in regards to our Philanthropy, combatting violence against women. We uphold Integrity by cultivating a culture that ultimately empowers women through all these aspects. Last but certainly not least, we uphold Sisterhood by unconditionally loving and supporting each and every one of our sisters, challenging a sister to be the best and most successful person she can be.

 

Unfortunately, despite these benefits, there are also stigmas about being in a sorority, and many skeptics will argue that you can gain these valuable experiences elsewhere. Initially, I was one of them. Having already established myself as a student leader at Rutgers with excellent grades and plenty of friends, I thought, "What could a sorority possibly offer me?" But after meeting Sigmas and seeing how confident and independent they were, how committed they were to each other and the causes they hold dear, and how this was a sisterhood that truly does last a lifetime, I realized how very wrong I was. As involved and successful as I have been during my time at Rutgers, I still will say with no hesitation that the experiences I have had as a sister are some of the best and most rewarding of my college career. I am also certain that your daughter, should she choose to join Sigma Psi Zeta, will think so, too. 

 

To learn more about Sigma Psi Zeta, feel free to peruse our site as well as the national website of Sigma Psi Zeta. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at syzrutgersnb@gmail.com. Thanks so much for taking the time to learn more about this amazing organization and have a great day!

 

Regards,

Katherine Yabut

Former President of Rutgers Sigma Psi Zeta, Class of 2014