Lambda Delta Sigma (Concordia)

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".

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 flower of the society is the American Beauty rose or the red rose. The symbol of the sorority is the pink flamingo.

The official crest of the Lamda Delta Sigma sorority at Concordia College.

Literary Societies At Concordia

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 failing to go to meetings.[2] In fact, students received one eighth of a college credit for participating in these literary societies until 1927.[3] A majority of colleges had literary societies, and a large majority of them transitioned into sororities and fraternities as time progressed.[4]

Following national trends,[5] in the 1940s the societies on campus that were once literary societies began to shift over to more social purposes and began to referring to themselves as fraternities and sororities. They still kept some of their literary roots by such activities as performing short plays at social events.

LDS As A Local Sorority

Lambda Delta Sigma, also referred to as LDS, is a philanthropy based, independent sorority. The Concordia College chapter of LDS is the only one in existence and is not affiliated with the National Panhellenic Council as most sororities are.[6] During the 1960s and 1970s, membership was on an upswing for LDS, and in 1979, the society had 55 active members.[7] 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.[8]

LDS held banquets regularly with the help of their brother society, AES. These banquets all had unique themes and handmade invitations created by the LDS girls, complete with a schedule of events and menu.[9] At these banquets, the members would also put on short plays that matched the theme of the event. They had a few luncheons throughout the year and one formal banquet at the end of the year.

Besides holding socials with their brother society, Lambda Delta Sigma participated in events with the other Greek societies on Concordia’s campus until the other societies were disbanded due to non-adherence to the college's policies. Lambda Delta Sigma used to put on campus-wide parties and events along with other campus Greek societies before CEC [Campus Entertainment Commission] was in existence.[10] The societies also participated in a Winter Carnival that boasted activities such as snow sculpting contests.[11] Included in the Winter Carnival was a winter olympics in which the Greek societies would compete against each other in various winter sporting events.[12] The Winter Carnival was an extremely popular event on campus and while it was hosted by the Student Association, the Greek societies did a lot of the managing of events.[13]

LDS In The Fargo-Moorhead Community

As Greek societies on campus began to disband, Lambda Delta Sigma needed to find other Greek societies to socialize with, and in turn, forged a relationship with the Greek societies of North Dakota State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead.

In 2002, LDS began electing a ‘ladies man’ from a NDSU or MSUM fraternity to act as a liaison between the sorority and the surrounding Greek communities.[14] Having this fraternity member helped the society stay connected even though they are the only Greek society left at Concordia. Another way that the society maintains connections is by having one mandatory monthly social between the members of LDS and another Greek society, either at NDSU or MSUM.

Being involved with these other societies helped LDS come up with new ideas for their own philanthropy projects. In 2006, LDS held their first ever Mr. Concordia pageant after seeing the Mr. NDSU pageant.[15] The Mr. Concordia pageant connects LDS to the Concordia campus by picking a representative from campus organizations to participate in the fundraising. The first pageant held benefited the Muscular Dystrophy Association but has shifted over the years to benefit the society’s main charity, the YWCA.

Another one of the society’s ongoing philanthropy projects is a pop-tab collection drive for the Ronald McDonald House. LDS goes head to head with a fraternity at NDSU to see who can collect the most pop-tabs; the society that collects the lesser amount has to cook dinner for the other society.[16] The society holds one mandatory philanthropy event for its members each month. Some of the philanthropy events they participate in include volunteering at nursing homes, helping out at the YWCA and volunteering at a food bank.

While Greek societies have lost the major role they once played on the Concordia campus, Lambda Delta Sigma maintains their society status as the only Greek organization in existence at Concordia. The society maintains their original motto of “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve” and this can be seen through the lasting service they have done for the Fargo-Moorhead area.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Tews, Dave (March 19, 1976). "History of Societies Marked By Changes". The Concordian: 5.
  2. ↑ Johnson, Erik (January 7, 1977). "Early CC Societies Were "Literary"". The Concordian: 5.
  3. ↑ Siewert, Lana (November 9, 1984). "Students Pledge to Traditional Societies". The Concordian: 3.
  4. ↑ Harding, Thomas S. (1972). College Literary Societies: Their Contribution to Higher Education in the United States. New York, New York: Privately Published.
  5. ↑ Schultz, Sean (February 24, 2012). "A Walk Down Webster Ave". The Dartmouth.
  6. ↑ Crane, Geoff (November 19, 1976). "Society Pledging Can Be Embarrassing Yet Purposeful". The Concordian: 5.
  7. ↑ Gjevre, Ann (April 6, 1979). "Societies at Concordia". The Concordian: 4.
  8. ↑ Hauschild, Heather (March 22, 1996). "Pledging Societies Not A Priority For Students in 1966". The Concordian: 1.
  9. ↑ Concordia College Archives. Box 16. Lambda Delta Sigma/ Alpha Epsilon Sigma Scrapbook, 1953-1961.
  10. ↑ Author Unknown (May 3, 1946). "Corn's-a-Popping To Be Theme of LDS-AES, Mu Sig Party". The Concordian: 2.
  11. ↑ Author Unknown (February 13, 1959). "Snow Sculpting Competition Challenges Creative Spirit of Six Literary Societies". The Concordian.
  12. ↑ Senske, G.C. (January 28, 1972). "AES-LDS Take on Winter Olympics". The Concordian: 5.
  13. ↑ “Cobberland on Ice,” The Concordia College Archives Online, Accessed April 24, 2016.
  14. ↑ Rance, Crystal (November 1, 2002). "Concordia's Lambda Delta Sigma: Thriving In Their Motto: "Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve"". The Concordian: 7.
  15. ↑ Tetreault, Karla (December 5, 2008). "Third Annual Mr. Concordia Event Considered A Success". The Concordian: 5.
  16. ↑ Grivno, Cody (January 25, 2002). "Cobber Sorority 'Keeps Tabs' on Ronald". The Concordian: 3.
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