History

Alpha Sigma Alpha was founded in 1901 at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia by five outstanding women: Virginia Lee Boyd (Noell), Juliette Jefferson Hundley (Gilliam), Calva Hamlet Watson (Wootton), Luoise Burks Cox (Carper), and Mary Williams Hundley. In 1914, four chapters (Alpha, Alpha Alpha, Alpha Beta, and Alpha Gamma) met in Miami to reorganize their sorority. In two days, they adopted a new constitution, formulated more elaborate rituals, made some changes in symbols and customs and arranged for a weekly publication, The Phoenix.

How ASA Became Established At IIT:

1998: A group of eleven women at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) formed The Women's Interest Group (TWIG) with the goal of bringing a national sorority to the campus. These Founding Mothers of the Zeta Phi Chapter of AΣA are Nancianna Derrick, Jennifer Fouts, Elizabeth Kalin, Michelle Linden, Karen Lindenmeyer, Lisa Marszalek, Meg Mattson, Jennifer Riddle, Tregei Starr, Joyce Tsang, and Elena Yu.

At the time, there were only two other sororities, both local, on the campus of IIT, and these women wanted to provide more choices and opportunities for the growing number of women on this male-dominated campus to find comfort in a group of close female friends. They decided that a national sorority would also provide many advantages not available through a local sorority, like having a nationwide network of sisters.

In the fall of 1998, these women participated in rush and more than doubled their numbers, with fourteen new sisters joining the group. During the semester, the women presented their organization to IIT Greek Council and were accepted for membership. They sent a request to the National Panhellenic Conference to inform all the national sororities that they were looking for a sorority to expand onto IIT's campus. This request included information about the current members, as well as the ideals and goals of this group of women. Interested sororities contacted TWIG with information about their organizations, and the women narrowed it down to the three sororities whose ideals most closely matched their own.

The spring semester of 1999 started with extension presentations given by three sororities: Alpha Sigma Alpha, Gamma Phi Beta, and Sigma Sigma Sigma. At the same time, TWIG held spring rush and gained eight more sisters.

TWIG selected Alpha Sigma Alpha based on their values and aims, which most closely matched their own. On March 1, 1999, Alpha Sigma Alpha colonized on the campus of IIT with 27 members. On October 23, 1999, Zeta Phi Chapter was formally installed as a chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha. We remember and honor our TWIG heritage through some of our rituals, which come from the original TWIG ceremonies.

The fall of 1999 was the first time these women held rush as a national sorority. Some things were different than rush in the past, but everything ran smoothly. Once again, these women held a successful rush and gained ten more sisters. This brought the group to the final 34 members who would be initiated as Founding Mothers of the Zeta Phi chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha.

What started as the dream of eleven women was now a reality and will live on into the future as the Zeta Phi chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha.

Today, Alpha Sigma Alpha has more than 150 collegiate and alumnae chapters nationwide. Alpha Sigma Alpha contributes greatly to the ASA Foundation, which is committed to promoting service, leadership and lifelong learning. More information can be found on the national website, www.alphasigmaalpha.org.