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Sixteen women have carved out a niche for themselves at UMaine as Delta Rho Epsilon. Two years ago, six girls, including Heidi Wilcox, Delta Rho president and a fourth-year psychology major, and Laura Porter, hoped to bring Delta Delta Delta back to campus. Unable to get past the Panhellenic Council, the sororities’ governing board, and claiming that they had not clicked well with the other sororities, they instead opted to create their own.
“A lot of people have asked me what makes our sorority different,” Wilcox said. “It’s not that we’re better or entirely different than the other sororities. We’re just offering another option.”
Delta Rho, technically a local sorority, operates as an associate member of the Panhellenic Council. This means that members of Delta Rho cannot hold the position of president of the Panhellenic Council, nor can they vote on expansions in the Greek Life program.
The women have received abundant support from other fraternities and sororities. “I think it really says a lot about UMaine,” said chapter adviser Lauren Hayden, a first-year graduate student studying higher education. “At other schools, other sororities or fraternities wouldn’t want to bring in any new competition.”
As for philanthropy, the women of Delta Rho have chosen the Maine Cancer Foundation and are currently working with representatives from the foundation on events and fundraising ideas. They also plan to participate in Relay for Life, an annual event held nationwide – locally in Old Town – raising money for cancer research.
This social sorority is second on the waiting list for a chapter room and has no plans for a house. Until they receive a chapter room assignment, meetings are held in Wilcox’s apartment. “We recruited nine new girls, nearly doubling our size in one semester. My apartment is becoming too small for our meetings,” Wilcox explained.
Fiona McMahon, a first-year biology major and member of Delta Rho, discussed her choice to join. “Basically, this was something we could make our own. And we get to be a founding class, which is pretty exciting.”
With their bylaws in progress, the sorority has already selected the flower, iris; the colors lavender, silver, and blue; the jewels pearl and amethyst; and the motto “she flies with her own wings.”
Being a part of Delta Rho, according to Wilcox, signifies persistence and loyalty. “These girls have worked hard, and they’ve stuck with us.” Members are required to have a grade point average of 2.2 or better, new members and officers need a 2.5.
Delta Rho will be having a brunch on Sunday at Pat’s Pizza. They will be meeting a 9:45 a.m. near the Starbucks in Memorial Union. For more information, contact Michelle Mason or Heidi Wilcox via FirstClass.
