First Official Latina Sorority Up and Running

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.- Sigma Iota Alpha, formally known as Hermandad De Sigma Iota Alpha Incorparda, is the first Latina sorority recognized by the office of Greek Life at the University of Arkansas. The first seven members were initiated in December.

"We started researching our options and discovered Sigma Iota Alpha" said president Magdalena Arroyo, a junior. "As Latinas, we wanted to be a formal part of Greek Life and work closer with the Latino community through volunteering. We also wanted to promote advancement in education for the Latino community, and we were fortunate to find a sorority with similar national goals."

Several students first approached the director of Greek Life, Parice Bowser, in 2010, and by summer of 2011, the process was moving along.  Representatives from the national organization visited campus in September 2011. The new member program took place during the fall semester, culminating with the Dec. 4 initiation.

"I am excited that Sigma Iota Alpha accepted our invitation to establish a colony at Arkansas, and I look forward to beginning the work of creating a successful chapter," said Bowser.

Sigma Iota Alpha joins a Greek system rich in service and success at the University of Arkansas. During the 2010-11 academic year, Greek organizations donated more than $530,000 to charities and performed more than 22,000 hours of community service. The current Greek community makes up 22 percent of the total student body.

"I feel like our group brings more diversity opportunities to students on campus," said Arroyo. "There are clubs and other groups students can join, but the sorority is going to focus more on the cultural side and try to go beyond getting students to attend our programs. We want all students - not just Latinos - to approach us and ask us questions."

Sigma Iota Alpha joins Phi Iota Alpha, the only Latino fraternity on campus, on the Multicultural Greek Council. The Interfraternity Council includes 12 fraternities; the National Panhellenic Council includes eight sororities; and the National Pan-hellenic Council includes nine historically black fraternities and sororities.

Hermandad De Sigma Iota Alpha Inc. was founded in September 1990 by 13 women from four universities in New York. The women came together with the goal of creating an organization that would help their communities, unite women and uphold a distinct set of goals. Its dedication to scholarship, service and professional development within the Latino community has grown beyond New York, and Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha has chartered more 50 chapters and colonies nationwide.