Rho Lambda, the new all-women Greek honorary, is looking to join leaders within the UA sorority community to focus on community service in Tucson.
The UA chapter of the Rho Lambda National Leadership Recognition Society for sorority women aims to unify women in Greek Life by bringing different chapter leaders together in one honorary, according to Laura Stussie, president of the honorary and a junior studying Spanish and public health. The honorary left the UA in 1994 for unknown reasons and is being re-launched this semester, she said.
Stussie said the Panhellenic Council, the governing body that oversees 14 sorority chapters and their members, organizes and runs many events already. The new honorary can “help out” and “get everyone together,” she said.
“We want to unify the sorority community,” Stussie said. “There are leaders in each house, and if we work together, we can do more and make a bigger campus impact.”
The honorary was started this fall and has 62 members. The application process for next fall will be in February or March, and members must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 as well as pay $22 in dues. Any current sorority member may apply, and non-Greek Life women can become honorary members if asked, according to Stussie.
UA Rho Lambda members are creating a donation drive for American troops abroad in addition to volunteer programs with Diamond Children’s Medical Center and the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, according to Caitlin Forrest, philanthropy chair of the honorary and a business management senior. Members will also be holding a percentage night at U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt on Nov. 16.
“Each sorority is strong within itself, but we want to unite them together and accomplish great things in the Tucson community,” Forrest said.
One of the major differences between Rho Lambda and sororities on campus is its philanthropic focus in Tucson as opposed to national organizations, said Alexa Kiel, vice president of the honorary and a pre-communication junior. For example, she said the Delta Delta Delta sorority holds events benefiting the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the Chi Omega sorority’s philanthropic efforts benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
“The goal of Rho Lambda on this campus is to bring helping back to our community,” Kiel said.
The honorary meets bimonthly and the executive board meets weekly. Because members are “still structuring” and “setting things up,” Stussie said, the executive board will have meeting dates ready for next semester in January before the spring semester begins. Sorority members will be receiving information from chapter presidents about joining the honorary and the application process.
Stussie said that although the honorary serves leaders in the sorority community, the honorary’s events are open to everyone. She said she hopes it will allow women in Greek Life to branch out of their own houses and network with women in other sororities for a different leadership perspective.
“We’re happy to be starting again,” Stussie said. “We want to get as many people involved as possible to help Tucson, and from there, have members be brought in to learn from and each other and better themselves as leaders.”
