Students gathered at the Ronnie Williams Student Center to paint glasses, make papel picado, string bracelets and draw mandalas at Delta Sigma Theta’s “A World of Creations” event Feb. 10.
The event’s host, Kionna Browning, led two groups of students in a short icebreaker game before explaining the night’s program and facts about each craft. The activities were themed after Chinese, Mexican, African and Indian crafts, respectively.
Students were supposed to rotate through each of the four tables, but some attendees, like junior Kaley Hale, spent longer at one table perfecting their craft.
Hale, an English education major and second vice president of Delta Sigma Theta, said that these types of events are important to the inclusive mission of her sorority.
“We’re really big on trying to make sure that we get everybody in our programs,” Hale said. “These [events] help us get people out on campus.”
Members of the Latino Student Association, as well as Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, were present to help teach students how to make papel picado. Sophomore and political science major Anacaren Ramos is a part of both organizations and said collaborative events like this one are commonplace for them.
“We just came to support and to help spread our culture and what we do for celebrations,” Ramos said. “Most RSOs will kind of just do their own thing and have their own [events]. But I enjoy collaborating because you meet a lot more people. And also, you get to learn about a lot more cultures.”
Papel picado is a Mexican decorative craft made by cutting designs into paper. At the end of the night, attendees strung their Valentine’s-themed designs together to make a hangable banner.
According to UCA’s website, the Latino Student Association is open to all students. Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha’s CubConnect description says that while the sorority is Latina-based, it is not Latina-exclusive.
Delta Sigma Theta is one of seven National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations that UCA currently hosts. Though considered Greek Life, the sorority does not have formal rushing or bidding processes or bigs and littles.
The event was the last program of Jabberwock week, where UCA’s Delta Sigma Theta chapter hosted daily events leading up to community service and the selection of a $250 scholarship winner. Delta Sigma Theta’s website says, “Jabberwock is intended to increase inter-organizational cooperation.”
The week also included programs teaching students about red flags in romantic relationships and the dangers of substance abuse.
The substance abuse awareness event, called “A Dose of Reality,” featured North Little Rock Police Officer Tommy Norman as a speaker. Norman, who has over one million Instagram followers, shared the emotional story of his daughter’s opioid addiction and overdose with students.
The sorority’s next events will be posted on their Instagram, @uca_deltas. The Latino Student Association and Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha post about upcoming collaborations and events at @lsa_uca and @sia.uca.
