The Alpha Omicron Chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma, better known as Tri Sigma, was suspended from UCA’s campus on May 10.
The National Organization released a statement saying, “The Alpha Omicron Chapter worked hard to remain competitive on campus. Despite these attempts … the chapter has been unable to overcome a continued decline in membership and retention.”
Tri Sigma left UCA’s campus with $71,885 in housing debts that will be fulfilled by the Tri Sigma national organization according to Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Stephanie McBrayer.
UCA was willing to work with the chapter to fulfill those housing debts to have the chapter remain active, but the Executive Council of the National Organization decided against it, Director of Media Relations Fredricka Sharkey said.
Each sorority house on campus must have a certain number of members living in it to pay for the costs, but with a steady decline in membership, the sorority was unable to fulfill those requirements. The houses have upward of 20 rooms to fill — most of them being double occupancy — and Tri Sigma only had 18 members in the Spring of 2022, meaning there was no possibility of filling the house.
The Office of Student Life, volunteer advisers, the Panhellenic Council and the National Organization worked with the chapter to try and boost recruitment numbers, but their efforts were not enough to keep the chapter active.
The National Organization said, “Coupled with the chapter’s current housing debt, this ultimately hindered the chapter’s ability to provide a positive experience for its members and remain viable.”
The graph provided shows fluctuating numbers for all the sororities, the trend shows spring semesters having fewer members than fall semesters, most likely due to the fact that in the spring, possible new members do not go through the full recruitment process. Despite this being the trend for all the sororities, after the spring semester of 2021, Tri Sigma took a significant loss in members — 56 to 27 — and never recovered.
Now that the chapter is leaving, UCA “will begin exploring the option to add a new sorority through the National Panhellenic Conference Extension process, but this process will take time and there are no immediate plans for a new sorority to start,” Sharkey said.
Until a new sorority comes to UCA’s campus, the Tri Sigma house will be used as a housing facility for upperclassmen female students. They will be able to apply for housing in former sorority house just like any other dorm on campus.
Students will pay the same amount as other sorority house occupants, with a double room rate being $3,190 and a single room rate being $3,887, each for a 10-month lease. The house features a full kitchen, patio, living room and study room, while the previous chapter room will be turned into a common space.
Unlike most dorms, Greek Village housing remains open during the break between fall and spring semesters and spring break.
This will not have a major effect on recruitment, only minor adjustments will be made to round schedules, according to Sharkey. This leaves the future recruits with only four Panhellenic sororities to choose from — Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Sigma Tau, Delta Zeta and Sigma Kappa.
The National Organization said, “Though we are saddened by this outcome, we are grateful for the collegians and volunteers who have shown commitment and dedication during Tri Sigma’s history at UCA.”
Each member of Tri Sigma in good standing with the chapter at the time of the suspension received alumna status from the organization.