History

Local History

During the Spring Recruitment of 1999, our founding president, Debra Horn, participated in Purdue University's Formal Recruitment process. Finding that she could not feel comfortable in any of the sororities due to her religious and cultural differences as a young, Jewish woman, she chose not to join any of the houses. Later in the semester, members of the Hillel Foundation and Alpha Epsilon Pi asked Debra if she would be willing to begin the efforts of bringing a sorority that was founded on Jewish principles to Purdue. Knowing that she could not do this alone, she contacted fellow Jewish freshmen Cynthia Gimpel and Laura Glaser. Along with Jewish women in other sororities at Purdue and members of the Hillel Foundation, the three brought the idea to colonize a new sorority to the Purdue Panhellenic Association on April 8, 1999.

On September 21, 1999, these women, along with Dina Levitan, Emily Vaughan and Alanna Engel, founded Alpha Upsilon, the student organization that was dedicated to bringing a sorority that was nationally affiliated Judaism to Purdue University. Thus, they became known as the "Founding Six". By the spring of 2000, these women identified that Jewish women were not the only group of women on campus who were not joining sororities due to their religious, ethnic or cultural associations. At that time they made a commitment to recruit diverse women who would be able to develop the bonds of sisterhood and respect that were necessary to form the foundation for a new sorority at Purdue.

In the spring, the group recruited 27 new members, and on April 6, 2000, the Purdue Panhellenic Association voted to invite Sigma Delta Tau to campus to meet with the Panhellenic Executive Board and the women of Alpha Upsilon. Sigma Delta Tau met with the women of Alpha Upsilon on April 26, 2000, and both groups voted unanimously to choose each other for extension. On August 30, 2000, Sigma Delta Tau and Alpha Upsilon petitioned to join the Purdue Panhellenic Association, and they were invited to join on September 21, 2000.

The Alpha Class of the Alpha Epsilon Chapter was pinned on October 15, 2000; they were initiated by representatives of the National Council of Sigma Delta Tau, including National President Mardi Kunik and NPC Delegate Chickie Lowenstein, on November 12, 2000.

National History

On March 25, 1917, seven young women who exemplified self-confidence and the willingness to take a chance, founded a new sorority at Cornell University. The name chosen, Sigma Delta Phi, was soon changed to Sigma Delta Tau when the women discovered the letters belonged to another Greek organization. Most of the seven had experienced the subtle, but very real, discrimination practiced against religious minorities by many Greek organizations at the time.

In response to the closed doors, and as a way to meet their own social and housing needs, these young women established a sorority which would respect the individuality of its members. The personal growth and social development of each individual was the basis upon which the new organization would be built.

On June 16, 1917, the seven founders and their Ritualist were welcomed by Cornell administrators and faculty and representatives of the seven National sororities on campus--Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Phi, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Delta Zeta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Kappa Delta--as their guests of honor at the Installation Banquet of Alpha Chapter of Sigma Delta Tau. Pledges Frances Bayard and Frances Brock also were present for the banquet.

Dora Bloom

Was "the leader." She was the first chapter president and was calm and placid throughout the hectic first year of Sigma Delta Tau. Dora married John Turteltaub and at the time of her death, in March 1970, lived in West Orange, New Jersey. She was a community-minded woman, an extensive world traveler, and a proud mother and grandmother. Dora served as President of the Theresa Grotta Home for many years and was Secretary of the Conference of Jewish Women's Organizations.

Amy Apfel

Was the "personality-plus coed." She married Alexander Tishman and made New York City her home for many years. Amy was a member of many worthy charity organizations and a devoted mother and grandmother. Upon her death, in 1982, the Tishman family bequeathed to the Sigma Delta Tau Foundation a scholarship in Amy's name to be awarded to deserving members of the Alpha Chapter of Sigma Delta Tau.

Marian Gerber

Was considered "the brain" and was more interested in her studies than campus activities. She was graduated Phi Beta Kappa with honors in History. Marian married David B. Greenberg and they co-authored two books on travel: What to Buy in Europe and What to Buy in South America. Marian earned international recognition for her volunteer work as the first American Chairman of Hadassah's Youth Aliyah. Marian taught courses at the University of Massachusetts in the Judaic Studies Department.

Grace Srenco

Was the "campus queen." Grace was a freshman, assigned to a dormitory with a sophomore roommate. This roommate was Dora Bloom. Grace said, "This chance meeting led to many happy events in my life: the founding of Sigma Delta Tau and my marriage to a Philadelphia lawyer." She helped found the Beta Chapter and met her future husband, J. Grossman, at their installation banquet. Grace devoted much of her time to the American Red Cross and to her hobby, painting. Grace had two sons and a daughter, Nancy, who joined SDT at the University of Pennsylvania.

Inez Ross

Was considered "the sophisticate" and helped Dora Bloom get the idea of Sigma Delta Tau rolling. Inez became a prominent social worker in New York City. During the Depression era of the 1930s, she was associated with several state and federal relief agencies where her outstanding efforts came to the attention of Eleanor Roosevelt, who honored her at the White House. It was Inez who designed our National crest and selected the colors of "cafe au lait and old blue."

Regene Freund

Called herself "the activity girl." She balanced her work in campus organizations and her pre-law studies very well. After graduating from law school, she married Louis Cohane. They maintained law offices in Detroit the entire period of their marriage. In 1924, they earned the distinction of being the first married couple to try a case before the United States Supreme Court. Regene served as Sigma Delta Tau's first National President from 1918-1922. She continued to serve as SDT's National Counselor, a volunteer position she held for 35 years. Regene has been honored many times over the years for her leadership roles in civic and social welfare organizations, as well as for her contributions to Sigma Delta Tau. Regene was chosen one of Detroit's "Women of Achievement" and her portrait has been placed in the Detroit Historical Museum. Sigma Delta Tau honored Regene in 1991 by establishing the Regene Freund Cohane Outstanding President Award.

Lenore Rubinow

Was known as "the idealist." She studied dance during college and dreamed of a career on the stage. Lenore studied sociology in graduate school at Columbia University. She became a successful social worker in Newark, New Jersey. She organized and directed the Department of Social Service of the Neward Beth Israel Hospital. In connection with her profession, she spent three years in Germany after World War II as part of the displaced persons' program.