Fraternities and sororities have a long history in the deaf community. Pledging to one can be quite an experience! In fact, in my senior year at Gallaudet University, I pledged to a sorority. I did not make it into the sorority, but the experience was something to be remembered for a lifetime. I also remember some of the lively parties that the fraternities and sororities held at Gallaudet and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID).
In addition to parties, fraternities and sororities also engage in community service and encourage good character and academic excellence. I remember that as a pledge, we did some community service activities.
Gallaudet University
As a deaf university, Gallaudet University has the most deaf fraternities and sororities, and some have chapters at NTID or California State University Northridge (CSUN).At Gallaudet:
Fraternities
- Alpha Sigma Pi has been in existence for more than 50 years. They give out awards, particularly a Mother of the Year Award and three academic awards.
- The Kappa Sigma fraternity began at Gallaudet in 1983. Sometimes the fraternity would tangle with the Gallaudet administration, as I fondly recall from my days as an editor at the Buff and Blue student newspaper at Gallaudet.
- Delta Sigma Phi is a fraternity established in 1989. Gallaudet's chapter is the Eta Psi chapter.
- Another long-established fraternity at Gallaudet is Kappa Gamma. Kappa Gamma is the oldest fraternity for the deaf in existence, having been established in 1901.
- Zeta Sigma Psi is the "baby" of the fraternities, having been established only in 1999. This fraternity focuses on minority students.
- Alpha Sigma Theta, a sorority, was established in 1990. Gallaudet's chapter is the Alpha chapter.
- Delta Epsilon is another sorority at Gallaudet.
- Phi Kappa Zeta was officially established at Gallaudet in 1954, although it dates back to 1892 as an informal, unrecognized organization.
National Technical Institute for the Deaf
At NTID, the fraternities and sororities are:- Alpha Sigma Theta, a sorority established in 1984.
- Delta Sigma Phi is a fraternity established in 1989. NTID's chapter is the Eta Eta chapter.
- Sigma Sigma Sigma is a sorority that originated as a deaf sorority but now welcomes both deaf and hearing members.
California State Univerity, Northridge
- Alpha Sigma Theta also has a Gamma chapter at CSUN.
- Lambda Sigma Pi is a mixed deaf/hearing fraternity, according to an About.com visitor, who wrote: "We all communicate using ASL and have support from the National Center On Deafness (NCOD) here on campus. As far as I know, we are the only Deaf fraternity in the west."
