Alpha Gamma Delta and Alpha Phi, the two sororities at the U of M, value sisterhood, academics, leadership and supporting the community.
By focusing on the U of M community and its inclusivity, these sororities have created a unique space for connection and empowerment.
The Manitoban spoke with both sororities to learn more about their history, values, member life, goals, contributions and the challenges they may face.
Alpha Gamma Delta
Alpha Gamma Delta was originally founded in 1904 at the Syracuse University in New York, and they have been at U of M since 1930.
Next year will mark the chapter’s 95th anniversary.
Alpha Gamma Delta values sisterhood, academics, leadership, philanthropy and community, according to Briana Oliver, the current chapter president. Events and how the women live their lives are based around these pillars.
Events include retreats, bonding activities, dinners, coffee runs, movies, volunteering and more.
Oliver said, “we also host philanthropy events. So, volunteering in the community, volunteering on campus, anything that embodies our pillars, we try to have events focused around that.”
Alpha Gamma Delta’s philanthropic focus is fighting hunger. They typically volunteer with organizations such as Harvest Manitoba and Siloam Mission.
In September, for Alpha Gamma Delta’s Hunger Action Month, the sorority set up a table in the Fletcher Argue tunnels, accepting non-perishable items for donations.
During Halloween, each year for their annual food drive called Trick-Or-Treat, the sorority will choose a neighbourhood that a member lives in and go door-to-door asking for non-perishable items. They then choose where to donate the food, which is typically Harvest Manitoba. These are just a few examples of how Alpha Gamma Delta contributes to the Winnipeg community.
Alpha Gamma Delta also fosters leadership through democracy.
Once a year, each member of the sorority has a chance at being elected for a council position, or chapter president. Through these roles, members get hands-on leadership experience.
Alpha Gamma Delta prides itself on being a sorority that is accepting, embracing everyone who identifies as a woman.
The sorority also has a zero-tolerance policy for hazing, which Oliver feels is a major stereotype surrounding sororities. Members go through anti-hazing programs that teach skills surrounding the topic.
“We don’t tolerate any racism, or anything like that. We’re wanting to be a safe environment for anyone who would want to be a part of the sorority and then treating everyone with respect,” Oliver said.
Oliver feels that the biggest challenge their sorority faces is visibility.
She said that “half the time, when people come up to our events, they’re like ‘oh, I didn’t even know sororities were at the U of M, I didn’t know they were in Canada.’” Oliver would like for Alpha Gamma Delta to become more recognized, and for people to know they are active and doing good things for the community by empowering women.
Ultimately, Oliver expressed how life-changing being part of a sorority was
and is for her.
She said, “my university experience would not be what it is without being a part of Alpha Gamma Delta.”
She continued by emphasizing how the hands-on experience will help her further her career in business, and how exciting it will be moving forward.
Alpha Phi
Alpha Phi was founded at Syracuse University in 1872 and opened at the U of M in 1928.
Nara Barbari, the current chapter president stated, “there were 10 members and originally, they had no sororities, they were just fraternities. So, the girls were like, ‘we want something. You know, some sisterhood.’”
Their sisterhood values innovation, generosity and character.
Alpha Phi hosts various events such as the Red Dress Gala that takes place once a year in October and Heart Week, which occurs throughout every February.
These events are based on their philanthropic focus which is women’s heart health. The chapter also hosts fun events like photoshoots, wellness nights, sisterhoods and semi-formals where all the girls will have a night out for dinner.
Alpha Phi also raises funds and awareness for the Heart and Stroke foundation and the Alpha Phi foundation. The Alpha Phi foundation has the Heart to Heart grant that supports universities and students in women’s heart health research.
Alpha Phi helps foster leadership among members through their democratic leadership positions such as president, vice-president of recruitment, health, wellness and accountability, finance and more.
Barbari stated that “I know for myself, I was really big on the director of social media, and I got to see the insights in not only marketing but also finance through budgeting and recruitment, reaching out to girls, and you get to put your hands in all these different pots, which is really nice.”
Josephine Busch, the current vice-president of health, wellness and accountability for Alpha Phi believes that one of the biggest misconceptions about sororities is that they are not academically focused.
Busch expresses how the sorority is indeed very academically focused, by hosting study groups and study hours that help motivate members to do better in classes.
Alpha Phi promotes diversity and inclusivity through their vice-president of diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as volunteering opportunities to see what is happening in the community.
Barbari expressed, “having someone in executive and in a high position definitely brings awareness to everyone in the sorority.”
The girls also host potlucks as a fun way to share cultural differences.
When asked how being in a sorority has shaped her university experience, Busch answered, “I think Alpha Phi really shaped my confidence.”
She continued, “It’s really opened up who I am, and I feel like it’s strengthened who I am as a person, as a leader and I’m really appreciative of that”
More information on both sororities can be found on their websites, umanitoba.alphagammadelta.org and alphaphimb.org, and their Instagram pages, @manitobaalphagam and @manitobaalphaphi.
