Newly colonized Asian sorority seeks charter

Last year, the University became the first school on the East Coast with a Kappa Delta Phi colony. And now, members of the only Asian sorority on campus are striving to become an associate chapter -- and hopefully in the future, a full-fledged chapter. "Asian women on campus did not have a voice," Engineering junior and sorority President Charissa Huan said. "We founded a sorority that would be a different kind of organization for women to join. It's much more closely knit than a regular [Greek] organization." She added that their main objectives include performing community service and giving Asian women on campus a political presence. Alison Chen, a Wharton sophomore and KDP spokesperson, said the sorority has already organized several activities, although others are still in the formative stages. For Asian Pacific American Heritage Week they organized a forum in which Asian businesswomen spoke about "cultural pressures, career decisions, and the difficulty of balancing the two," she said. Huan said the sorority also sponsored a raffle with the Korean Students Association. The proceeds went to Women Against Abuse. The sorority has also been working with Intercultural Family Services, an independent West Philadelphia organization, on various projects. They have worked as translators for IFS's Asian clients, and organize Asian cultural events there. Sisters have also been helping to compile surveys about Asian women's health needs, as many pregnant Asians in West Philadelphia tend not to seek medical assistance. IFS is trying to start a health clinic for them, according to Chen. Huan said the sorority is also trying to organize "an after school program for Asian high school and middle school-aged girls in West Philadelphia, in which sorority sisters would act as their tutors and mentors." She hopes to begin this program next semester. Chen said the sorority, which currently has 14 members at the University, hopes to join the BiCultural InterGreek Council after they revamp their constitution. "All women, of any ancestry, who are committed to Asian-American awareness and who feel comfortable in a sorority setting are welcome to join," Huan added.

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