Penn welcomes new Asian Amer: sorority

Ten University undergraduates have singlehandedly created the first East Coast chapter of any Asian American sorority. Kappa Delta Phi is now a fully recognized chapter on campus, thanks to the small group's countless hours of work. "We do go crazy at times, with all the work, [and] people think we're superwomen," said Rush Chairperson and Engineering junior Vinaya Valloppillil. "But everything pays off because of our closeness." The sorority promotes sisterhood, scholarship, leadership, women's issues and Asian American awareness in the University and surrounding communities, Valloppillil said. In order to achieve this goal, the 10 women have each taken on a leadership position within the sorority. The University's Theta chapter is acting as a liaison to nine other colonies, many on the East Coast, that hope to also become a part of KDPhi. Boston University, Cornell University, Penn State University and University of Michigan are among the colonies that Penn's KDPhi is assisting. The founders of Penn's chapter plan to visit many of the colonies to give advice and help with the organization of the new chapters. "Sometimes we feel like the 'mother hen' for the rest of the East Coast," said KDPhi President and College senior Jin Lee. "But we are really excited about traveling and helping form new groups. I want everyone to the experience as much as I have." Engineering and Wharton senior Charissa Huan, who is social and sisterhood chairperson for the sorority, is serving as the East Coast's "governor." Huan said her role is both "regulatory and advisory," adding that she recently attended a national sorority conference in San Francisco. Lee said she is anxious to spread KDPhi's message and ideas because they can help many Asian women enjoy a full college experience. The sorority supports all Greek organizations, but members said they have a separate role in the system. "I went through Panhel rush and knew it wasn't the place for me," Lee explained. "For Asian women, KDPhi is a place to incorporate many aspects of their life." KDPhi does not plan to become a part of the Panhellenic Council because officers feel Panhel is too large. Eventually, the sorority might become a part of the BiCultural InterGreek Council. The founders of Penn's KDPhi chapter also do not plan to purchase a house, but instead hope to concentrate on gaining new members. KDPhi will be sponsoring both a fall and a spring rush, marking the first year the sorority will have both. "It is going to be a lot of work, but past rushes were pretty successful," Valloppillil said. "Many parts of the Asian American community already know who we are, but that is a continual goal of our sorority." KDPhi will spread its ideas to the entire campus by way of community service projects. College senior Shweta Parmar, the sorority's community service chair, explained that working with Habitat for Humanity and the needy Cambodian immigrants in West Philadelphia have formed bonds with many University students outside the sorority. KDPhi also sponsors social functions like date parties, dinners, movie nights and sisterhood events. "This sorority has definitely helped me adjust to life at Penn and helped me face the things I had to do on campus," said Engineering sophomore Lyly Trinh, KDPhi's treasurer. "I feel very lucky to have such good sisters here." KDPhi was originally founded in 1990 at the University of California at Berkeley. With colonies cropping up across the country, leaders hope the sorority can continue giving opportunities to Asian women. "Almost 25 percent of Penn's campus is Asian, but until recently there were very few social groups for Asian women," Lee explained. "Kappa Delta Phi is changing that."