As of 2023, there was only one multicultural sorority on campus, Lambda Theta Alpha. However, enrollment has also slipped in recent years. Now, with the help of soror and Tau Chi chapter president Kaylynn Ruffin, the Delta Sigma Theta sorority is one of two multicultural sororities and the only Divine Nine sorority on campus. Ruffin has been a large part of bringing the Divine Nine presence back to campus and cementing themselves at UNI.
Delta Sigma Theta has seen a lot of success in the last year. One big accomplishment was their nomination for the most promising new organization on campus at the UNI Student Organization Awards. When the Northern Iowan spoke with Ruffin a year ago, Ruffin envisioned Delta Sigma Theta hosting events for women, by women, specifically geared at women’s health and hygiene. Over the last year, Delta has donated over 60 pounds of food to the Panther Pantry and over 40 pounds of women’s hygiene supplies and hopes to make these drives an annual thing. “Another big accomplishment has been the number of events we hosted with such a good turnout…all super fun events that have been wonderful to meet so many great students here on campus” stated Ruffin.
Despite the amount of success that Delta has experienced over the past year, establishing a student organization on campus is never easy. “I would say the main challenge is just the level of interest in making the organization more known on campus.” Ruffin elaborates on the challenges they have faced stating that picking up on what students are interested in, why they want to join, and how connected they feel to the organization is equally challenging.
With Delta’s new presence on the UNI campus, Ruffin says she has noticed a shift in the culture on campus. Other sororities on campus have reached out to the deltas supporting them and sharing kind words. “It is great to see other women and sororities support the deltas as we continue to grow as women,” states Ruffin. “I think members on campus are excited to see the culture and community just expand upon itself as we offer more, and see events and activities that they [members] wouldn’t normally see on a regular basis.”
The Deltas have many values that can resonate strongly with students on campus looking for a multicultural sorority on campus. Ruffin states that “we cover so many different thrusts of everyday life and the overall college experience and the deltas, we always want to be able to expand and grow on the potential that UNI has here through the events we host, just being on campus…and helping those to make those less longing like connections.” The deltas work to promote several things including educational events, physical and mental health, and boosting economic and political understanding. Ruffin believes that offering such a large variety of events allows them to speak to more than just one population of students on campus.
As the sorority continues to grow, Ruffin hopes to expand Delta’s presence beyond the UNI campus and into the Cedar Valley community. “I would love to start hosting bigger events, always being more involved in things like the parade and even community events, but reaching out to the community in more ways than one.” Ruffin hopes that the sorority will one day be a chapter that’s within the community, making strong connections that can last. “Whether that’s a donation drive for clothes or a sock drive, partnering with the Northeast Iowa food bank…I want the chapter to be able to do more things that don’t only impact UNI directly.”
In terms of the future of Delta Sigma Theta, Ruffin hopes to see the organization continue to grow even after she graduates. “I think in the future the chapter I want is to have students look forward to our events and hearing about what the deltas are doing, participating, and making an impact on the community,” says Ruffin. She hopes to one day see the Delta women participate in a step show on campus or give a speech about something they are passionate about in the community. “I want this chapter to be something that’s memorable.”
