Lambda Sigma

Lambda Sigma (ΛΣ) is an American college honor society for second-year students. Originally named the Society of Cwens, the society was established at the University of Pittsburgh in Fall 1922 as a women's honors society, and became a national organization with the 1925 foundation of chapters at Miami University and the University of Missouri.[2] The society is "dedicated to the purpose of fostering leadership, scholarship, fellowship, and the spirit of service among college students, and to promoting the interests of the college or university in every possible way".[3]

Lambda Sigma
ΛΣ
FoundedNovember 7, 1922 (1922-11-07)
University of Pittsburgh[1]
TypeHonor Society
AffiliationACHS
EmphasisSecond-Year College Students
ScopeNational
MottoLeadership. Scholarship. Fellowship. Service
Colors  Blue and   Gold
SymbolBlue Diamond
PublicationThe Diamond
   The Tide (through 1976)
Chapters38
Founded asSociety of Cwens
HeadquartersLambda Sigma
c/o Neal Edman, Exec. Sec.
2509 North Mercer Street
New Castle, PA 16105
 United States
WebsiteOfficial website

History
University of Pittsburgh Dean Thyrsa Amos, founder of the Society of Cwens.

Society of Cwens

In the early 1920s, University of Pittsburgh Dean Thyrsa Amos saw the need for a society for outstanding sophomore women. On 7 November 1922, twelve sophomore women responded to invitations and met at Heinz House, electing to found a society to sponsor activities for all freshmen and sophomore women and to "select for membership in the spring those freshman women who displayed the finest Pitt spirit, showed good scholarship and expressed interest in activities through fine participation in them".[4][1] The society was named Cwens, from the word cwēn, meaning "lady" or "queen" in Anglo-Saxon. The emblem selected was a golden crown resting upon a sceptre.[1]

Soon afterwards, Beta and Gamma chapters were founded at Miami University and the University of Missouri, with the first Society of Cwens conference held in May 1925 on the Miami campus. A charter was obtained to certify Cwens as a national organization; a petition was submitted, and on 16 June 1926, the certificate of incorporation was approved and the charter of the National Society of Cwens was recorded in the Common Pleas Court of Allegheny County.[1] Titles of officers in the organization were given Anglo-Saxon names, and a national convention (called the Witan) was held twice annually, rotating among the colleges and universities having Cwen chapters. The society's publication was called The Tid.[1]

The 1972 Witan, held in Pittsburgh on the campus of Duquesne University, observed the Fiftieth Anniversary of the society and climaxed in a "feast" in the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh. This ceremony, detailed in the book of rituals (the Hydan-Bok), is a revered event in the history of the organization.[1]

Foundation of Lambda Sigma

However, in 1975, the Title IX Education Amendments mandated the abolishment of single-sex organizations in institutions of higher learning.[1] In October 1975, Cwens chapter presidents gave authority to the National Executive Board to disband the society and to formulate plans for a national sophomore honor society for both men and women. The National Board disbanded the National Society of Cwens, founding the Lambda Sigma Society as a direct descendant on 6 March 1976.[1] The Society of Cwens's goal of fostering leadership, scholarship, fellowship, and service remain the same in the child organization.[4][1]

Insignia

Lambda Sigma's official symbol is composed of the Greek letters Lambda and Sigma in gold imposed on a blue lozenge. The letters are emblematic of the society's ideals of leadership and scholarship.[4][2]

Membership

Membership in any chapter may not exceed 50 students, or 10 percent of the freshman class - whichever is lower.[2] Students who achieve GPAs within at least the top 35 percent of the class at the time of selection are eligible for selection in the spring term following their completion of at least one academic term.[2] These new members selected to Lambda Sigma become active during their second year.[4]

Chapters

Lambda Sigma has 39 active chapters. Active chapters noted in bold, inactive chapters noted in italics:[4][3]

Name Chartered Institution Location Status Notes Reference
Alpha November 7, 1922 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Active [5][6]
Beta April 6, 1925 Miami University Oxford, Ohio Inactive [5][6]
Gamma 1925 University of Missouri Columbia, Missouri Inactive [5][6]
Delta June 4, 1927 Pennsylvania State University State College, Pennsylvania Inactive [5][6]
Epsilon November 19, 1927 Allegheny College Meadville, Pennsylvania Active [5][6][7]
Zeta 1927 Muskingum University New Concord, Ohio Active [5][6]
Eta May 2, 1929 Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Active [5][6]
Theta March 12, 1931 University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky Inactive [5][6]
Iota March 1, 1941 University of Mississippi Oxford, Mississippi Active [5][6]
Kappa October 20, 1945 Seton Hill University Greensburg, Pennsylvania Inactive [5][6]
Lambda October 27, 1945 University of Mississippi Westminster College Active [5][6]
Mu March 11, 1948 Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, Kentucky Active Inactive 2006, rechartered March 25, 2012 [5][6][8]
Nu October 18, 1952 University of Louisville Louisville, Kentucky Inactive [5][6]
Xi April 11, 1953 Grove City College New Wilmington, Pennsylvania Inactive [5][6]
Omicron December 5, 1954 Northern Illinois University DeKalb, Illinois Active [5][6]
Pi May 18, 1957 Auburn University Auburn, Alabama Active [5][6]
Rho May 3, 1959 Thiel College Greenville, Pennsylvania Active [5][6]
Sigma May 16, 1959 Alfred University Village of Alfred Inactive [5][6]
Tau November 20, 1960 University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Active [5][6]
Upsilon November 18, 1961 Morehead State University Morehead, Kentucky Inactive [5][6]
Phi 1963 ? Union College Barbourville, Kentucky Inactive [5][6]
Chi May 2, 1964 Louisiana Tech University Ruston, Louisiana Active [5][6]
Psi May 9, 1965 University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, Missouri Inactive [5][6]
Omega May 14, 1965 Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, Kansas Active [5][6]
Alpha Alpha November 19, 1966 University of Mount Union Alliance, Ohio Inactive [5][6]
Alpha Beta March 22, 1969 University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma Inactive [5][6]
Alpha Gamma September 29, 1969 Duquesne University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Active [5][6][9]
Alpha Delta October 25, 1970 University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, Mississippi Active [5][6]
Alpha Epsilon March 14, 1971 Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Mansfield, Pennsylvania Active [5][6]
Alpha Zeta April 30, 1972 Texas A&M University College Station, Texas Active [5][6]
Alpha Eta May 4, 1974 Penn State Erie, The Behrend College Erie, Pennsylvania Active Originally started in 1970 as Delta Behrend as part of Delta chapter at Penn State [5][6][10]
Alpha Theta November 17, 1974 Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania Active [5][6]
Alpha Iota November 1978 Mississippi State University Starkville, Mississippi Active [5][6]
Alpha Kappa January 19, 1979 Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, Georgia Active [5][6]
Alpha Lambda April 5, 1981 D'Youville College Buffalo, New York Active [5][6]
Alpha Mu Spring 1981 Berry College Mount Berry, Georgia Active [5][6]
Alpha Nu November 13, 1982 Butler University Indianapolis, Indiana Inactive [5][6]
Alpha Xi May 1983 Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas Inactive [5][6]
Alpha Omicron January 25, 1983 Penn State Beaver Beaver, Pennsylvania Inactive [5][6]
Alpha Pi November 25, 1984 Lawrence University Appleton, Wisconsin Active [5][6]
Alpha Rho January 18, 1987 Robert Morris University Moon Township, Pennsylvania Inactive [5][6]
Alpha Sigma January 31, 1987 Gannon University Erie, Pennsylvania Active [5][6]
Alpha Tau Spring 1988 University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama Active [5][6]
Alpha Upsilon October 1991 Mount Saint Clare College Clinton, Iowa Inactive [5][6]
Alpha Phi November 1991 Ferrum College Ferrum, Virginia Active [5][6]
Alpha Chi April 5, 1992 Notre Dame College South Euclid, Ohio Inactive [5][6]
Alpha Psi June 4, 1995 University of Toledo Appleton, Wisconsin Active [5][6]
Alpha Omega December 10, 1995 Westfield State University Westfield, Massachusetts Active [5][6]
Beta Alpha February 25, 1996 University of Montevallo Montevallo, Alabama Inactive [5][6]
Beta Beta September 1996 Mississippi University for Women Columbus, Mississippi Inactive [5][6]
Beta Gamma October 4, 1998 University of Pikeville Pikeville, Kentucky Active [5][6]
Beta Delta April 28, 2000 Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, Tennessee Active [5][6]
Beta Epsilon January 27, 2002 Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, Missouri Active [5][6]
Beta Zeta 2005 Pace University (NYC) New York City, New York Active [5][6]
Beta Eta April 2006 Pace University (Pleasantville) Pleasantville, New York Active [5][6]
Beta Theta September 12, 2006 Urbana University Urbana, Ohio Inactive [5][6]
Beta Iota November 19, 2008 Texas A&M University–Kingsville Kingsville, Texas Inactive [5][6][11]
Beta Kappa October 3, 2008 George Mason University Fairfax, Virginia Active [5][6][12]
Beta Lambda October 5, 2009 University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke, North Carolina Active [5][6][13]
Beta Mu April 12, 2010 Alvernia University Reading, Pennsylvania Active [5][6][14]
Beta Nu September 3, 2013 Minnesota State University, Mankato Mankato, Minnesota Inactive [5][6][15][16]
Beta Xi April 20, 2015 Jackson State University Jackson, Mississippi Active [5][6][17]
Beta Omicron March 16, 2016 University of West Alabama Livingston, Alabama Active [5][6][18]
Beta Pi October 25, 2018 Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, Alabama Active [19]


References
  1. "History of Lambda Sigma Society". Lambda Sigma Society. Archived from the original on 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
  2. "More About LS". Lambda Sigma Society. Archived from the original on February 27, 2007. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
  3. "Lambda Sigma Chapter Roster". Lambda Sigma Society. Archived from the original on February 27, 2007. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
  4. Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VI-41–42. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  5. "Chapter Roster". Archived from the original on 2017-01-01. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
  6. "History of Lambda Sigma Chapter". Archived from the original on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
  7. "Chapter of Cwens Granted to College" (PDF). The Campus. December 8, 1927. p. 1.
  8. "Mu Chapter Re-chartered" (PDF). The Diamond. Fall 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-06-13. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  9. "Cwens Society Opens Campus- Chapter Eighteen Sophomore Women Inducted". Duquesne University Duke. 1969-10-10.
  10. "CWENS Finally Achieves Goal". Behrend Collegian. May 9, 1974. p. 1.
  11. "Beta Iota Installed at Texas A & M University – Kingsville" (PDF). The Diamond. Spring 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-06-13. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  12. "Installation at George Mason University" (PDF). The Diamond. Fall 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-06-13. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  13. "Installation of Beta Mu Chapter at Alvernia University" (PDF). The Diamond. Fall 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-06-13. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  14. "Beta Lambda Chapter Installed at UNC-Pembroke Campus" (PDF). The Diamond. Fall 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-06-13. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  15. "Lambda Sigma Chapter Roster" (PDF). The Diamond. Spring 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-01-19. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  16. "Lambda Sigma Welcomes New Chapter at Minnesota State University – Mankato" (PDF). The Diamond. Fall 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-06-13. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  17. "Beta Xi Installed at Jackson State University" (PDF). The Diamond. Fall 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-06-13. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  18. "Beta Omicron Installation at the University of West Alabama". The Diamond. Fall 2016.
  19. "Beta Pi - Jacksonville State University". The Diamond. Fall 2018.
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