Heritage and understanding of culture are the most important values for minority greek groups.

Delta Sigma Theta, a sorority traditionally joined by minority women, keeps its heritage alive by stepping, a form of dance where performers “make up routines of clapping, stomping and certain formations to fit different scenes,” President Bryanne Standifer said.

“Stepping is pretty self-explanatory,” Standifer said. “You do rhythmic beats with your hands and feet, and there are different themes for different shows. You tell a story while you’re stepping.”

Delta Sigma Theta is one minority-founded sorority on campus, yet it’s open to all women.

“You do not have to be a minority,” Standifer said. “The only restriction is you have to be a woman.”

Delta Sigma Theta’s MSU chapter, Epsilon-Epsilon, was founded at MSU in 1961 and works to bring awareness in the black and East Lansing communities.

“We are a community service-based sorority,” Standifer said. “We direct our time and efforts towards community service and have four programs a month about political, academic and economical involvement, which include guest speakers and presentations. We also have a study group every Sunday on the third floor of the Union and tutor local East Lansing students twice a week.”

Nwachukwu Gift Nwogu, president of MSU’s chapter of Ending Stereotypes for America, said it’s important to have minority greek life on campus to help diminish stereotypes.

“I really do think a group like that would be beneficial to the people who are interested,” Nwogu said.

“Different ethnic groups contributed a lot to what makes us who we are today. Members may benefit from being in a minority sorority or fraternity, but then some may not. It’s all up to the individual.”

Other minority sororities on campus share the mission of community service. The Delta Zeta chapter members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority work together to better the black community through an international program, called The Heart of ESP.

It includes a focus on economic growth within the black community, according to Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Web site.

Alpha Kappa Alpha, which was founded in 1908 by 16 black women, was the first historically black sorority on MSU’s campus and has been here since 1954. Since its founding, Alpha Kappa Alpha has grown to more than 185,000 members internationally.

Both groups are members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, also known as the Divine Nine, a national council of historically black fraternities and sororities, Standifer said.

The council was established in 1930 at Howard University as a way to unify these historically black groups.

Minority greek groups on campus are not only cultural, but also include religion.

Hilary Greenberg, president of Jewish Women’s Forum and Jewish chairwoman of the Student Union Board, organizes several events with the Jewish sororities and fraternities on campus. Last semester, the Jewish Women’s Forum and Jews in Greek Life put on a black-and-white celebration for all Jewish greek groups.

“I truly believe being in a Jewish sorority is your own preference, but some girls really love it,” Greenberg said.

“The activities we put on are really great, and some people find greek life really essential. I know a lot of people that like it.”