A new professional sorority, Delta Phi Epsilon, has joined the greek community and is working towards recruiting new members.
DPE, which colonized in May of 2015, focuses on foreign service. President of Delta Phi Epsilon Katie Doyal said she started the chapter after she was involved with a social organization within the greek community, but left after realizing it wasn’t a good fit for her.
She talked to her peers and decided MSU needed an organization which better fit their desires, professionally and socially.
“Professional sororities differ from social sororities in that they focus less on social activities and don’t interact with other fraternities or sororities and focus on the interests of young women who are interested in developing themselves professionally,” Doyal, a comparative politics and German sophomore, said. “A lot of the girls in DPE want a sisterhood and want to belong to an organization. They’re interested in a little more... a bit more of a push for their career.”
DPE is able to do just that, with professional development workshops and philanthropy efforts. The group, which consists of about 30 members, also hosts social events for the sisters to bond such as dinners, craft nights and a hayride.
This year, the group plans on focusing their service on women. They will be volunteering with the Lansing Refugee Development Center and She’s the First, an organization that provides scholarships to girls in low-income countries to encourage them to become the first generation of college-educated women in their families.
Social relations and policy sophomore Taylor Whittington said she is excited to be a part of her sorority’s beginning.
“I feel like it’s really awesome to be a part of the first group to establish ourselves on campus,” she said.
Still, Jurkiewicz and Doyal agreed they think there’s more to be done before settling in.
“This year, we’re really focusing on establishing on campus, marketing ourselves as an alternative to greek life,” Doyal said. “We’re working with other professional fraternities to plan an event for alternative greek life at The Rock.”
Whittington said she sees a promising future for her sorority.
“I’m looking forward to seeing where this will go,” Whittington said. “I think it will go far.”
