The Delta Gamma sorority is joining the C of C Greek community with their new chapter on campus.  
The College decided Delta Gamma could be a positive addition to the C of C community, according to an e-mail from Assistant Director of Greek Life Rachel Marsh.
“Delta Gamma will provide solid, long-term, individualized support for the new chapter,” Marsh said.  “[The sorority is] very specific and strategic about where and when they start chapters and focus on one new chapter at a time.”
Marsh said in the e-mail that Delta Gamma brings positive attributes for future members.
“[They have] award-winning risk management programs for members, strong member development programs, and overall, the best fit and has the most to offer our Panhellenic and Greek community,” Marsh said.
The sorority is pleased to be included as a College program and also offers students and alumni strengths and advantages, according to an e-mail from Collegiate Development Consultant Kelly Meierhofer.
“Delta Gamma is honored to have been chosen to establish our 147th chapter on your campus,” Meierhofer said.  “In the 136 years since our founding in Oxford, Miss., Delta Gamma has offered collegiate and alumni members a values-based experience focused on four areas.”
Friendship is one of the strongest and most important aspects of Delta Gamma, Meierhofer said.
“Delta Gamma helps to create lifelong relationships,” Meierhofer said.  “Over 200,000 women have been initiated into Delta Gamma’s special bond of friendship.”  
Success in academic programs is important as well, Meierhofer said.
“Delta Gamma encourages academic success,” Meierhofer said.  “In the past year, approximately 85 percent of our collegians earned a grade point average above a 3.0 and nearly 3,000 of those women boasted a 4.0.”
Delta Gamma built a membership education program to teach the girls about their own standards, along with the standards of the College, Meierhofer said.
“Delta Gamma builds leaders for the future,” Meierhofer said.  “Recognizing that our women are increasingly being asked to satisfy campus programming requirements in addition to our own was our motivation for our membership education program – Anchors of Discovery – which provides chapters the ability to choose programs that meet the needs of their members while at the same time fulfilling campus requirements in the categories of leadership and character, health and wellness, campus and community involvement, and career and life skills.”
Volunteering and fundraising are also key parts to the organization, Meierhofer said.
“Delta Gammas give back,” Meierhofer said.  “With outreach and fundraising, the Delta Gamma Foundation enriches the lives of our members and many others through our Service for Sight philanthropy.” She said the sorority works 90,000 community service hours per year.
The sorority is planning recruitment Feb. 1 through Feb. 6, according to the e-mail from Marsh.
These recruitment events include everything from information sessions to a casual day for individual questions to opportunities to get an interview with the sorority.  The week will conclude with a pledging ceremony and bid day.  All of this information is available at www.deltagamma.org/joinDG. As far as housing plans are concerned, the sorority will not have its own house on campus for at least a year, Marsh said.
“After they have had a year to grow and establish themselves then we will start working with the organization and Residence Life and Housing on housing opportunities, if any, that may be available to the chapter,” Marsh said.
Marsh said information is available to interested girls.
“If there are any women who are interested in learning more about Delta Gamma to e-mail joindg@deltagamma.org or to stop by their tables in Cougar Mall all week next week,” Marsh said.