Handbook Chapter History

	Lambda Sigma Handbook
		History of Lambda Sigma Chapters
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		ALPHA The University of Pittsburgh The First Chapter of Cwens On November 3, 1922, Elizabeth Zeigler and Jean Ballou of the Class of 1925, and Thyrsa W. Amos, Dean of Women, discussed informally the advisability of organizing a sophomore honor society for women leaders of student activities at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1920, a chapter of Druids, a sophomore honor society for men, had been installed at the University, and this had raised the question of a similar society for women. Miss Amos suggested that the question be referred for final decision to women of the sophomore class active in the various undergraduate organizations for women. These leaders were then notified that there would "be a meeting of all sophomore girls interested in promoting freshman and sophomore scholarship and activities in the Heinz House, Tuesday, November 7, 1922, at 12:30 o'clock." It was agreed that such a society ought not be given a Greek letter name, but like Druids, have a name that would "stand out because it was different." It was agreed also that sincere effort must be made by such a society "to foster activities for all freshman and sophomore women" and to select for membership in the spring of the freshman year those freshmen who displayed the finest Pitt spirit, showed good scholarship, and expressed interest in activities through fine participation in them. Elizabeth Zeigler then moved that "this group present proceed to form an organization for sophomore women leaders and elect temporary officers." The motion was carried unanimously. Agnes Hewitt was elected temporary chairman, and Jean Ballou, temporary officer. The motion was carried unanimously. Agnes Hewitt then took the chair and Miss Amos took her place as member of the group. Upon request, Miss Amos acted as administrative advisor also. On Friday, November 17, reports were given and action taken on some of them. The Committee on Name reported that they had gone to Anglo-Saxon and Sanskrit sources for names. The Committee proposed three names: Cwens, Anglo-Saxon, meaning "lady" or "queen"; Sanskrit for "bond" or "band"; Witan, Anglo-Saxon for "leaders" or "wise men". The emblems suggested were: a tiny branch of mistletoe to be done in green and white enamel; a crown resting upon a scepter to be done in gold; a circlet of green enamel mistletoe leaves surrounding a monogram of gold letters indicating the name of the society. After much discussion, "Cwens" was chosen as the name, and the scepter and crown as the emblem. The first members of this society were: Jean G. Ballou Agnes T. Hewitt Elizabeth Highberger Louise M. Hoge Theresa Kahn Frances M. Koenig Stella Mulligan Mildred Pickrell Margaret Porch Elizabeth D. Seville Sarah M. Stoughton Elizabeth G. Zeigler In the spring of 1976, thirty-six women were initiated into the National Society of Cwens. These women were: Celeste D. Barringer Ellen R. Nord (Corresponding Secretary) Cynthis L. Obetz Rozlyn M. Berty Maryellen Orcutt (Ritual Chairman) Linda Percy Judith L. Chappel Marie Ribik Carmelita T. Civitarese Katherine A. Rockar (Recording Secretary) Linda S. Roll Rosemary J. Colecchia Karen J. Roney Janice Crain Elsie Sauer Aloise E. Dumbovich Debra L. Shufler Cheryl L. Gallagher (Historian) Stacie Gaynor Mary Sisak Ann C. Hansen Jane V. Smith Lauran Hausdorff (Diamond Editor) Caryn J. Hirsh Kathy A. Starry Carol Levenson Joyce Tasillo Judith A. Lynn Kim M. Vercamen (President) Nancy J. Vido Anita D. McAtee (Vice President) Alexis Megaludis Phyllis Woodard (Treasurer) Eleonora M. Zych Mary Moran Melanie Moyer In June of 1976, we were notified of Title IX and that we must reorganize and admit male members. This was a difficult task set before us since we ourselves were new to the organization. During the summer the newly elected officers started initiating future goals for the new organization Lambda Sigma. A list of eligible male members was obtained and the selection process took place. Twenty-six male members were initiated. A first annual banquet of the Alpha Chapter of Lambda Sigma was held in their honor. Since officers had already been elected, two positions were temporarily created so that male members could be represented on the executive board. The new members were as follows: Daniel D. Abrams Christopher A. Maranuk Thomas Bonavita Mark W. Morrissey Richard B. Charny Robert Moulton Tab H. Crooks Robert E. Mowder Scott H. Davidson Kurt Nellis James Ditaranto Harry V. Patchin Martin J. Geisler, Jr. (Executive Board Member) Joseph E. Ross David J. Hesidence Thomas Schauble Gordon R. Iben Dan A. Sciullo Geoffrey Joseph David Tepper Martin Klanchar Astrophel C. Tiburcio Charles Kunkle Rick E. Wagner David Mann Arthur D. Wong BETA The Miami University The Second Society of Cwens In November, 1924, two years after the founding of the Cwens society at the University of Pittsburgh, an inquiry was sent to Dean Elizabeth Hamilton of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, by Thyrsa W. Amos, concerning the possibility of organizing a Cwens society at Miami. Dean Hamilton replied on November 5, 1924, saying: "We do not at present have an organization of sophomore girls at Miami, but I can see that such an organization might be very serviceable. We should be glad to organize a group and put them in touch with some national movement.” In reply, Dean Amos suggested that Dean Hamilton send her "the name of one of your outstanding sophomore girls. I will have the president of Cwens write to her: then if your sophomore girl likes the idea, she can pass it on to the other girls." On November 20, Dean Hamilton sent the name of Kathryn Patterson. Then began a correspondence between her and Jeannette McClure, Extension Chairman of the Pitt Chapter, in which Miami was invited to use the name Cwens for its organization. On January 16, 1925, Dean Hamilton wrote.” We have a wonderfully fine, strong group of sophomore girls and are taking steps to select them carefully and to form an organization." On April 6, 1925, she reported that Mortar Board had assisted her in the final organization of the Cwens society on the Miami campus. She inquired about Cwens colors and pin, and asked if the Pitt group would be willing for Miami to use them. The reply authorized Miami to use the crimson and silver as colors, and the crown and scepter pin. At this time, she said Miami would be glad to be hostess to an intercollegiate conference of sophomore honor societies. The following seventeen sophomore girls were charter members of the Miami Cwens: Mildred Angle Mildred Schiller Frances Eaton Dorothy Smelker Catherine Ellis Elizabeth St. John Mildred Engle Doris Wetzel Julia Glover Jeannette White Margarette Holcomb Susan Wine Virginia Newman Alice Young Kathryn Patterson Florence Zehring Barbara Rehberg GAMMA The University of Missouri The Third Society of Cwens On October 30, 1924, Dean Bessie Leach Priddy, Dean of Women, University of Missouri, in reply to an inquiry of Dean Amos concerning an organization for sophomore women, wrote, "There is no organization of sophomore girls on this campus similar to Mortar Board for seniors. Our sophomore girls are organized, however, and operate through what is known as the Sophomore Women's Cabinet. Miss Frances Wayne Allen is president of the sophomore class." On November 26, 1924, Jeannette McClure, Extension Chairman of the Pitt Cwens, wrote to Frances Wayne Allen asking if she was interested in the organization of a national honor society for sophomore women. In her response of January 8, 1925, Miss Allen said she had read Miss McClure's letter to the Cabinet, and they were much interested in the proposal. "Perhaps," she continued, "you would be interested in knowing about our organization. It is an outgrowth of `Freshman Commission', another organization that began primarily as junior workers in the Y.W.C.A. The members of `Freshman Commission' were chosen by the faculty, judging each girl's record in activities and grades during her high school life. This club of freshman girls was limited to one member from each sorority and three non-sorority girls. The Sophomore Cabinet had been an organization here three years ago - 1921 - but had ceased to exist. Our Freshman Commission believed that there was a need for re-establishing a sophomore organization. Those who were still in school then used Freshman Commission as a nucleus and selected other sophomore girls according to their grades, interests, and activities of the previous year. We had twenty members who accomplished several worthwhile things this year, mainly, the organization of freshman women. Note: Gamma Chapter is now inactive. DELTA Pennsylvania State College The Fourth Chapter of Cwens In October, 1924, an inquiry was sent to Dean Charlotte Ray of Pennsylvania State College, asking about a sophomore honor society for women there. Dean Ray replied that Penn State had no such organization. Jeannette McClure, Extension Chairman, wrote in November and December giving details of the Cwens society. Dean Ray expressed interest but felt that the time was not "quite yet" for a sophomore activities society. In answer to an invitation to send a delegate to a conference in May, 1925, she wrote, "Our girls have a great interest in promoting activities, but they do not feel that we have yet any need for such an organization. There may be a time when circumstances will make it very desirable for us to have such a society. We shall notify you when we reach the point of a new organization." In 1927, Penn State sent a delegate, Helen Faust, to the convention at Pittsburgh. Dean Ray wrote, "This seems a suitable time for us to attempt to do something in the way of an honorary activities society for sophomores." On May 21,the following ten sophomore women, with the approval of Dean Ray, M. Ellen Burkholder, President of the Women's Self Government Association, Marie Haidt, faculty member, and Esther R. Frank, the retiring president of W.S.G.A., petitioned the Student Welfare Committee of Pennsylvania State College for recognition as an honorary activities fraternity. Eleanor Dutton Delia Myer Helen F. Faust A. Pauline Myers (President) Mabel A. Thomas Louise H. Fitz (Secretary-Treasurer) Caroline S. Haller Grace Woodrow (Vice President) Edna May Yoke Janice L. Kauffman These members held the following offices in extra-curricular activities at Penn State: all the class offices for the sophomore year; one or two Y.W.C.A. cabinet members, a member of the Senate (W.S.G.A); treasurer of W.S.G.A.; and other memberships on the Customs Committee (W.S.G.A.). The petition said in part that the organization wished "to be known as Cwens. The group are made up of girls who have been outstanding during their freshman year for scholarship, personality, and participation in activities and were chosen by Dean Ray, Miss Haidt, and the retiring and newly elected presidents of the Women's Self Government Association from lists sent in by instructors, leaders of activities, and class officers." Dean Charlotte Ray and Gertrude Toewe were named as honorary members. Upon acceptance as an activity on the Penn State campus, the chapter was installed as a member of the National Society of Cwens on June 4, 1927, by national officers and members from the Alpha Chapter. Note: Delta Chapter is now inactive. EPSILON Allegheny College The Fifth Chapter of Cwens* Epsilon Chapter at Allegheny College, Meadville, PA, was founded in the spring of 1927, following correspondence between Dean Wren Staley, Dean Amos, and Jeannette McClure. Under the leadership of Dean Staley, a committee of faculty women selected secretly ten outstanding freshman women. They were: Elizabeth Bunner, Martha Langworthy, Laura Byers, Elizabeth Schieck, Marjorie Cole, Margaret Snee, Ida Hammond, Margaret Squieres, Thelma Karlen, and Sarah Wakefield. They were chosen as the most representative freshman leaders. Dean Staley had received permission of the national president to use the name Cwens, because she wished this new group to be affiliated as quickly as possible with the National Society of Cwens. One night "after hours", so the record goes, when all of the students were in the dormitory, the girls who had been chosen were called downstairs to Dean Staley's apartment in the dormitory. They were told about the National Society of Cwens, and that they had been chosen as Cwens at Allegheny. It came as a total surprise and brought a pleasure which most of them consider "one of the outstanding experiences of their college lives." This is the only chapter that had its beginning in a tapping ceremony. The Allegheny Cwens sent delegates to the national convention at Pittsburgh, May 10, 1927, where they petitioned the national society for recognition. This was given, and in the fall of 1927, the Allegheny Cwens were installed in the national society as Epsilon Chapter. Installation took place in the "Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority rooms on the fourth floor of Hulings Hall" and was conducted by the national officers and the Cwens from the Alpha Chapter at Pitt. Quickly responding to Title Nine, the Epsilon Chapter of Cwens succeeded in providing a smooth transition to the Epsilon Chapter of the Lambda Sigma Society. Selection of new members included a vote by the members of their class, an evaluation of their extra-curricular activities and their cumulative grade report and interaction with members of the Selection Committee (Cwens, faculty members and student leaders) at a Make-Your-Own-Sundae were notified of their acceptance through the mail. ZETA Muskingum College The Sixth Chapter of Cwens* Cwens, a sophomore women's honorary, disbanded in 1976 because of the Title IX regulations of 1972. In its place a new honor society including sophomore men and women was formed. On March 6, 1976, the Lambda Sigma Society came into being. At their first national convention at Westminster College, October 24-26, 1976, the national officers were elected. They are as follows: Jane Harmon, President Mary Ann Allen, Vice President Wendy Wells, Recording Secretary J.J. Uluch, Publications Editor Following the national organization, the Cwens at Muskingum College which was chartered in 1927 was disbanded and the Zeta Chapter of Lambda Sigma Society was begun! The following students were tapped April 9, 1976, and inducted into membership April 19,1976, to become the charter members of the organization. Barbara Bauer Andy Liggett Barbara Bell Don Mason Frank Cappetta Ron Mazeroski Lyndon Christman Molly Mock Leslie Conger Linda Mokay Susan Douglass Larry Overmire Judy Falcsik Matthew Palmer Susan Fellows Kevin Peck Kay Fischer Steve Porter Pamula Gruzinski John Robinett Douglas Henshaw Nancy Shearer David Hobart Shelly Skvoretz Dana Horton Sharon Snode Patricia Jenkins Dean Turner Terry Kelley Melanie Warren John Lee Joyce Westerkamp (President) ETA Carnegie-Mellon University The Seventh Chapter of Cwens In December, 1927, Dean Thyrsa Amos, in answer to a letter from Dean Mary Watson Green of Carnegie Institute of Technology, inquiring about Cwens, said, "I am enclosing a little material on Cwens. As you know, it is an honorary sophomore society, and the girls are chosen for scholarship, leadership, and personality. It corresponds very much to Mortar Board of the senior year, and Druids, the men's honorary sophomore fraternity." During December, 1927, Margaret Wegeley, Katherine H. Anderson and Dean Green worked together to organize a sophomore honorary. In the beginning of the year, the following girls of the freshman class were selected to form the new society. Sally Beatty Isabel Levin Ruth Buckwaiter Ruth Lieberman (President) Doris Mather Grace L. Borgerding Gladys Mitchell Ann G. Dickinson Jane Moses Faith Hanna Helen Mylrea (Secretary-Treasurer) Eleanor Lemon (Vice President) Elsa Weber On November 13, 1926, the Carnegie Tech Student Council recognized the new group called Acleas as an honor society for sophomore women. On March 19, 1929, Dean Mary Watson Green and others recommended Acleas to the National Society of Cwens. A delegate from Acleas attended the national convention at Pennsylvania State College on March 22, 23, and 24, 1929. The convention received Acleas and designated it as prospective Eta Chapter. On May 2, 1929, Acleas was installed as Cwens, Eta Chapter. Miss Margaret Wegeley and Dean Green were made honorary members. In the spring of 1976, Eta Chapter decided to reorganize and admit male students, following the recommendation of the National Society of Cwens. Those selected to be the first members of the new Eta Chapter of Lambda Sigma were: Jean Monica Becker Stephen H. Montgomery Roberta Chin Caryl B. Moskowitz Andrea Cummis (Vice President) Joan Cunningham Deirdre Mullan Linda Annette Deak John M. Perlich, Jr. L. Lisa deSandes Rita Jane Rettger Lynn D. Dewees Paulette Gail Rosner Laurie Ann Fedigan Paul Frederick Sacher Louis John Giovannini Michele Maria Scalzitti Robert A. Harris (Secretary) Louis Herta Carol Schwarzwaelder (President) Ellen J. Silverman Charles E. Hochstetler Andrew Struble Edith P. Kohn Carlton Stuebing Amy Lynn Levine Catherine Maureen Walsh (Treasurer) Carolyn Ellen Welty Suellen Marsha Meyer Thomas J. Zacharias THETA* University of Kentucky The Eighth Chapter of Cwens On November 4, 1924, when the first attempts were made to have a general conference on the advisability of a national sophomore honor society, Dean Sara G. Blanding of the University of Kentucky wrote to Dean Thyrsa Amos. "We have no sophomore organization at the University of Kentucky." Six years later, November 21, 1930, Dean Blanding's assistant, Dean Sarah Holmes, wrote to Dean Amos: "Tell me something about the history and object of this organization and send me any printed material you may have. I am thinking of establishing a sophomore honorary fraternity on the campus of the University of Kentucky and for this reason am interested in Cwens." Miss Amos replied telling something of the Pitt Chapter and its program. "I have asked Margaret Hall," she concluded, "the national president, to correspond further with you." As a result, Dean Blanding, Dean Holmes, and the officers of the Women's Self Government Association organized a local honorary for sophomores. Fifteen freshman girls were chosen, and publicly tapped at a W.S.G.A. banquet, March 12, 1931. They were given the name, "Fifteen," from the number chosen. They were: Alice Bruner Mildred Neal Jacqueline Bull Mary O'Brien Hortense Carter (Secretary-Treasurer) Eleanor Dawson Mary Elizabeth Price Jane Dyer (Vice President) Dorothy Gould Ayleene Razor Isabelle Isrig Margaret Le Stourgeon Mary King Montgomery Ruth Wehle Lois Neal (President) Two weeks later, March 26, 1931, "Fifteen" sponsored the first sorority sing, later to become an all-university tradition. In the fall of 1931, correspondence was begun with the National Society of Cwens, concerning induction into it. On October 24, 1931, the National President, Margaret Hall, installed "Fifteen" as Theta Chapter of Cwens. The spring of 1976 brought with it the decision to change the name of Cwens to that of the Lambda Sigma Society. In addition to changing the name, several bylaws were changed with the most important one changing this sophomore honorary to a coed honorary rather than accepting strictly young women as in the past. All the individual chapters retained their same names, and Lambda Sigma began its first year as a new, yet already established, honor society for outstanding men and women of sophomore standing. Ultimately, thirty-three members, seventeen males and sixteen females, were chosen from approximately ninety of those who expressed interested. They were: Bob Belle Gregg Learned Leann Bleakney Doug Lukasik Sam Brown Art Marziale Tom Carter Barb Mock Dave Clajch Jim D'Dwyer Karen Davis Karin Olsen Don Delach Patty Sennett Kathy Derr Patty Slovick Sharon Dicker Sue Spencer Joanne Dixon John Spencer Jim Freeman Todd Steck Chris Fustine Al Thomas Dave Clajch Ellen Thomas Lisa Howrelook Nancy Welsh Jeff Hummel Tom Wormer Vicki Johnston Steve Wylie Karen Kapsanis Karen Killam Soon after notification, the new members attended an initiation dinner held in the Skylight Dining Hall. Note: Theta Chapter is now inactive. IOTA University* of Mississippi The Ninth Chapter of Cwens The "Triads", sophomore local honor society for girls at the University of Mississippi, was organized in 1937-38, with a nucleus of 16 girls. Barbara Butts served as president, and Mrs. Jeff K. Hamm and Mrs. W.A. Coulter (wives of faculty members) served as sponsors. After some correspondence with the national organization from the group, Mrs. Sarah B. Holmes visited the campus in the spring of 1940, then recommended that "Triads" be accepted as a new chapter of Cwens. At the biennial convention in October, 1940, the delegates voted to accept "Triads" petition. Marjorie Dee Hopkins, their president, who was present as an unofficial delegate, was initiated at the Feast. On March 1, 1941, "Triads" were installed as Iota Chapter of Cwens. Because of illness of Helen Faust, National President, Nancy B. Sutch, National Executive Secretary, initiated the group. Present also were Mrs. Holmes and three girls from the University of Kentucky - Betty South, Lorraine Harris, and Jean Williams -who assisted. The fifteen active members included: Jean Bordeaux Annie Glenn Johnson Melva Cartwright Martha Polk Perkins (Treasurer) Marguerite Phelps Jane Coffer Elizabeth Puller Mary Courtney Mildred Ramsey Helen Cunavant Ruth Ray Frances Garrett (Secretary) Ann Rowan (Vice President) Marjorie Dee Hopkins Lotta Swaze (President) Alumnae members initiated were: Mary Elizabeth Cook Oleta Shows Lillian Dooley Norma Shuford Mary Margaret Grass Nell Spenser Bae Kramer Juanita Walker Lanelle Long Sidney Watson Margaret McCoy Yvette Williams Ninnabel Neilson Catherine Winn Polly Rankin Iota Chapter had already completed its selection process in the spring of 1976 when word came of the proposed changes in the national organization. At the first meeting in the fall of 1976, members were informed of the creation of Lambda Sigma, and they agreed to become a part of the new organization. Plans were formulated to make the transition year productive and meaningful. KAPPA Seton Hill College The Tenth Chapter of Cwens "Lothians," a local honorary, was organized at Seton Hill College, Greensburg, PA., in 1942. As a project, the chapter published the "Greenbook," a clever and attractive handbook for freshman women entering Seton Hill College. After the chapter's petition was received by the Executive Secretary, Betty Teal, National Vice-President, visited the chapter in the spring of 1945, to help organize credentials and inspect it. The chapter was accepted by the chapters of Cwens on June 4, 1945. Formal installation was held the week-end of October 20, 1945 with two national officers present: Ann Melick, President, and Betty Teal, Vice- President, assisted by four Cwens form Pitt, Alpha Chapter. The examination was given Saturday afternoon and the installation was held on Sunday. The original chapter advisers were Sister Maurice and Sister Muriel. The following girls were initiated: Marjorie Anthony Carmille Larghi Pat Bickel (Historian) Dolores Callahan Pat Liddell Mary Camiolo (President) Joan Daley Catherine Ruddle (Secretary) Marjorie Firsching (Treasurer) Marie Teresa Spoerlein Flora Gorirossi Virginia Steel Mary C. Hackett (Vice President) Alice Kosmerl NOTE: Kappa Chapter is now inactive. LAMBDA Westminster College The Eleventh Chapter of Cwens* "Scepter", a local honor society, was organized at Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA, in 1942. It petitioned the Executive Secretary and was accepted by the chapters of Cwens on June 4, 1945. It was installed as Lambda Chapter of Cwens on the weekend of October 27, 1945. National Officers present at the installation were: President, Ann Melick, Vice President, Betty Teal, and four Tech Cwens. The following members of "Scepter" were initiated into Cwens: Gloria Ashbaugh Grace Jones Marilyn Ashbaugh Winifred McCalmont (Vice President) Margaret McClure Ann Babbitt Jeanne Myers Marie Baumann Barbara Peters (Secretary) Lois Burton (President) Martha Shoup Ruth DeHaven Mary Ellen Stewart Anna May Fitzsimmons Lois Utley (Treasurer) Wilma Woods Anna Grill With the dissolution of the National Society of Cwens at hand, the Lambda Cwens and a local sophomore men's honor society, Thanes, decided to merge, thus complying with the recent Title IX regulations. Each organization tapped a new class in the spring of 1976. With new initiates combined, the coed group was called the Sophomore Honorary. On May 18, 1976, Westminister's Sophomore Honorary voted to become a chapter of the Lambda Sigma Society. The Lambda Chapter included the following: Ann Ague Susan McNamara Judy Bowdler Traci Meadows Mary Buchanan Marla Messett Doug Burr Grad Mortiz Carl Campbell Kurt Muehlheuser Jeff Canose (Vice President) Momodou Ceesay Sue Muskrave Barb Davis Dave Nesbit Deb DeMeester Bille Pearce Gordon Dufour Amy Peterson Suzanne Elway Beth Prosser Jeanette Ford Lucinda Rowe Judy Geis Rick Scheffield (Secretary) Rob Sheehan Rick Grejuda (Vice President) Hal Hartley Greg Smith Mark Howell Barb Stiver Mark Huber Debbie Uhlman Todd Ireland (Treasurer) Suzanne Keith Pete Waite (President) Todd Weaver Pete Waite Cindy Wilt Paul Koenig Bill Woodman Larry Lloyd Bob Wright Chris Loizeaux Irene Zucharias Scott Magnuson MU Eastern Kentucky University The Twelfth Chapter of Cwens In the spring of 1945, a group of freshman girls who had maintained a grade standing of 1.80 (on a three point system) for the first two quarters of that year met with Mrs. Emma Y. Case, Dean of Women, to discuss the possibility of forming a sophomore women's honor society at Eastern Kentucky State College in Richmond, Kentucky. Case had felt a definite need for a service organization of this type on Eastern's campus. The group learned about Cwens and the three year probation period. The following fall they began work as a service organization and chose as the name of their organization "Prota Decca", which means first ten. Since "Prota Decca" was the first group of this type on the campus, theirs was the task of forming policies and setting precedents. That fall, they had as their guests at a dinner, Mrs. Holmes, then sponsor of Theta Cwens at the University of Kentucky; the Dean of Women; and the President of the Cwens Chapter at the University of Kentucky. Their advice and suggestions proved to be very helpful during the year. The 1946-47 edition of "Prota Decca" continued its program of service, but broadened its activities considerably. In the spring quarter of 1946, twenty-two girls were initiated into "Prota Decca". The "Prota Decca" was installed as Mu Chapter of Cwens on March 11, 1948. In the spring of 1976, when the national organization announced its plans to form a new co-educational honor society for sophomores named Lambda Sigma, the Mu Chapter elected to affiliate with the new society and to initiate young men as well as young women in the spring of 1977. Long-time advisor Dr. Martha Grise continued with Lambda Sigma and Dr. Ron Wolfe joined her as faculty advisor in 1977. NU University* of Louisville The Thirteenth Chapter of Cwens Nu chapter at the University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, was founded locally in the Spring of 1950. Under the direction of the Mortar Board chapter, sixteen freshman women were chosen to form the local group to be known as the THINKERS: Joan Brietbeil Ola Miracle Helen Clark (Publicity) Carol Cochran Peggy Moll Eileen Connolley Doris Russell (Treasurer) Selma Goodman (Secretary) Janice Shroder Julie Groeber Barbara Wellendorf Inga Hirschheimer Joanne Wilkinson Joanne Knight (Vice President) Betty Wolfe (President) Annette Lillard Definite standards for membership in the THINKERS were set up. Scholastically, a girl had to be in the first third of her class, and to further qualify, she must have evidenced outstanding service on the Louisville campus. While it remained local, THINKERS worked under the supervision of Mortar Board and the Dean of Women at the University of Louisville, Miss Hilda Threlkeld. There were two additional groups of THINKERS tapped in the two following years. In the Spring of 1952, THINKERS petitioned Cwens for membership as Nu Chapter; the group was inspected and approved by Mrs. Sarah B. Holmes, Dean of Women at the University of Kentucky and advisor to the Cwen National Board, and upon the further approval of the individual chapters of Cwens was duly installed at Louisville on October 18, 1952. The installation ceremony was carried out under the supervision of Miss Duella Stranahan, National Executive-Secretary of Cwens, aided by active Cwens from Theta and Mu Chapters. Note: Nu is now inactive. XI Grove City College The Fourteenth Chapter of Cwens The first members of Crown and Sceptre, local sophomore women's honorary society of Grove City College, were tapped by members of Alpha Theta Mu, Senior Women's honorary society, at the May Day exercises in May, 1951. Sixteen freshman women who had shown outstanding qualities in leadership, scholarship and service were chosen to organize and build the new honorary society. During the first year, the members of Crown and Sceptre carried on numerous projects of benefit to every member of the college. At the May Day program in May, 1952, the charter members of this group turned their duties over to eleven freshman women who would continue the established projects besides sponsoring new ones. Crown and Sceptre submitted its petition to become Cwens during the summer of 1952. Mabel DeForest Angelo, Extension Chairman, inspected the group and upon her recommendation, the individual Cwen chapters voted unanimously to accept them into the membership of the National Society of Cwens. Epsilon, accepting the responsibility as the installing chapter, and Lambda Chapters participated at the installation of Xi Chapter on April 11, 1953. Miss Duella Stranahan, Executive Secretary, and Mrs. Mabel Riddle, Vice-President, were present to aid the Extension Chairman with the installation proceedings. Twenty-three members were initiated. At the annual May Day Program, 1953, fourteen freshman women were tapped to be chapter members of Cwens, Xi Chapter. They were: Barbara Brock Margaret Pringle Ruth Christy Viola Roberts Sue Davidson LaVonne Rudolph Janet Diefenderfer Nancy Rupp Shirley Gills (Treasurer) Louise Slavcoff (Vice President) Linda Johnson (President) Janet Stoller (Secretary) DeLois Maloney Edna Zipay Note: Xi is now inactive. OMICRON Northern Illinois University The Fifteenth Chapter of Cwens In the spring of 1931, Nu Alpha Lambda was established as a sophomore women's honor society at what was then Northern Illinois State Teacher's College. Its purpose was to foster higher standards in education and to promote leadership and service to the college among freshman women. In 1954, under the guidance of the Dean of Women, Ruth Haddock, Nu Alpha Lambda petitioned for membership into Cwens. The Nu Alpha Lambda officers and advisors were initiated into Cwens at the national convention of 1954, and the Omicron Chapter of Cwens was installed in DeKalb, Illinois on December 5, 1954. Cwens had thrived throughout the years due to efforts of many members and advisors; among them, advisors Ruth Haddock and Joy Nelson. Since its beginning, Cwens has seen changes come both in its organization and in its chapters. Northern Illinois State Teachers College became Northern Illinois University in 1957 and now enrolls over 21,000 on-campus students in five undergraduate colleges and the graduate school. The 45 Cwens members have determined their program of social, service, and educational events annually. A long-standing Cwens (now Lambda Sigma) project has been ushering for university theatrical productions, football games, and commencement exercises. The most dramatic change in Omicron Chapter's history came in the fall of 1976 when the chapter was informed that Cwens had been dissolved and that a new national organization was being formed. 1976-77 President Rose Tonies, Vice-President Nancy Kowal, Sandy Bialek, and advisor Denise Rode, attended the national convention at Westminister College to learn about the changes. They came back full of enthusiasm for Lambda Sigma and succeeded in spreading this to the rest of the chapter. Within a few months of hard work on the part of members and officers, the transition was complete. At the first Lambda Sigma feast on April 22, 1977, 18 men and 27 women were initiated into the Lambda Sigma Society at NIU. The Omicron Chapter, proud of its past in Cwens, looks forward with optimism to its future in Lambda Sigma. PI Auburn University The Sixteenth Chapter of Cwens May, 1976, Pi Chapter of the Lambda Sigma Society tapped its first members on the Auburn University campus. Its immediate forerunner was Pi Chapter of the National Society of Cwens. The original group, which became Cwens, was a local organization called Owls Honor Society. Owls was founded in 1940 to recognize scholastic ability and campus leadership in the sophomore women's honor society, Cardinal Key. During the following years, Owls did many service and social projects for the University and the community. The Owls Honor Society petitioned the National Society of Cwens, sophomore women's honor society, for membership and Mrs. Allene B. Swanson, Extension Chairman of Cwens, visited the campus to inspect the local honor society. Owls' petition to affiliate with the National Society of Cwens as approved and on May 18, 1957, Pi Chapter of Cwens was installed at Alabama Polytechnic Institute. Forty-nine charter, alumnae, and honorary members were initiated by Mrs. Mabel D. Angelo, National President of Cwens, and Mu Chapter, Eastern Kentucky State College. From 1957 to 1976, over 600 women were tapped into Pi Chapter. In March, 1976, Pi Chapter voted to comply with the National Executive Board's decision to create a new national honor society for outstanding freshman men and women out of the National Society for Cwens. After a farewell banquet for Cwens, Pi Chapter turned its attention to the newly-formed honor society. This new honor society was named the Lambda Sigma Society. In May, Pi Chapter selected the men and women who were to be the first members of Lambda Sigma at Auburn University. On May 13, 1976, the first Lambda Sigma members were tapped into Pi Chapter at a surprise breakfast. After an organizational meeting, Pi Chapter had an initiation banquet for its new members. The first male ever to be president of Pi Chapter was installed along with the other officers at the banquet. Based on its rich heritage and on the enduring ideals of the new society, Pi Chapter of Lambda Sigma has begun and will continue to be an inspiring and vital influence in the lives of its members and that of Auburn University. RHO Thiel College The Seventeenth Chapter of Cwens* Cynelic, an honor society fraternity for sophomore women, was organized at Thiel College in the spring of 1956, under the guidance of Miss Dorothy J. Maple, Dean of Women. In organizing this group, Miss Marple received information and help from the National City and