In the Fall semester of 1993, a group of young undergraduate women first came together. These women, hailing from different cultural backgrounds, became close friends. While musing about the state of their campus and their friendships, the idea of forming a sorority casually came up. They believed that a sorority built on their friendships and sharing their vision could address a gap that existed on the SUNY Albany campus. This idea slowly solidified in their minds; these women believed that a sorority built on their friendships, laughter, strengths and dedication would be a formidable force. Over the course of the semester, their group of friends grew closer and in size.

On February 28, 1994, the Founding Mothers of Sigma Psi Zeta sat down together over dinner to discuss their common goal. They all aimed to establish an organization that encompassed the strength of today's Asian-American woman and her potential for making an impact on the world around her. They came together as friends, realizing the apathy towards Asian women and the dual-disadvantage for being "The Silent Minority."

On March 23rd, 1994, the State University of New York at Albany formally recognized the sisterhood of Sigma Psi Zeta. This signified the birth of many firsts. Our Alpha Chapter was established on that date, as well as the birth of the first East Coast-based Asian sorority. The founding mothers struggled to establish our organization, our purpose, and most importantly, a precedence by fighting the odds.

Sigma Psi Zeta immediately became a positive influence for the University at Albany campus community, as well as its Asian community. Realizing the importance of expanding our leadership, empowerment, and service, we initiated our first pledge class and established a second chapter less than a year later, which today is known as the Beta Chapter at the State University of New York at Binghamton. They too were pioneers, becoming the first Asian-Interest sorority to be established in Binghamton.

Since its' inception over ten years ago, Sigma Psi Zeta has grown to include additional sisterships with members who have pledged to uphold the same beliefs as our Founders in nine states and eighteen schools. Growth has been steady, but expansion in numbers has never been favored over strengthening from within. From this small group making up the first chapter, Sigma Psi Zeta has remained steadfast throughout its history, forward to the continued growth of a sisterhood which keeps pace with the ever-changing nature of the collegiate world and contemporary Asian society.

We are pioneers and activists as our founding mothers were, before us. Our sisterships, both undergraduate and alumnae, enjoy a distinguished reputation for activism, scholarship, character, and leadership. These are women who still embrace the beliefs of our founders by sharing universal sisterhood in their hearts and lives. We are an organization that seeks to educate and enlighten all people, regardless of race, about Asians and Asian-Americans; our achievements, our struggles, our interests, and identity.

Our Founding Mothers saw Sigma Psi Zeta as a society to "unite and empower women in sisterhood... to promote awareness of the Asian culture and heritage... to provide charitable services to local communities and the Asian community-at-large through leadership..."

Above all, the undergraduate women that began this sorority shared a unified vision born out of a desire to identify their own individual cultures and share them with others. Gina Han, Sally Hsieh, Jean Kim, Jenny Kim, Sandra Lam, Yan-Chieh Liu, Winnie Liu, Michelle Macaraig, Sung-Yon Noh, and Loan Trang realized this. What tied together these noble ambitions was a strong friendship. SYF was born. They researched into existing Greek organizations, but found none that could meet their needs. After much deliberation and contact with their campus administration, they began the steps towards establishing a a sorority that would address their needs.

What first began in the Fall Semester of 1993 blossomed in the Spring of 1994. On March 23, 1994, they founded Sigma Psi Zeta. Loyalty, Allegiance, and Dedication were the attributes these women incorporated into the organization, and to this day, they continue to serve as the foundation and spirit by which all of the members of Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, Incorporated act upon. These women collectively felt it especially important to understand and unite, because the Asian and Pacific Islander cultures face significant difficulties and challenges that are both based geographically and linguistically. The historical marginalization of women, particularly women of color, has had a significant impact on the process by which multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-racial women as certain educational, economic, social, and political capital in American society.

The structure of a Greek Letter organization addressed the need for the organization to nurture bonds between women that surpass those of traditional clubs and associations. At the same time, these ten women of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds hoped that the organization would nurture the bonds of sisterhood, and become a vehicle for action in addressing the needs of Asian-American women on their campus. They then took an oath of loyalty, allegiance, and dedication to each other and their cause. A sorority was established, adopting Sigma Psi Zeta as their name. What brought together our founders still attracts so many women today.

Although our orientation is toward Asian women, we are open to women of all cultural backgrounds and are further empowered by them. The diversity in our membership's personalities and ethnic backgrounds (which include non-Asians and non-Pacific Islanders) attests to this fact. Sigma Psi Zeta thrives on the diversity of its members, and we attribute much of our success to our organization's ability to embrace these differences.

1993
The Inception of Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority. The original members of SYF solidify their goal and core group, and begin to put together the foundation of the sorority and ready themselves for school recognition.

1994
SYZ founded and recognized by the State University of New York at Albany. Became the First Asian Greek organization out of 43 Greek organizations on the campus at the time, the first Asian women's organization on the SUNY Albany campus, and the first Asian sorority to be founded and based out of the East Coast.

1995
First Expansion Initiative completed and a charter awarded to the Beta Chapter at the State University of New York at Binghamton. Sigma Psi Zeta for the first time colonizes locally at another university. Sigma is the first Asian interest sorority to be established at SUNY Binghamton.

1996
Creation of the National Sorority's governing body, the National Board of Directors.

Certification of Incorporation was initiated by the Charter Class at Beta Chapter in Binghamton, NY. Sigma Psi Zeta becomes a non-profit corporation recognized under the laws of the State of New York.

1997
Gamma Chapter established in New York City, marking Sigma Psi Zeta's third expansion initiative.

First International Exchange Student (Japan) initiated as a sister in the United States - Sachiko Umeshita, Alpha Epsilon. Regardless of cultural gaps and language barriers, Sachiko remains part of the Sigma alumnae network, testifying to the fact that commonalities among women across the world that are not bound by language, but by the heart. While she was not the first international student to join Sigma, she was the first and thus far only to do so as an international exchange student.

1998
Delta, Epsilon and Zeta Charter Classes establish at SUNY Buffalo, Oneonta (NY) and New York City (NY), respectively. This expansion effort effectively doubled the size of the sorority.

First collegian of non-Asian descent initiated. Edelta M. Miles '98, Delta Charter. Her membership broke a lot of barriers in the sense that the sorority began to concentrate more on the multiculturalism of our sisterhood and women's issues.

First Sigma Psi Zeta legacy initiated - Grace Leung '98, Gamma Epsilon, sister of Gamma Charter Shirley Leung '97. Grace becomes the first legacy of Sigma Psi Zeta upon her initiation and thereby leads another generation of legacies who are perhaps daughters, and younger sisters.

1999
Sigma Psi Zeta becomes the first Asian-interest greek organization to advocate strongly "To Combat Violence Against Women." The National Philanthropy of Sigma Psi Zeta is proposed to the National Board of Directors by Glenda Bautista '98, Alpha Gamma, and is used as a focus for chapters' community service events.

2000
Overhaul of the national governance to include three branches of government to represent both the undergraduate and alumnae efforts of Sigma Psi Zeta with scalable and even distribution.

National expansion procedure revamped, requiring more from both the universities and interest groups.

As a result of the proposed National Philanthropy's year-long trial run, and with the resounding sister support for this cause shown at the 2000 Summer Convention, it is adopted formally into sorority-wide standards and policy under the newly-formed executive, legislative, and judical branches of the National Sorority The National Governance.

National chapter standards are audited at this time, and risk management policies and sorority ethics are scrutinized to ensure the integrity and future growth and success of each chapter of Sigma Psi Zeta.

First State Expansion Initiative completed and a charter awarded to the Theta Charter at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst. Massachusetts becomes the first state other than New York to become a Sigma state.

Iota Charter established at the University of Rochester. This expanded the Sigma network in the western New York area.

2001
First Regional Expansion Initiative completed and a charter awarded to the Kappa Charter at Virginia Tech. Virginia becomes the first state outside of the Northeast to become a Sigma state.

Charter awarded to the Lambda Charter of the University of Virginia. These five women expanded the Sigma Network in the state of Virginia.

2002
Charter granted to the Mu Charter Class of SUNY Geneseo, bringing new life to the Western New York Sigma network.

National endorses Project I.S.I.S., a sweeping analysis and overhaul of the sorority. Massive restructuring of sorority foundations, traditions and government begins.

Nu Charter of Drexel University is established. These seven women establish the first sistership in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

2003
Charter granted to the Xi Charter Class of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. These ten women, through their hard work and dedication, brought the traditions of our sorority for the first time to the Midwest.

First Psi Sister honored. Allison Cheng, a sister since the Spring of 1996, was given the distinction of Psi Sister. Over the years, she has consistently contributed her talents and vision, shaping this sorority to become what it is today.

Ten Rays of Sisterhood and Project I.S.I.S. formally adopted by the sorority as permanent traditions at the 2003 Summer Convention.

The George Washington University invited SYZ to expand on their campus in early 2003. After an arduous selection process, seven women crossed in the Fall of 2003, bringing Sigma Psi Zeta to the capital of our nation.

A week later in Albany, NY, eight women from the University of Washington in Seattle were granted a charter by Sigma Psi Zeta.

2004
Charter granted to the Omicron Charter Class at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, bringing Sigma Psi Zeta to a national scale. By the charter class' sheer determination, Sigma Psi Zeta leaps tri-fold in establishment, having colonized coast-to-coast, been brought to the West Coast for the first time, and consequently the state of California through a tenacious year-long recognition process.

Sigma Psi Zeta is currently one of the fastest growing sororities in the nation, spanning 17 universities across the continental United States.

Background

In 1999, the sisters of SYZ formally adopted our National Philanthropy, to Combat the Violence Against Women. The first Asian Interest sorority to take on this very worthwhile cause, SYZ hopes to bring awareness to our universities and communities at large of this issue. For over four years, Sigma sisters have built a campaign to help those affected by this tragic violence, to educate the community about the nature of this problem, and to empower our sisters to make a lasting commitment to the issue of violence against women.

About the Philanthropy

The National Philanthropy of Sigma Psi Zeta is to combat violence against women in its varied forms. This includes, but is not by any means, limited to the following: rape, incest, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, exploitation, the trafficking of women and children, the abuse of migrant workers, intimidation at work, child abuse, harassment, and spousal abuse. Any kind of physical, emotional or mental duress constitutes violence.

To accomplish this, sisters:

~Volunteer at domestic violence shelters
~Sponsor or attend conferences and meetings that empower women's rights
~Lend support to women that need this specific type support and seek help for them
~Help to stop violations against women refugees and asylum-seekers
~Advocate for political causes that affect such demographics
~Attend and host self-defense workshops and classes
~Collaborate artistically and educationally with other women-of-color
~Donate proceeds of activities to organizations that support this same cause

By adopting this ethic within our sorority, we immediately become involved in a demographic that we seek to advocate for one of the Asian Female. Historically oppressed by tradition and objectified in the eyes of the contemporary media to be physically powerless, emotionally isolated, and mentally voiceless. We encourage and empower ourselves as undergraduates and alumnae of institutions of higher education. Attacks are likely to happen at universities and colleges all across the nation.

Violence affects the lives of millions of women worldwide, in all socio-economic and educational classes. It cuts across cultural and religious barriers, impeding the right of women to participate fully insociety. Violence against women takes a dismaying variety of forms, and constitutes a violation of basic human rights.

The sisters of Sigma Psi Zeta stand united behind our philanthropy, on both an organizational and individual level.

Alpha Chapter / SUNY Albany
Chapter Website: www.albany.edu/~syz
University Website: www.albany.edu

Beta Chapter / SUNY Binghamton
Chapter Website: binghamton.sigmapsizeta.org
University Website: www.binghamton.edu

Delta Chapter / SUNY Buffalo
Chapter Website: www.buffalosigmas.com
University Website: www.buffalo.edu

Theta Chapter / UMass Amherst
Charter Website: www.geocities.com/syzthetaelite
University Website: www.umass.edu

Iota Charter / University of Rochester
Charter Website: www.geocities.com/rochestersyz
University Website: www.rochester.edu

Kappa Charter / Virginia Tech
Charter Website: filebox.vt.edu/org/SigmaPsiZeta
University Website: www.vt.edu

Lambda Charter / University of Virginia
Charter Website: www.student.virginia.edu/~sigma
University Website: www.virginia.edu

Mu Charter / SUNY Geneseo
Charter Website: geneseo.sigmapsizeta.org
University Website: www.geneseo.edu

Nu Charter / Drexel University
Charter Website: sigma.now.nu
University Website: www.drexel.edu

Xi Charter / University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Charter Website: www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=Xquisite_Xi_Charter
University Website: www.unl.edu

Omicron Charter / Stanford University
Charter Website: www.stanford.edu/group/syz
University Website: www.stanford.edu

Pi Charter / George Washington University
Charter Website: home.gwu.edu/~chuangc
University Website: www.gwu.edu

Rho Charter / University of Washington
Charter Website: www.students.washington.edu/uwsyz
University Website: www.washington.edu

Tau Charter / University of Maryland - College Park
Charter Website: www.studentorg.umd.edu/syz
University Website: www.umd.edu

Upsilon Charter / University of Pennsylvania
Charter Website: dolphin.upenn.edu/~sigmay
University Website: www.upenn.edu

Phi Charter / University of Colorado at Boulder
Charter Website: www.xanga.com/SPIRITatCU
University Website: www.colorado.edu

Welcome our new sisters of:

Chi Charter!!