Upon receiving their charter last week, Delta Xi Phi bacame the first social multicultural sorority organization to come to campus.

Delta Xi Phi was created because Samantha Chada, Lindsey Levinsohn and Renee Daley wanted national backing for a social service organization. They found out about Delta Xi Phi online and wanted to start a chapter.

‘There will always be the girls who want to be a part of Greek life but don’t fit it. This is for them,’ said Natasha Spriggs, member of the new sorority.

Folasade Oladokun is one of those girls. She said she met some of the National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations, but that they did not fit her. When Oladokun saw an ad for Delta Xi Phi in The BG News, she attended the meeting and is now a member. She is happy with her choice because she connects with the organization’s pillars.

The five pillars of the organization are the advancement of women in higher education to the raising of multicultural awareness, community service, sisterhood and friendship.

Chada, who is the president, hopes to break down the barriers that are on campus in Greek life with this group.

Caitlin Murphy feels that Greek life is very segregated on campus, and that this group will not be because it will bridge the gap between the current organizations. The current members are already very diverse because of different ages, goals, and reasons for being part of the organization, and they are of different races, religions, sexual orientations and political views.

Levinsohn, associate member educator and Greek Independent Board chairperson candidate, explained that Delta Xi Phi has not had any large events yet because they are brand new.

Before the group tackles any big projects, they are waiting for more girls to join next year.

Rather than hoping for a large number of girls to join, the current members want a few devoted students.

‘We want quality girls dedicated to the organization,’ Levinsohn said.

This year, Delta Xi Phi has hosted study tables on Sunday nights, created a most improved GPA scholarship, attended other multicultural events on campus, gone to a Toledo food bank and will participate in the local Relay for Life.

Daley said that the organization has faced new challenges daily since the organization is just beginning.

‘We’ve never been here before,’ Murphy said, referring to the challenges the organizers face as they create a new group.

Delta Xi Phi is now the fifth group to be a part of the Greek Independent Board. GIB is one of four ways to be Greek on campus. Inter-Fraternity Council, Panhellenic Council and National Pan-Hellenic Council are the three other opportunities to be Greek on campus.

Ron Binder, assistant director of residence life and director of Greek affairs, explained that GIB organizations are growing. In the past four years, the number of organizations on the Board has risen from two to five.

‘We are excited they [Delta Xi Phi] are here,’ Binder said. ‘They add another dimension to the Greek community.’

This new sorority is one of two multicultural Greek organizations on campus. The other organization, Delta Chi Phi, is a service sorority.

In order to become a campus organization, ten members were needed. To find the needed members, ads were placed in The BG News, emails were sent on listprocs, flyers were posted and the three original members chalked the campus.

After one informational meeting, seven extremely interested students were found, said Daley, who is the secretary and scholarship chair of Delta Xi Phi.

By December the group was colonized, which means they were in the process of becoming chartered.

Now that Delta Xi Phi is a campus organization and national member, time will be the best test for its need.

‘These organizations exist to meet members’ needs. If it [Delta Xi Phi] is needed, it will grow. If not, it won’t,’ Binder said.