Metro State now has a sorority, the first National Panhellenic Conference organization to form on campus. Sigma Sigma Sigma – or Tri Sig – was formed earlier this fall, with 41 women signing up during the recruitment period in September.

The sorority is the natural result of the increasing number of traditional freshman on campus in search of a “real” college experience, says the sorority’s sponsor, Toby Stein, a library technician at the Auraria Library. “I saw the need develop in the early 90s, and about three years ago I started working in earnest to bring a chapter to campus,” she said. Stein is a 35-year alumna of the sorority from her undergraduate days at the University of Northern Colorado.

The sorority, which is primarily a social and philanthropical organization, is the first of several sororities and fraternities that Stein hopes will eventually come to Metro State. Membership is open to anyone with at least a 2.2 grade-point average. Sigma Sigma Sigma has existed since 1898 and has 87,000 members around the world, Stein said. “It really is bringing a new dimension to student life,” she added.

There is no sorority house, at least not yet. Stein said the Tri Sigs are looking into the possibility of purchasing a house off campus for use as a meeting lodge or perhaps off-campus housing. Currently, the group meets at 7 p.m. every Wednesday at a different campus location.

Gretta Mincer, assistant director of student activities, hopes the sorority follows its strong start with continued success to pave the way for similar sororities and fraternities. “Forty women are a lot to start with. Most college campuses don’t have that kind of luck when getting started.”

For more information about Sigma Sigma Sigma go to

http://www.geocities.com/metrosigma/