In spring 2007, five women from Nicholls sought to pioneer a new way by introducing a multi-cultural sorority to campus. Now, one year later, the Alpha Colony of Lambda Psi Delta Sorority, Inc. represents the only active multi-cultural sorority in Louisiana and is in the process of becoming recognized on campus.
Nationally, Lambda Psi Delta falls under the National Multi-cultural Greek Council, which advises twelve other Greek letter organizations as well. However, until another organization from the council forms at Nicholls, the current colony wil be supervised directly at a regional level.
The small but active group has three members on campus: Ayanna Fultz, nursing sophomore from New Orleans, Erika James, athletic training senior from Shreveport, and Christy Lemcool, art senior from Slidell. Two other founding members are Nicholls alumnae Winchell Derbigney and Patrice Boudreaux.
Origionally founded at Yale University in March 1997, the sorority is a service-based organization that specializes in empowering and uplifting women.
Some of the projects Alpha Colony has taken part in include raising and donating money in Thibodaux and the surrounding communities, picking up trash and volunteering at the Thibodaux animal shelter. They also spearheaded “To Write Love on Her Arms” this week, a program which addresses depression, self-mutilation and suicide.
On a national level, Lambda Psi Delta has worked extensively with Operation Santa, the Annual Multiple Sclerosis Walk and Light the Night.
Members from their sisterhood have come from an array of cultures including African-American, white, Chinese, Dominican, Indian, Italian and a wide range of other backgrounds, all seeking to break the social barriers that exist today.
At the center of this group are The Five Tenets: Intellectual Development, Empowerment of Women, Leadership, Cultural awareness and Upliftment of the Community. These are the core values of Lambda Psi Delta, and they outline the basis on which all of the group’s programs and projects are designed.
These traits, along with the passion exhibited in the existing chapters, are what those at Nicholls say drew their interest.
“We are here to bring cultural awareness to the Nicholls campus and are geared toward unifying people,” James, the colony’s president, said.
Lemcool spoke of her reasons for joining, saying, “Here in south Louisiana, it’s as if many people still haven’t gotten over the racial stigmas of the past. This is why it means so much to be a part of this sorority: to show that women of different cultures can be united and make a difference together.”
Fultz said she was attracted to the emphasis on acceptance.
“I was drawn to the way the sisters wanted you for who you are and not who you can be molded into,” Fultz said.
She also said they do not have a specific membership quota to meet, preferring to stress “quality over quantity” in this regard.
Fultz mentioned as well that she would like to see more Greek unity and activities at Nicholls. She said she believes all Greeks should come together and embrace one another.
