What is ΣΑΙ?

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Sigma Alpha Iota (pronounced ee-OH-tuh) is an international music fraternity for women who demonstrate a sincere interest in music. Our chapter, Eta Rho, meets at the Amy E. duPont music building on Sunday evenings and holds a variety of events (performances, fundraisers, service projects, social events, etc) throughout each semester.

 

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Why is ΣΑΙ a fraternity if its members are women?

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When ΣΑΙ was first established, it actually was called a sorority; however, that was later voted on and changed a few decades later.

An amendment was made to the ΣΑΙ Constitution in 1926 stating: The following resolution passed by the Kappa Alpha Theta Convention merits the attention of all members of women's fraternities: "Inasmuch as the word fraternity is derived from FRATERNITAS, an abstract feminine noun (Latin) meaning brotherhood, applying to both men and women, and inasmuch as there is no corresponding Latin word derived from SOROR, be it resolved that we avoid sorority, an incorrect word, and instruct freshmen to this effect".

Essentially, fraternitas refers to not only men but ALSO women as it pertains to the idea of brother/sisterhood. The word soror was avoided at that time, and it didn't really catch on until later (not to mention the etymological connection is less pronounced).

Today, all Greek-letter music organizations are called fraternities. Although we only initiate women at the college-level, we initiate both men and women as Distinguished Members.

 

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Is ΣΑΙ a sorority, professional organization, honor society...?

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Not quite, to any of the above actually.

As mentioned before, we were originally a sorority. Our founders believed that a sisterhood (but not "just another social sorority" as founder Minnie Davis promised Albert Stanley, the head of the University School of Music in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the time) best suited their goals and ideals.

Over the years we've been a "National Musical Sorority", a "National Professional Musical Sorority", a "National Musical Fraternity", and an "International Musical Fraternity for Women". That latter title served us fine until the 1970's when the Title IX legislation was introduced. Under Title IX, organizations that discriminated by sex would not be allowed on college campuses (in other words, we'd have to admit men). This affected not only us but other special interest Greek-lettered organizations and groups such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, YMCA, etc.

Finally in 1981 after years of struggle with the government, we received a letter regarding our status. The letter explained that since "SAI does not restrict its new members to students majoring or minoring in music...[and] its primary purposes are to conduct activities to foster interest in music with a cultural, not a professional, objective, and to promote social contact among women sharing an interest in music as a cultural pursuit", we are considered a social fraternity for the purposes of Title IX, and thereby exempt.

We held membership in the Professional Fraternity Association (PFA) at that time and still do. Our membership is based upon the fact that we are "identified by, or related to a field of study or common interest;" however, we are not technically professional nor honorary.

We endorse some ideas held by the National Panhellenic Conference and National Interfraternity Council (NIC) which serve social Greek-lettered organizations, but we are not members.

We are a member of the National Interfraternity Music Council (NIMC) which serves Greek-lettered musical organizations such as Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Delta Omicron, Mu Phi Epsilon, Phi Beta, Pi Kappa Lambda, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Tau Beta Sigma.

At the University of Delaware, we were classified as a Registered Student Organization (RSO) under Activities and Programs for 17 years from our start in 1990 to 2007. Actions were then taken in Fall 2007 to reorganize Greek-lettered RSOs under the Greek system of the university. Following a unanimous chapter vote, we formally became recognized in January 2008 by the university as a Greek organization. We are a sitting member of the Greek Council; however, we are classified as a "Special Interest" group, so we can recruit and train members "our way" rather than like the NPC sororities.

 

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Why Join ΣΑΙ?

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People join for all sorts of reasons. Sigma Alpha Iota is an organization which promotes interaction among women who share a passion for music, regardless of whether you are a music major or not. We are a fun-loving group that are active in all areas of campus music and campus life.

In addition to personal encouragement and support (not to mention performance, service, and social opportunities), members may receive scholarships, loans, and awards in many areas and at all levels of music-related study. Sigma Alpha Iota has long been recognized as a leader in the field of music and provides a lifetime of fraternity contact and musical involvement through our extensive alumnae association (i.e. your involvement in the fraternity doesn't have to end after you graduate).

 

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How do I join ΣΑΙ?

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All you need to do is attend our formal recruitment to be considered for a bid to start training. We encourage attending our informal recruitment events to meet the sisters and find out about the organization. After formal recruitment, you are then informed about the next step of the process.