The Delta Iota chapter of Kappa Delta will be re-established at Murray State this fall after being off campus since 1984.
The chapter, which first arrived at Murray State in 1967, has been disbanded for 29 years following an incident that led to its ban from campus.
A committee compiled of alumni and a member from each existing Murray State sorority voted shortly before Spring Break between Kappa Delta, Delta Zeta and Phi Mu for which group would join Murray State Greek Life.
Kirstin Barry, extension and interim new chapter development manager, said that on April 8, a leadership development consultant (LDC) will arrive on campus to meet with the College Panhellenic Council, each Greek organization and Student Government Association to continue research for a guidebook. The guidebook will be distributed to the resident LDCs to help them learn about Murray State before others arrive on campus in August.
While KD will not participate in formal recruitment with the other five sororities, the LDCs will make a presentation during recruitment orientation. Then in early September, they will be helping out behind the scenes and will hold their own recruitment.
KD will be a colony for approximately seven weeks during the new member program before they are reinstalled as an active chapter on Oct. 27.
Barry is in charge of selecting and training the consultants and is their main contact until the LDCs arrive at Murray State.
“Another benefit is that we have hundreds of alumnae in the area, several of which are Delta Iota alumnae, but our chapter advisory board is going to be a mixture of women from different chapters,” Barry said. “What’s neat about that is being able to have alumnae with Murray State participate in chapter events as well as women with collegiate experiences from across the country.”
Jason Hinson-Nolen, interim Greek Life coordinator, said he thinks this marks a turning point in the Murray State Greek community.
He said this first expansion will set the stage for growth in the coming years.
Delta Zeta will arrive at Murray State in 2015, with Phi Mu following in 2017.
“It opens the door for us to gain more members in every single category of Greek Life and that is such an amazing opportunity for our campus,” Hinson-Nolen said. “We have proven multiple times that Greek Life on our campus is something that can enhance your experience.”
Hinson-Nolen said the University now has a solidified option for women when deciding on a sorority different than the ones offered in years past.
“It’s overwhelming when we started talking about expansion in September; we didn’t know if it would happen,” Hinson-Nolen said. “Then it happened overwhelmingly.”
Francie Ray, parking supervisor at Public Safety and KD Delta Iota alumna, said she is very excited about KD being back at Murray State.
She said she has been impressed by the dedication of the group and after talking to many involve. She said KD set the bar high for expansion at Murray State.
Jackie Dudley, who pledged KD in 1981, said she has seen the students show excitement about bringing a new sorority to campus.
“I think one thing that tipped the scale is that we have a lot of alumni in the area,” Dudley said. “There were roughly 40 women who were willing to serve on the chapter advisory board.
“There are many more of us. We have an alumnae chapter and we will help provide support for the newly organized chapter. I think we’re here to get them off the ground and running.”
Story by Meghann Anderson, News Editor.