Shannon Wagner is excited about Sigma Lambda Gamma's upcoming Japanese tea ceremony. But Wagner isn't Japanese, and neither are any of her sorority sisters.
Wagner's sorority is one of ASU's 17 multicultural Greek organizations under three Greek councils - the Multicultural Greek Council, the National Panhellenic and the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations - which aim to expose members like Wagner to a wide variety of cultures.
"Not a lot of sororities have that cultural awareness element, and we take great pride in that," said Wagner, a political science and communication senior.
Richard Harrington, president of Tau Psi Omega, said he also likes that culture plays such a strong role in his fraternity.
Harrington said most Tau Psi Omega members are Hispanic, but membership isn't based on race. The fraternity has members who are African American, Native American, Asian and Pacific Islander, he added.
"Understanding every culture is helpful to me so I won't be so one-dimensional," Harrington said. "It broadens my horizons and makes me more aware of things that are going on in different cultures."
Harrington, a justice studies and Chicano and Chicana studies senior, said members of his fraternity use service events to bring culture to the community.
He said Tau Psi Omega participates in many service events, including last year's Cesar E. Chavez Day of Service, when they taught elementary and middle school students about Chavez's legacy and principles.
"Where I grew up, the community helped me stay out of trouble," Harrington said. "It's very important to give back to that community."
All multicultural fraternities and sororities have strong ties to community service, as do their Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic sorority counterparts, said Rafael Carranza, president of the Multicultural Greek Council.
"What makes us different from more traditional fraternities and sororities is our smaller, more personalized membership," said Carranza, a broadcast journalism junior.
Dues for multicultural fraternities and sororities can be as low as $30 per semester, compared to about $400 to $900 to pledge a traditional chapter.
They also do not have formal housing like many IFC and Panhellenic chapters.
"We try to keep our costs low," said Wagner. "All of the girls in my sorority have jobs, so we recognize that they are working and going to school."
Although Carranza sees small membership as an advantage, one of his goals as president is to help MGC organizations grow.
Because MGC was established in 2003, Carranza said it is still very new, and it is important for MGC and its chapters to publicize themselves to students.
Wagner added that multicultural fraternities and sororities are becoming more well known within Greek life because ASU's five Greek councils have taken steps to bring all of the councils together.
"We have a lot more to do though," Wagner said. "It's not going to happen overnight, but then there won't be such a separatism between the communities."
Multicultural fraternities and sororities are already very similar to others on campus, said Jennifer Stults, assistant director of Memorial Union programs and activities.
"All groups provide an opportunity for involvement, [which] has been proven to support student success," Stults said.
As multicultural, IFC and Panhellenic fraternities and sororities converge, the lines between them continue to blur, according to Alpha Epsilon Phi president Sharon Heigh.
Her Panhellenic sorority is sometimes seen as a cultural sorority for Jewish women, said Heigh, an English and education junior.
"We have to explain that we are not a religious organization," Heigh said, "but this is a place where a lot of Jewish girls feel very comfortable."
Heigh added that her sorority was established in 1909 by seven Jewish women who couldn't join other sororities.
"They were discriminated against, so we don't do that. We don't only accept Jewish members, that would go against everything we believe in," Heigh said.
Wagner said that she had intended to join a Panhellenic sorority but discovered many great things about multicultural Greek life.
The Sigma Lambda Gamma motto, "Culture is pride, pride is success," sums up why she said she wanted to join a multicultural sorority instead.
"I went to one event with my sorority and I was hooked," Wagner said.
Wagner said the cultural awareness element of her sorority means experiencing culture daily, and also gaining new knowledge at events like October's Japanese tea ceremony.
"There will be a lot of smiles and bonding over something we don't really know about," Wagner said. "That really will be a unique learning experience that I wouldn't get anywhere else."
Reach the reporter at: meghan.keck@asu.edu.
