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Theta Chapter

History

In the Spring of 2002, Delta Phi Lambda, an Asian-interest sorority, began a chapter at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. The charter class consisted of five young women who wanted to promote greater Asian awareness on campus: Hieu Huynh, Feifei Zhao, An Vinh Le Nguyen, Brandi Park, and Stephanie Kwan. At first it was hard to define exactly what "Asian Awareness" was as well as how the sorority would achieve this.

On March 14, 2002, the Emory colony was officially established, and this would not have been possible without the help of University of Georgia's Alpha chapter of Delta Phi Lambda. Though Emory was comprised of a diverse student body, the young women still felt that they were missing a community that was based on personal and intimate relationships. They knew they wanted to experience a close-knit sisterhood, but the existing sororities on campus did not have the same ideals and goals that they wanted to achieve. They felt that Delta Phi Lambda's philosophy closely matched their own priorities. They wanted an organization that would promote Asian consciousness on campus in a way that would benefit all of the Asian cultures.

Started in 1998 at the University of Georgia, Delta Phi Lambda continues to grow and expand. Currently the sorority has chapters located in 5 different states. The road to starting an Asian-interest sorority at Emory was filled with questions and doubts. 

What separates Delta Phi Lambda from other sororities? Since most sororities are comprised of mostly white upper-middle class young women, they did not focus on the same goals that Delta Phi Lambda promotes. As an Asian-interest sorority, Delta Phi Lambda focuses primarily on Asian concerns. The five women of the charter class chose this sorority for that reason. Though Emory has a strong Asian population, divisions still existed between different Asian cultures. Delta Phi Lambda strives to bring together the different Asian cultures on campus in an intimate and close sisterhood. Asian concerns were often ignored and non-existent at Emory. There was not a unifying voice that strove to let all Asian cultures be heard. The charter class felt that it was time to have a unifying voice. The charter class of Delta Phi Lambda at Emory still has a long journey ahead. The five young founders of the Emory chapter have only just planted a seed that they hope will flourish and bloom in the years to come.

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Charter Class of Emory DPhiL
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Active house of Emory DPhiL
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