By Anna Ornelas (Staff Writer)

Sigma Phi Sigma has recently been invited to become a national sorority.

The Wesley organization has wanted to go national for several years.

“I’m so relieved that this process is actually happening,” said Amanda Parisi, president of Sigma Phi Sigma. “It’s a very satisfying feeling that it is almost complete.”

Becoming a national organization will mean several changes for the sorority.

“Going national would mean going with an organization that would be affiliated with 50-60-70 schools across the country,” said Jamie Pruitt, a member of the sorority.

“Each sorority has had the opportunity to send out [two representatives] from the 21 [national Panhellenic conference] organizations,” said Parisi.

Wesley sent out invitations to national sororities to come to Wesley in order to start a national organization. Three organizations have expressed interest in setting up chapters at Wesley.

The organizations are Sigma Sigma Sigma, Delta Phi Epsilon, and Theta Phi Alpha. Sigma Sigma Sigma will be on campus next semester, but will not be affiliated with any existing campus organizations. Delta Phi Epsilon will affiliate with Delta Phi Sigma and Sigma Theta Chi. Theta Phi Alpha will affiliate with Sigma Phi Sigma.

One of the benefits that the sorority will experience includes networking. As a part of a national sorority, its members can go anywhere in the country and find a chapter. It gives the women an opportunity to find a job in places where they may not know anyone. It is a life-long sisterhood for thousands of women across the world.

“Not every sorority gets to experience this,” Pruitt said. “It’s really great that we had people at the Student Life office that want to work with us and give us a chance to experience this.”

With this change comes responsibility. In order to be an active member of an national sorority, a GPA of 2.5 must be maintained.

Parisi is confident this will only encourage girls to maintain their grades.

“I don’t think it will negatively affect anyone,” she said.

“I think they will strive to get a higher GPA,” said Kelly Morgan, a member of Sigma Phi Sigma. “When we become national and we wear national letters it would be really cool walking down the mall and seeing someone wear the same sweatshirts that we never met before. [We will] instantly bond with that person because [we] will have something in common.”