Lambda Delta Sigma
Greek society life has been part of Concordia’s campus for many years, despite only one Greek society remaining at Concordia in 2022. Lambda Delta Sigma (LDS) has outlasted other student organizations on campus and has had a deep and complex history since its founding.
On November 4, 1919, the LDS Literary Society was established at Concordia College. The group was formed by eighteen girls, including Isabelle Ramstad (the first president of the group) and Reta Willsey (the first advisor). Still intact today, LDS is the longest-running student organization on Concordia’s campus. [1]
According to the original constitution of Lambda Delta Sigma, the purpose of LDS was “the promotion of both social and personal growth among its members.” The constitution also stated that members of LDS (freshman, sophomores, juniors, or seniors at Concordia) must regularly attend meetings, otherwise they would be required to meet with the Board of Officers to discuss their situation. LDS was known as a sororal group that strived towards community service and maintaining Concordia’s reputation as a tight-knit and positive community. Because the group was formed in 1919, shortly after the ending of World War I in 1918, the main goal of the organization paralleled the broader desires of repairing and healing of the world at the time: community and collaboration. [2]
Over the decades, LDS succeeded in contributing to a healthy campus and community environment in various ways. Community service has been one of the main focuses of the group since its beginning and throughout the years, starting with events as simple as floats in homecoming parades. In more recent decades, the group has organized events such as an AIDS awareness drive, various donation drives and fundraisers for organizations in the Fargo-Moorhead area, as well as an annual Mr. Concordia contest (now called Mx. Concordia), in which all proceeds go to a charity of the group’s choice. [3]
LDS also contributed to a fun atmosphere on campus, participating in theatre countless times since their founding. For many years the group competed annually in a one-act play contest that took place on campus, performing productions of ‘Pop’ Horton’s Dude Ranch in 1936, The Mysterious Monster of Mu in 1949, and Julius Seize-Her in 1965, along with countless others. [4]
LDS was not the first Greek society on Concordia’s campus. In fact, LDS was formed a year after Alpha Epsilon Sigma (AES) was organized. LDS was the sister society to AES, and the two had very similar values, despite LDS being sororal and AES being fraternal. The two had the same purpose written in their constitutions, and membership requirements were also similar. AES was much bigger than LDS, however, with its constitution stating that the group “shall be composed of sixty active members, plus the honorary members.” [5]
The two groups collaborated in many of the events previously mentioned, and even teamed up during some of the one-act play competitions, such as Julius Seize-Her. However, AES declined in membership, before disappearing from campus almost completely in 1996, leaving LDS as the only society left at Concordia. AES started making a comeback in 2011, but didn’t pick up enough speed to start up again. [6]
Since the forming of AES and LDS, Concordia has put hazing and pledging policies into place in order for the organizations to better represent the school within the community. These policies included such guidelines as no alcohol or controlled substances in the pledging process, no physical punishment, exercise, or sleep deprivation, and no mental or sexual harassment. While pledging the society was also prohibited from blocking a student’s success in academics, sports, or health. These policies were established to maintain Concordia’s image and reputation, as well as the health and safety of students.[7]
While many things have changed since the founding of LDS, the impact and goal behind the group remains the same. Small changes in the constitution have been made since its original writing. For example, in the 1919 edition of the constitution, the society’s colors were scarlet and white, while they are currently navy blue and white. Changes like these are amended during meetings, as group members see fit. In 2022 there were nearly thirty members of LDS, compared to the original eighteen. Still, many of the same community service activities are organized such as drives, volunteer work, and the Mx. Concordia pageant. In 2010, LDS began a partnership with the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA). LDS also collaborates with other Greek societies at North Dakota State University, including Sigma Nu and Sigma Alpha Epsilon. The mission statement, however, has stayed the same since its founding in 1919: “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve.” [8]
Author: Olivia Slyter
Footnotes:
[1] “AES & LDS,” File 3, Box 15, RG 18, subseries 4, Alpha Epsilon Sigma & Lambda Delta Sigma, 1918-1965, Concordia College Archives.
[2] “Lambda Delta Sigma: Constitution,” undated, File 2, Box 15, RG 18, subseries 4, Alpha Epsilon Sigma & Lambda Delta Sigma, 1918-1965, Concordia College Archives.
[3] “Lambda Delta Sigma Chapter (@Lambdadeltasigma) – Instagram,” accessed April 5, 2022 Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/sgrho_lds/.
[4] “The Lambda Delta Sigma and Alpha Epsilon Sigma Present ‘Pop’ Horton’s Dude Ranch,” December 5, 1936, Topical Files Collection, Concordia College Archives; “LDS and AES Present The Mysterious Monster of Mu,” December 9,1949, Topical Files Collection, Concordia College Archives; “Julius Seize-Her,” January 16, 1965, Topical Files Collection, Concordia College Archives.
[5] “Alpha Epsilon Sigma Constitution.”
[6] “AES,” Topical Files Collection, Concordia College Archives; Madalyn Pezalla, “Concordia’s Oldest Society Makes a Comeback,” Concordian, February 9, 2011.
[7] Hazing Policy,” October 31, 2000, Topical Files Collection, Concordia College Archives; “Pledging Guidelines,” February 2000, Student Affairs Committee, Topical Files Collection, Concordia College Archives.
[8] “Lambda Delta Sigma – Concordia College,” March 5, 2014, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/cclds.