Eta Gamma
Towson University
Members of Eta Gamma.
Though the Eta Gamma Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi at Towson University was inactive during several years, in the spring of 2002 a group of highly motivated and dedicated students reinvigorated the organization. Since that time, the chapter has received the Certificado de Honor y Mérito three consecutive times, and three students have been granted SDP Study Abroad Scholarships: Kimberly Bolton studied in Spain in the summer of 2004; Julie Ritchick studied in Spain during the past summer; and Michelle Guderjohn is currently studying in Ecuador.
Our chapter has also created a website that is used as a resource not only by our members, but also by faculty and students in the Modern Languages Department: wwwnew.towson.edu/spanishhonorsociety.
The Society has been quite active during the past year. On November 5, 2004 it held “Viva España” and on May 6, 2005 it held “Viva Mexico.” The purpose of these programs was to raise cultural awareness and inform students of study abroad opportunities. Both programs featured authentic food and traditional dancing. Eta Gamma is striving to continue the series this semester by presenting “Viva Colombia” in November.
Another activity that has become a tradition is the Chapter’s trip to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. for the past three spring semesters. The trip has not only been open to Honor Society students, but also to students in the Modern Languages and the Latin American Studies Departments. The day consists of a tour of the Hispanic Reading Room and of the geography and map division, where the group is shown rare maps and other artifacts from the period of the encounter between the Old and New Worlds.
In addition, every semester Eta Gamma shows monthly, country-specific movies. These films are in Spanish, with English subtitles, and admission is free so that anyone may attend. The Chapter has shown movies from Mexico, Spain, Brasil, Cuba, Colombia, Chile and Argentina, among others.
Eta Gamma also holds weekly “tertulias” that are open to any student of Spanish at any level who wants to practice his or her Spanish in a relaxed setting.
Perhaps the Chapter’s greatest undertaking to date is its project to provide English as a Second Language lessons for the Spanish-speaking maintenance workers on campus. Several volunteers from the Chapter began last semester with informal classes and small groups.
This semester Eta Gamma has been given a grant from Towson University to purchase texts and workbooks for the participants to use. As it makes more progress, the Chapter will continue to expand this project with more formal classes and greater outreach to the Latino community outside the university.