Rho Rho
Truman State University
Members of Rho Rho with Dr. Lucy Lee, Chapter Adviser (extreme right)
The Rho Rho Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi was established on April 24, 1989 and installed on April 28 at the former Northeast Missouri State University, now Truman State University. At that first initiation ceremony seven students were inducted as charter members and two faculty members as honorary members. The ceremony was conducted by Dr. Lucy Lee, who was assisted by Dr. Thomas Capuano with Drs. Roy Tanner and Thomas Coates in attendance. Dr. Richard E. Chandler, National President at the time, was particularly instrumental in assuring that protocol was followed. Since its inception, Dr. Lee has served as chapter advisor with the assistance of Professor Michael Buzan from 1994-1996 and Dr. Eric Jewell more recently.
The Spanish faculty’s decision to found a chapter of Sigma Delta Pi at that particular historical juncture is significant, as the installation of the local chapter paralleled important changes occurring in the university as a whole. As a result of Missouri House Bill 196, signed into law on June 20, 1985, then Northeast Missouri State University’s mission changed from that of an open enrollment, regional and multipurpose university to its current status as Missouri’s only statewide, public, liberal arts and sciences institution with a highly selective admission requirement. One of the changes accompanying the implementation of the new mission was an emphasis on the teaching of foreign languages as one of the cornerstones of a liberal arts education. To that end, a foreign language requirement was instituted for B.A. students in the fall semester of 1986, a requirement which was later increased to include all students. As a result, the foreign language faculty gradually grew from eight members to its current thirty-six members, and the Spanish faculty increased from four to fifteen members. Newly hired Spanish faculty re-wrote the Spanish curriculum in 1986, creating a much stronger and more extensive major; and a Spanish minor was added in 1991 after the university-wide institution of minor programs. With a growing number of students enrolled in upper-division Spanish courses and strong university support for bringing national honor societies to campus, the moment was propitious to install a local chapter. Dr. Edward Carpenter, Division Head of Language and Literature at the time, was particularly supportive of this endeavor.
Throughout its short history, the chapter has vigorously pursued the objectives presented in the Society’s statement of purpose, particularly that of promoting a greater interest in and understanding of Hispanic culture through the sponsorship of activities of an academic, service and/or social nature. Among its first activities was the establishment of al poetry contest in celebration of the Día de la Raza, with the announcement of the winner at a “Noche de Poesía y Música.” The organization’s focus on the arts has continued throughout the years with “Hispanic Art and Literature Nights” and with poetry readings and musical presentations by local and national artists, such as poet and musician Dr. Joseph Benevento and international opera star, tenor Scott Piper. In 1999 members presented in Spanish the first one-act play sponsored by the organization, Cervantes’ El retablo de las maravillas, also providing for the audience an original translation of the piece. This performance was followed by several other theatrical events, among them Cervantes’ El viejo celoso (2000), Carballidos’ El censo (2001), Vodonovic’s El delantal blanco and Arrabal’s Picnic (2003), Roepke’s Una mariposa blanca (2004), Barranco’s Los pantalones (2005), and the current production of Barranco’s Las solteronas (2006). Each of these works was translated to English by chapter members for simultaneous projection during the performance. In addition, Sigma Delta Pi members performed a play by Truman faculty member Dr. Juan Carlos Valencia, Consumiendo consumo (2002), and wrote and performed two original one-act plays, Eduardo Blanco y las Siete Novias (2001) and Concurso de amor (2002) under the direction of Dr. Valencia. The organization has sponsored academic presentations by visiting scholars such as Dr. Donato Fernández Navarrete of Madrid’s Universidad Complutense, who spoke on “Los años de la transición española” (1990), and Dr. Monica Bendini of the Universidad de Comahue, Argentina, whose talk centered on the oral traditions of the Mapuche indians (1991). Numerous presentations have also been made by Truman faculty members, such as Dr. Roy Tanner, Dr. Lucy Lee and Dr. Bill Cummins. In addition, several Hispanic film series have been sponsored for the Truman community.
Cultural events of a service nature have been an important focus throughout this first period of the chapter’s existence and have helped to make Rho Rho’s presence known on the Truman State University campus. One such activity is the annual “Día de los muertos” immersion night for Truman students, which has been sponsored by the organization since 1996. Other participatory immersion night events have included “Agencia de viajes” y “Viaje a España,” which involved faculty members and Truman students in role-playing activities. The chapter also sponsors a series of culture presentations each semester for elementary and intermediate students, focusing on countries presented in the text used for those courses. An annual “Multi-cultural Study Abroad Forum” was begun in 2004 in which students with study abroad experience are invited to represent their country with a display and other information. In addition, Rho Rho participates regularly in the university’s annual Classical and Modern Languages Activity Day by sponsoring several sessions for high school students. Other service activities performed on an annual basis include representing the Spanish discipline with a display at the university-wide “Majors and Minors Fair”, representing the Spanish major at prospective student “Visit Days,” and participating in the city-wide Earth Day celebration with rain forest displays and interactive activities for children. Chapter members have volunteered as interpreters at the Adair County Health Fair, taught weekly Spanish classes at the university’s Early Learning Center, and raised money to buy books for a rural library in Honduras. Members are currently planning a “Spanish Professions Fair.”
Social events sponsored by the chapter have included “get-acquainted” parties for Spanish majors, dinners at Mexican restaurants, and numerous salsa “fiestas” with dance lessons open to the Truman community. In both 2001 and 2003, the chapter was awarded approximately $2500 in funding for campus-wide dances with the popular Latin band from Columbia, Missouri, Del Alma. Funding for chapter events has been provided primarily by the creation and sale of “Estrellitas de Navidad” at the annual student Holiday Market, the sale of rain forest chocolates, and the sale of International cookbooks. A small admission to theatrical performances has also been charged in recent years.
Rho Rho has received numerous awards in its short history. It was named a “Capítulo de Honor y Mérito” from 1993-2006 (14 consecutive years). At the Triennial Convention held in Acapulco in 2004, Rho Rho was awarded an inaugural “Premio Octavio Paz,” given to chapters designated “Capítulo de Honor y Mérito” for a complete triennium. In 2004 chapter advisor Dr. Lucy Lee was inducted into the “Orden de los Descubridores” and received the “Premio José Martel” for most exceptional chapter advisor. Dr. Lee has served continuously as Rho Rho’s advisor since installing the chapter in 1989, as well as serving as Missouri State Director from 1993-2001 and as Vice-President for the Southwest region from 2001 to present. Most recently, in 2006 Rho Rho received the Premio Ignacio y Sophie Galbis, designating it as one of the most exceptional chapters nationwide.
Since its installation in the spring of 1989, Rho Rho has held annual spring initiation ceremonies in a banquet setting. Fall initiations have also been held on several occasions. To date, 147 student members and six honorary members have been initiated into the chapter. Several of these students have had the opportunity to study abroad as recipients of Sigma Delta Pi scholarships. Rho Rho has only begun what promises to be a long tradition of dedication to the goals of the Sociedad Nacional Honoraria Hispánica.