Chi
University of South Carolina
The Chi Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi at the University of South Carolina’s Columbia campus has experienced quite a bustle of activity these past few semesters. Although the Chapter has been technically active since the 1960s, in the more recent past we had been a loosely associated organization that held an initiation every semester. However, thanks to the leadership of a motivated and energetic executive board we have blossomed into a proactive group of dedicated students that provides a rich variety of cultural activities that reach the campus and greater Columbia community.
In the 2011-2012 academic year President Taylor Jones and Vice President/Treasure Paulina Jiménez led the group to new heights. During Hispanic Heritage Month, our chapter co-sponsored a cultural dinner which invited all students to experience Hispanic food, music, and dancing. Also during Hispanic Heritage Month, the Chi Chapter helped sponsor “Black in Latin America,” one of the events in the series of Diversity Dialogues led by the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs. Later on in the semester, we worked with Students Associated for Latin America to bring a Día de los Muertos celebration to one of the campus the dining halls.
By the time the spring rolled around, our organization had been awarded funding by USC Office of Student Organizations to be able to host some pretty incredible events geared toward our Spanish majors and the general student population. The first, “What Can I Do With Spanish?”, brought in several speakers from the community who highlighted the importance that being able to speak Spanish has had in their professional lives. It was inspiring and motivating for our students, whose optimism about the future is contagious. The second big event was a Spanish Poetry Night, which was led by published author, Juan David Cruz. Students were treated to readings of Machado and Borges and were guided through analyses of several poems by a true expert. In addition to our initiation of 14 new members, the Chi Chapter hosted its first ever Awards Night, during which faculty, Sigma Delta Pi members, and local high school students were recognized for their outstanding dedication to the Spanish language and Hispanic culture.
In recognition of the efforts and achievements of our students, the Chi Chapter was awarded the Certificado de Honor y Mérito in 2012 and the inaugural Premio Fénix, which acknowledges the outstanding activity of the chapter over previous years. We have already started off this 2012-2013 academic year strongly under the guidance of our executive board: President Taylor Jones, Vice President Paulina Jiménez, Treasurer Maggie Castles, and Secretary Rachel Despres. We began with several events to help celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month including a poetry reading co-sponsored by Palmetto y Luna, a Latino Arts Consortium that seeks to promote arts in the Midlands of South Carolina. And just so no one gets the idea that Sigma Delta Pi members can’t have fun, students got together for a Spanish Karaoke Night! We had fun singing our favorite hits…in Spanish of course.
The Chi Chapter looks forward to using the momentum we have gained over the past few semesters to continue the traditions of the past and start some new ones as well!