March 22, 2007

Sigma Tau Delta inducts new members
Amelia Bitely
arb001@marietta.edu

In a candlelit ceremony, surrounded by their professors, five of six new Sigma Tau Delta members were at last inducted into the venerable English honorary society.

Each inductee lit a thin, white taper from a central pillar candle, took her place in line, and then solemnly recited the society’s traditional pledge. This ritual performed, the new members broke for pizza and soft drinks and a discussion of the society’s future.

“Just being in this society, Ifeel like I’ve gained a new relationship with the other students and the faculty that will last far beyond my graduation,”said senior inductee Jessie Schmac. Schmac, like fellow inductee Alie Ratie, will graduate this year as a member of the society.

For non-graduating inductees, though, the battle is just beginning. Sophomore Elizabeth Wallace, junior Kelli Park, junior Joy Frank-Collins, and junior Erin Wagner will join junior Amelia Bitely in the upcoming school year to form the fresh face of Sigma Tau Delta.

These new members are also beginning to take on leadership roles in the society-Park, an English minor, was elected next year’s president, with Bitely returning as vice president, Frank-Collins as secretary, Wallace as treasurer, and Wagner as marshal.

Within these newly-acquired roles, the women of Sigma Tau Delta will work together to recruit new English majors and minors to the society, to raise awareness of literary events on campus such as publications and readings, to put together the campus literary magazine (Pulse), and to provide support for English students inside and out of the society.

At the meeting following the induction, professors suggested that Sigma Tau Delta might soon help to launch a club for students majoring and minoring in English, although this idea remains tentative. If this club does become a feature of Marietta’s campus life, then it will be heavily involved with production of Pulse and with other Sigma TauDelta activities.

“Though Ihope to stay involved as a fifth-year senior, Iam excited to see what the newly appointed officers can accomplish,” said outgoing president Jordan Blackstone, who will graduate in December of next year.

Current members who will graduate this year include Dan Michalak and Kristina Escondo.

Sigma Tau Delta was founded on a national level at Dakota Wesleyan University in 1924. Marietta’s chapter is the Alpha Delta Omicron chapter.