Sigma Delta Phi one of eight sororities at Grove City College

Grove City College

Grove City College is a Christian liberal arts college in Grove City, Pennsylvania, about north of Pittsburgh. According to the College Bulletin, its stated three-fold mission is to provide an excellent education at an affordable price in a thoroughly Christian environment...

, was a secret organization until 1920 when a charter was obtained while Weir C. Ketler was President of the College. The sorority originally consisted of 10 members. These women chose the symbols that would come to represent the second longest-standing sorority at Grove City College. Sigma Delta Phi is the only sorority at the College whose charter has never, even temporarily, been revoked.

The sorority's mission statement is: "The purpose of [the Sigma Delta Phi Sorority] shall be to foster a spirit of friendship and cooperation among its members; to uphold the moral, religious and social traditions of the College; to encourage the support of Grove City College affairs; to instill feelings of competition, diplomacy and humility among its members; to encourage love and respect."

Identity

• A sister of the Sigma Delta Phi sorority is called a "D'Phi."
• Sigma Delta Phi can be identified by their colors, officially black and white. These colors were chosen by the original members in 1920, the commonly seen red accent color was added later in the sorority's history.
• The symbols of the Sigma Delta Phi sorority are a pair of crossed sword
  Sword
  A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
  
  s, the Cross and Crown
  Cross and Crown
  The Cross and Crown is a traditional Christian symbol , appearing in many churches , that has also been used in heraldry...
  
  , and an oil lamp
  Oil lamp
  An oil lamp is an object used to produce light continuously for a period of time using an oil-based fuel source. The use of oil lamps began thousands of years ago and is continued to this day....
  
  . These symbols can be seen on the D'Phi crest along with the sorority letters. The meanings of these symbols are known only to initiated members of the sisterhood and are not divulged to those outside the sorority.
• The sisters of Sigma Delta Phi have historically worn a pin indicating their membership. This tri-sided, downward-facing Delta consists of the sorority letters, twelve pearls and one diamond. Although the pins are no longer produced or worn, the meanings of these symbols are known only to D'Phi sisters.
• The official mascot is Sigmund the Panda Bear. This panda is often carried by new actives during "Greek Unity Week," the period during which new members are initiated into fraternities and sororities at Grove City College.
• The sisters of Sigma Delta Phi currently consider Phi Tau Alpha to be their brother fraternity. Both Greek organizations share the same song: AC/DC
  AC/DC
  AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
  
  's "Back in Black," chosen after the song was recorded by the band in 1980. At Grove City College, historic brother-sister Greek relationships are represented through color, although many of those ties are no longer honored today. Historically, Sigma Delta Phi has been linked to the Beta Sigma Fraternity that shares its colors of black, white and red.
• The American Beauty Rose (Rosa 'American Beauty'
  Rosa 'American Beauty'
  American Beauty is a hybrid perpetual rose, bred in France in 1875, and originally named Madame Ferdinand Jamin. The cup-shaped flowers, which are deep pink and strongly scented, appear in flushes over a long period. The height of the shrub ranges between 90 and 200 cm.It was introduced in...
  
  ) chosen to represent the Sigma Delta Phi Sorority has been in use since 1920. The original 10 members chose this symbol as well as wrote the Alma Mater and the Sweetheart Song, both still in use today.
• The Oreo
  Oreo
  Oreo is a trademark for a popular sandwich cookie by the Nabisco Division of Kraft Foods. The current design consists of a sweet, white filling commonly referred to as 'cream' or 'creme', sandwiched between two circular chocolate or golden cookie pieces....
  
  is the official cookie of the Sigma Delta Phi sorority. The Oreo's black and white colors are the same as the sorority's colors.