Sigma Tau Delta
Welcome to the Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the National English Honor Society.
Sigma Tau Delta invites English majors on over 400 campuses nationwide to expand their cultural, ethical, and critical skills, while fostering a strong academic fellowship.
Sigma Tau Delta began at Dakota Wesleyan University's English Club, founded in May 1924 by Dr. Judson Q. Owen. Since 1972, Sigma Tau Delta has been an active participant in the Association of College Honor Societies. The club colors are cardinal and black. The official flower is the red rose.
Follow the link to visit the National Sigma Tau Delta site.
"As the guiding committee of a chapter, the officers are the key to its success. They should be chosen for dependability, enthusiasm, and leadership... The officers should seek to lead the other members and not do all the work themselves. One goal should be to put every member to work. Active members are committed and feel a part of the chapter. Inactive members soon become observers."
-Sigma Tau Delta Chapter Handbook
The 2002-2003 Leadership of Sigma Tau Delta
Cal Poly Chapter
Co-Presidents: Emily Stern and Kevin Cassidy
Secretary: Laura Montoya
Treasurer: Liz Yarris
Public Relations/Outreach Coordinator: Amanda Alquist
Our Cal Poly chapter is advised by Dr. Debora Schwartz, who assists the club leadership in organizing departmental and club-specific events. Please feel free to contact any of the above officers, or call the Cal Poly English Department office (805-756-2596) for more information.
Events
Last year, Dr. Susann Cokal read from her recently published novel Mirabilis. On February 13, Dr. Kevin Clark reads from his recently published volume of poetry In the Evening of No Warning.
Sigma Tau Delta organizes much of the extracurricular life of the English department. Annual social events include a potluck barbecue and student-faculty softball game early in the fall quarter, a holiday party in December, a faculty reading and a student Open Mic Night during the winter quarter, and the English Department Banquet in the spring.
Our fund-raising auction, an annual departmental tradition, is held in conjunction with the December holiday party. Students bid on goods, services, and social events offered by departmental faculty. Recently donated items include a Cajun feast for four, a multi-course French banquet for up to five people, editing of a senior project by the Chair of the English Department, a picnic lunch on a campus lawn, piano lessons, lunch with an esteemed author in town for WriterSpeak, a collection of favorite books by contemporary authors, a beautiful beaded necklace made by one of our professors, and much more. Make a bid; it's a great way to get to know your teachers outside of the classroom!
Sigma Tau Delta also maintains Limbo, the English department student lounge, and has on occasion created and marketed a departmental t-shirt (design ideas welcome!!). We provide a departmental presence at Club Day (part of Week of Welcome activities for incoming students) and at Open House.
We welcome YOUR involvement and input. To contribute ideas or time, contact one of the current officers.
Remember: you don't have to be a Sigma Tau Delta member to get involved! The English Club is the parallel organization for English majors, minors, and graduate students who are ineligible for Sigma Tau Delta membership or those choosing not to join.
A Common Love of English
As an honor society with chapters across the country, Sigma Tau Delta unites over 400 campuses with a common love of English. The language, the culture, and the literature make for engrossing study.
General Information
The 1987 Chapter Handbook for Sigma Tau Delta contains 17 different sections and 7 appendices. The following is general information that the public at large, and possibly prospective members, might ask. Several of the sections are taken from the Constitution and By-Laws of Sigma Tau Delta Society, Inc., Revised March 24, 1984 .
Membership
One of the most common questions regarding Sigma Tau Delta involves membership:
"A candidate for membership shall have a minimum of two college courses in English language or literature beyond the usual requirements in freshman English. The candidate shall have a minimum B or equivalent average in English, shall rank at least in the highest thirty-five percent of his/her class in general scholarship, and shall have completed at least three semesters or five quarters of college course work."
Financial Policies
The one-time national initiation fee entitles each chapter member to receive The Rectangle for one year and to purchase and wear the key. The fee must be paid prior to initiation and confers life membership in the Society. The amount of the national initiation fee shall be set by majority vote of members at a National Convention and may be changed as need arises. The national fees for the 1994-1995 school year were $40.
Each chapter may establish and adjust its own local fees. Any local fee shall be paid prior to initiation and thereafter as the local chapter decides.
In 1986, three national scholarships of $1,000 each were established: the E. Nelson James scholarship for students in their junior year, the Elva Bell McLin scholarship for a student applying during their senior year, and a third for a graduate student.
The Sigma Tau Delta newsletter provides more information, or you may write the central office, located at:
Northern Illinios University
Department of English
DeKalb, IL 60115
Publications
The Sigma Tau Delta newsletter is published twice during the academic year, in the Fall and Spring, by Sigma Tau Delta International. News items and queries should be addressed to:
Editor of Publications
Department of English
Boise State University
Boise, ID 83725
The newsletter keeps chapter members informed of conventions, scholarship competitions, and general information regarding Sigma Tau Delta. It is a good way to keep in contact with other chapters, and possible grad schools.
The Rectangle is the Sigma Tau Delta literary journal of student work. Everything from poems, stories, and literary essays are welcome. There is even annual awards for the best submissions. To see the latest copy of The Rectangle, feel free to stop by Limbo in the English Building. All of the latest information regarding Sigma Tau Delta is housed in FOB 47-35 on the bulletin board opposite Dr. Schwartz's office.
All English students are welcome to e-mail or talk to any of the officers, or call the English Department for more information regarding this club. Comments regarding this web page are also appreciated!