DG & Clemson

 

Delta Gamma was first invited to establish a chapter at Clemson University in February of 1981. Establishment week began a month later, and the founding member class of our Epsilon Kappa chapter was formally pledged in April 1981. DG collegians from the University of Georgia performed our formal new member ritual for the 76 young women who joined Epsilon Kappa-Clemson chapter.

The sisters of Epsilon Kappa held their first full-fledged recruitment period in fall of 1981, where their dedication and efforts paid off and an additional 29 women joined the chapter. On October 17, 1981, Delta Gammas from the University of Georgia came to Clemson once more, this time to officially initiate the original founding class. On that day, Epsilon Kappa became the 136th collegiate chapter of Delta Gamma.

Epsilon Kappa held their first Anchor Splash event that first fall, and continued to engage in the greater Clemson community, from student senate and campus tour guides, to Rally Cats and marching in the First Friday Parade. Epsilon Kappa chapter members were also active Panhellenic women, such as Clemson Panhellenic president in 1991, and Greek Week winners in 1995. During their years on campus, they worked frequently with and in support of the Clemson Lions Club for their philanthropic activities, and shared in funding eye exams for members of the community in addition to assistance with other visual needs.

For many years, Epsilon Kappa chapter fundraised for the Rocky Bottom Camp of the Blind, and once a year, members would make the trip to Spartansburg to the South Carolina State school for the Deaf and Blind to build strong and uplifting relationships with the students there. The chapter would also head to Camp Dixie just an hour north in Clayton, Georgia, for sisterhood retreat and events where they were able to strengthen their bonds of friendship. By the early 2000s, however, the chapter was experiencing hardship.

Though the women of Epsilon Kappa showed impressive dedication to their chapter and their DG legacy, ultimately Delta Gamma’s Fraternity Council made the difficult decision to close Epsilon Kappa chapter in October 2003. Our 728 active Epsilon Kappa alumnae remain strong DG supporters, and we have hoped and waited for this opportunity to return home!