TRAil of A TERRoRisT - Point Park University

eAeNostalgicNotionsSurvival of the SisterhoodThough the presence commitment. Though it was outwardlyof the sorority would described as a clique, a gang, a cult, tobegin to fade only three the sisters, Sigma Delta Sigma really wasyears later, in the spring of 1971 SigmaDelta Sigma was a campus presence ofunrivaled effervescence. Occupying the fifthand eighth floors of Thayer Hall, the groupof undergraduates was not the largestsorority on campus, but they boasted a wellknown presence both on - and off-campus.The sorority, with the residual homecomingqueen and mandatory ‘fingertips or higher’hemlines, was also a familiar force in thecultural activism growing inFrom left, top row: Vicki Harpster; middle row:Candy Stefl, Robin Brandt; bottom row: CharJones Chiappelli, Sharon Frost, Linda Kistlerthe city and members became acquaintedwith city politicians, including formercounty commissioner, Tom Forrester.They worked as hall advisors andmail sorters, held fundraising shoeshines and promoted school spirit ascheerleaders. But behind the ceaselessactivity and shining social presence wasa bond rooted in loyalty and compassion,upon which the sisters of Sigma DeltaSigma built lasting relationships thathave withstood the strains of time anddistance, proving the untiring value ofsisterhood nearly forty years afterthe dissolution of the chapter.a family. Charla Jones Chiapelli, class of‘73 and Sigma Delta Sigma historian, wasdrawn to the sorority asmuch by the familial feelas the social perks. “Nomatter who was squabblingwith whom back in thedorms, out in the worldyou were part of theSigma Delta Sigma familyand that was a unitedand loyal front.Nobody questionedthe bond and that’swhat still brings usback together.” Andbehind that unitedfront, the strength ofthe friendships was thestrongest within pledge classes.Chiapelli’s younger fifth floor crew couldshare the trials of the pledge period,learning from their big sisters on theeighth floor but cringing through initiationactivities like cleaning an older girl’s fishbowl. Together the combined pledgeclasses would hold informal and formalteas, fraternity picnics, scavengerhunts and other events to promoteactivity and teach the girls socialBy Grace Millerskills. These frequent events helped thegirls network on campus, but they alsotaught them how to nurture their characterand to find what they wanted in theirfriendships and in themselves.From left, top row: Anna Marie Quigley, Annie Strishock, Carol RidenSpendiff, Kathy Walton Heimann, Vicki Harpster, Sue Rudensy, Debbie Briley;middle row: Robin Brandt, Candy Stefl, Sue Heatherington, Renay Friedman,Debbie Black; bottom row: Karen Zunick, Char Jones Chiappelli, Robin Mason,Mary Beth London Gibbon, Terry BreitbordYears after turning their tassles, theSigmas have spread out from Pittsburghbut their friendships are firmly based inPoint Park history. No matter what hashappened over the years, the women havebeen secure in knowing who to count on intimes of trouble. “Just like we were therefor each other through all the heartbreaksand stresses of college,” remembersChiapelli, “we’ve been there for eachother through marriages, divorces,sicknesses and deaths. No matter whathappens, they’re there.” Despite theabsence of Sigma Delta Sigma at PointPark today, Chiapelli has faith that thesorority’s mission will still be survivedthrough the sisters’ example. “Mychildren have really great, unconditionalfriendships and I think they learned theimportance of loyalty and friendship fromgrowing up and looking at my friendshipswith the Sigmas.”As the sorority song asserts,“we’ll be sisters forever”, joiningthe group would be a lifelongFrom left: Char Jones Chiappelli,Linda Kistler, Vicki Harpsterwww.pointpark.edu 39