Founding Date

Mar 16th, 1985

Established on March 13, 1897, San Diego State University first began as the San Diego Normal School, meant to educate local women as elementary school teachers. It was located on a 17-acre campus on Park Boulevard in University Heights. It opened with seven faculty members and 91 students; the curriculum was initially limited to English, history and mathematics. In 1923, the San Diego Normal School became San Diego State Teachers College, "a four-year public institution controlled by the state Board of Education". In 1931 it moved to its current location on a mesa at what was then the eastern edge of San Diego. In 1935, the school expanded its offerings beyond teacher education and became San Diego State College. In 1960, San Diego State College became a part of the California State Colleges system, now known as The California State University. Finally in 1972, San Diego State College became California State University, San Diego, and in 1974 San Diego State University (SDSU). San Diego State University opened for women's national fraternities in 1948 at a time when Delta Gamma was rapidly establishing new chapters. Delta Gamma almost established a chapter on campus in 1950, but the timing and circumstances did not work out. Although the area alumnae were disappointed, they continued to support expansion to San Diego State. In 1984, San Diego State Panhellenic was open for expansion for the first time since 1951. Delta Gamma was invited to establish, began the process in October of 1984. The expansion process was described as “perfect.” More than 300 women expressed an interest in becoming Delta Gamma members before the actual establishment began. However, the new chapter was limited to 80 by Panhellenic total and that number of outstanding women was pledged on October 28, 1984. The colonization success was due to great alumnae support; great Panhellenic support; Delta Gamma's good name in California; the expansion team support; and the assistance of the collegians from Alpha Nu-USC, Alpha Sigma-UCLA, Gamma Chi-Cal State, Long Beach, and Epsilon Iota-UC San Diego. Members of Gamma Chi-Cal State, Long Beach performed a flawless Initiation ceremony for the new members of Epsilon Sigma on March 15, 1985 at the First United Methodist Church. A reception was held at the church following the ceremony. The following evening on March 16, a combined Installation and Founders Day banquet was held at the Sheraton Harbor Island East. The initiates, who were dressed in white, delighted many of the parents with an impromptu song and a slide presentation of their semester together. A silver punch bowl and tray were presented by the San Diego alumnae chapter and a silver coffee urn and tray were gifts from the 17W collegiate chapters. On Sunday March 17, a beautiful reception for parents, alumnae, and Panhellenic guests was held at Scripps Cottage. The first President of Epsilon Sigma was Karen Payne and the rest of the women on the colonizing Executive Board were: Nicole Beerli, Lisa Angelos, Michelle Dykstra, Lisa Agriesti, Mindy Pollack, Kelley Kuhel, Nancy Abell, and Beth Doty. In 2001, Epsilon Sigma raised over $5,000 for Service for Sight. 2004 marked the 20th anniversary of the Epsilon Sigma chapter. Alumnae returned to the chapter for a reunion, and the celebration coincided with the groundbreaking of Sorority Row at San Diego State University.