Sigma Gamma Rho announced that they have been officially reinstated as an on-campus sorority after 25 years at a neophyte presentation in Toney Auditorium at 6:22 p.m. on Sunday, March 15. Nine students crossed over at the ceremony as official members of the Xi Psi chapter of the sorority.
Sigma Gamma Rho is a part of the "Divine Nine," a group of nine historically Black fraternities and sororities, and the University's National Pan-Hellenic Council. Members must receive a majority vote of the existing members of the chapter in order to cross, according to their website.
The ceremony began with the chapter strolling and singing on the way to the stage. Each of the women greeted other groups of Mercer's Greek life in attendance. They introduced themselves to the crowds with their names and how they will be addressed by their sorority sisters.
Joining Sigma Gamma Rho will create "an immense connection and closer bond with my mom,” Brianna Hare '28, a legacy member of the chapter because her mother is also a member of the sorority, said. “We’ll be able to share the same experiences.”
Other fraternity and sorority chapters in attendance included Alpha Kappa Alpha, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Sigma Rho and Omega Psi Phi. Omega Psi Phi stepped to their song, “Atomic Dog,” by George Clinton.
The newest members of Sigma Gamma Rho stepped and strolled back down to join the other active members of Sigma Gamma Rho, who are members of chapters at other universities.
Some Sigma Gamma Rho members in attendance, like Latrecia Lewis, were particularly influential to the sorority and the Macon community. Lewis was one of the original charter members for the Xi Psi chapter at Mercer when the sorority was originally instated on May 25, 1996.
“It means everything,” Lewis said. “It means legacy fulfilled, opportunity for young women, for friendship and sisterhood.”
Another member, Syneetra Wimberly, crossed earlier this year on Feb. 28. Wimberly is an undergraduate resident of Macon at Mercer University and a special education teacher in Bibb county who came to support the other members who crossed this year.
“It was a lifelong dream of mine,” Wimberly said. “Now I’m able to accomplish it.”
Olivia Harris ‘26 and Angel Kinyua ‘26, new members of the Xi Psi chapter, said key factors in their decision to join Sigma Gamma Rho were community service and sisterhood. Kinyua said she knew that she would be a part of “girls I’ll love.”
Queen Thomas '29, a human services and psychology major, said she joined the sorority in order to start a new legacy of members within her family.
