“Let’s found a society that shall be kind alike to all.” Tri Deltas across the world can recite this quote from our courageous founder Sarah Ida Shaw. What many don’t know are the important words that followed this phrase. The full quote? “Let’s found a society that shall be kind alike to all, and think more of a woman’s inner character than her outward appearance or personal circumstance.” It’s clear that Sarah Ida Shaw was serious about kindness... And inclusion. However, despite this, Tri Delta remained an all-white, Christian women’s organization for more than 70 years. In the article “Race and Racism in Fraternity and Sorority Life,” authors Kathleen Gillon, Cameron Beatty and Cristobal Salinas Jr. share that during this time, black students were being excluded from most institutions of higher education and often segregated into specific colleges. While some students of color were attending historically white institutions, they were excluded from many aspects of campus life. The authors write, “By the turn of the twentieth
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The Trident Winter/Spring 2020
