Hi Everyone! 

My name is Carmen Duran, and I am a senior at Stanford University who is part of the Delta Delta Delta Omega Chapter. I have served as both a New Member Educator and Academic Officer of Excellence and I have a strong commitment to helping shape Tri-Delta for the better. 

While my experience with Delta Delta Delta has been overwhelmingly positive, as someone who is Mexican, I understand and recognize that is because of all the hard work that my chapter specifically has done. The most important of which includes slating every year a Diversity Equity and Inclusion officer under VP of Community Relations (VPCR). I understand that my personal experience is an outlier as many BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people have had a variety of experiences with Greek spaces, as demonstrated by the creation of the Abolish Greek movement, at Stanford University and other schools.

By looking at statistics, the Tri-Delta website states that 18 percent of our collegiate members self-identify as members of color which is disproportionately low compared to the overall amount of Students of Color in higher education. According to the 2019 report, “Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education,” the American Council on Education states, "about 45% of undergraduate students on college campuses identify as people of color." As POC are overwhelmingly underrepresented I believe institutionalizing this position would cause all chapters to think about Diversity Equity Inclusion Accessibility and Belonging and would support our mission as Tri-Deltas. 

After speaking to our national organization's administration multiple times, there seems to be a reluctance to create a National and institutional position for all chapters to slate. While it is strongly suggested that there is a DEIB committee under VPCR, I believe it needs an official position that follows the typical slating process. On our national page, we state that under the Our Purpose section, Tri-Delta has a “devotion to moral and democratic principles." By creating this systemic change we would be showing our devotion to moral principles as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic, or gender identity should never prohibit our members from finding the strong friendships they desire at Delta Delta Delta. 

I believe that creating an official DEIAB position under the slating process would help foster more nationwide diversity and inclusivity, and therefore make Delta Delta Delta a safe and inclusive home for ALL members. By signing this petition, you would be directly supporting the fight for equity and inclusion and helping shape Delta Delta Delta into a better, safer space. When signing, please include what chapter you are a part of. 

Delta Love and Mine, 

Carmen Duran 

(Class of 2023)