University of Michigan - Flint

Sigma Tau Delta, the National Literary Society, was established by Professor Judson Q. Owen, and he was the Executive Secretary from roughly 1922 to 1967. Sigma Tau Delta became a national establishment in 1924 and was accepted into the Association of College Honor Societies in 1972. The society has more than 600 active chapters and inducts more than 7,000 members each year. The Rectangle, Sigma Tau Delta's literary journal, has been published since the 1930's. Since 1970, chapters have grown and actively engaged more than ever before in membership services and community outreach, offering free tutoring, attendance at plays, poetry workshops, and much more.




The Alpha Theta Gamma chapter of Sigma Tau Delta at the University of Michigan-Flint has been in existence since 1998. The original chapter sponsors were Dr. Mary Jo Kietzman and Dr. Stephen Bernstein. Currently, chapter sponsors are Dr. Kietzman and Dr. Alicia Kent. Since 1998 our chapter has sponsored many programs that serve the university and the community and provide opportunities for students to develop their interests.

• Chapter members and non-members participated in Genesee County's literacy training initiative and tutored adult students.
• Chapter members established an ad-hoc writing center at Northern High School and tutored students several times per week for a year. 
• Our chapter sponsored poetry readings in which students from Ann Arbor's MFA program, UM-Flint students, and students from local high schools read their work. 
• We brought Ben Hamper, author of Rivethead, to campus. He gave a public reading from his memoir that details his life in Flint and his work at the Van Slyke Road truck and bus plant. After the reading, there was a panel discussion on the future of Flint and its waning automotive industry that included faculty from Mott CC, UM-Flint, and UM-Flint students who also work for General Motors. 
• Our chapter has sponsored several programs/workshops to provide English majors with information on careers in English and Communications. 
• We started a literature discussion group called "After Words CafÈ," which ran for the school year 2004-2005.
  

The Alpha Theta Gamma chapter holds an induction each year to admit new members, and officers are elected in the fall. The 2005-2006 chapter President is Meghan Riley, and the Vice-President is Tammy Jordan. The chapter this year is currently sponsoring the "Getting into Print Writers' Union," a group for peer feedback and publication opportunities. The Chapter will also help develop a "Reading and Writing" club as well as tutor at a local secondary school.

Sigma Tau Delta at the University of Michigan-Flint hopes to follow the national standards by providing excellent literary and related services to its members and to the community at large.