A new sorority for women in engineering and science modeled after the Triangle Fraternity may make its way to the ISU campus.

While sitting around talking one day last fall, Ali Mostrom, junior in chemistry, and Leia Guccione, junior in mechanical engineering, formulated the idea to start this specialized sorority.

Guccione and Mostrom both know members of Triangle Fraternity, which consists of male students majoring in engineering, science and architecture. The two women searched the Internet but didn’t find a group that represented exactly what they wanted at first – a sorority that was both engineering and science related.

“The science and tech aspect was really important,” Mostrom said. She said these, in addition to academics and community leadership, will be important to the new sorority.

During her second major Internet search, however, Mostrom came across Alpha Sigma Kappa, a national sorority for women in technical studies. The sorority sprung from the University of Minnesota as a sister sorority to Triangle Fraternity – just what they were looking for.

While conducting research, the two women learned that finding a national organization was key to colonizing. They are now in the process of trying to form a local chapter, but they said it is a tedious process.

“Having a national organization is a really big thing,” Mostrom said.

Even if they aren’t able to produce the sorority locally, they are still going to move forward as a student organization.

Gloria Starns, program coordinator for mechanical engineering, is serving as the faculty adviser.

“Leia came and talked with me first and they had already done a ton of research,” Starns said. “I was so impressed by the work they had done.”

Starns said she hopes the organization will provide mentorship and leadership for women in technical studies by being well respected and bringing pride to their group.

“As with any organization, part of the objective is to represent your major,” she said.

One goal of Alpha Sigma Kappa would be to encourage members to do well in the classroom, she said. But the sorority also would be a support group to get women back on their feet if their grades start to fall, she said.

“It’s going to be a great program,” Starns said. “I wish something like that had been around when I was in school.”

The sorority members-to-be hope to participate with the greek community whether they are part of the official sorority or just a student organization, Guccione said.

The members also plan to participate with Women in Science and Engineering and Society of Women Engineers, she said. Many of the students who have shown interest in the new organization already are involved in these organizations, Guccione said. Guccione and Mostrom have received responses from more than 20 women interested in the sorority.

The new sorority would be an opportunity for women in technical fields to get to know each other, Guccione said.

“There are a lot of reasons why this should happen and a lot of good that can come out of this,” she said.

“We want to do all the regular things a sorority does,” such as building Veishea floats and participating in Homecoming activities, Guccione said. She and Mostrom already have several ideas for philanthropy projects.

Alpha Sigma Kappa does not yet have a chapter at Iowa State, but if it is established, Guccione said, “there is the potential of having a house someday.”

Mostrom said she hopes to have a colony on campus by the end of the semester. After that point, there will be a one-year period before the colony can become an active chapter.

Students interested in the sorority can e-mail [email protected] for more information.