THE BIRTH OF SIGMA ALPHA DELTA
Sigma Alpha – Honor and Service Society at Baruch College was born to it in 1932 as an elite honor society. At the time, the college was called “The School of Business and Civic Administration” until 1953 when it was renamed to Baruch College. Back then, the college was part of The City College of New York (CCNY) which had two branches, one uptown and one downtown. The “downtown campus” was located in the landmark 18 Story building on the corner of 23rd St and Lexington Ave, New York City, which now is a part of Baruch. Thus the downtown campus was known as The City College’s “School of Business and Civic Administration”, as above, and was founded in 1919. It, in turn, replaced the previous name of “The Free Academy” that was founded in 1847 which was the first free public institution of higher education in the nation.
Sigma Alpha Honor Society’s mission was twofold, one complementing the other. Its first purpose was Scholarship. The College’s best students who excelled in academics were brought together through the society where they could socialize and form lasting friendships. Sigma Alpha’s second and more important purpose was Service. Its members would use their acumen, combined with good character, to help other school members in whatever way possible and to better their environment. The combination of these two functions was to make Sigma Alpha over the years more integral to the infrastructure of Baruch College than any other society and unique in its mission.
Sigma Alpha’s constitution stated (taken from the Lexicon 1959):
“The purposes of the society are to develop, coordinate and improve the co-curricular life in the College, to foster closer relationships between faculty and students, and to instill in its members a spirit and idealism which will inspire them to lead their fellow students in working for the enhancement of the college.”
