This fall, Sacred Heart University welcomes a new Greek life organization to campus, and it is the first of its kind. Lambda Delta Xi was the first diaternity nationwide, and is now the first at Sacred Heart.
In 2014, the founders of Lambda Delta Xi at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania coined the term diaternity.
“The word avoids using the gendered terms of ‘sorority’ or ‘fraternity’; to make a place where anyone can feel welcome,” their website states.
The organization focuses specifically on the LGBTQ+ community and its allies, accepting members of all gender identities and sexualities.
Junior Daniella Monteforte is the president and a founder of Lambda Delta Xi at Sacred Heart. She gathered a group of five students during the spring semester of 2023 to pioneer the chapter. Since then, they have worked with the university and national representatives of the diaternity to expand.
Junior Daniella Monteforte is the President of the newest Greek Life organization, Lambda Delta Xi.
Source: Sophomore, Natalia Scipioni
The chapter is still in development, but Sacred Heart
will be the fourth campus where Lambda Delta Xi has been recognized. Currently the main concern of the five founders is determining how to structure the recruitment process.
“I just want it to be a safe space for everyone, you know, have people come to Sacred Heart and feel like they have a home,” Monteforte said.
Monteforte represents many other students on campus who have not had a place in Greek life up until this point.
Sacred Heart’s website states that 31% of undergraduate students are involved in fraternity and sorority life. Because all gender identities are accepted in this new organization, a larger, more diverse group of students will be encouraged to become involved.
“People come to college and they want to be in a Greek life organization. It’s kind of what college is about,” said Monteforte. “I definitely didn’t have that opportunity myself, so I wanted to give it to other people.”
The national philanthropy of Lambda Delta Xi is the non-profit organization, the Trevor Project. According to their website,
the Trevor Project’s mission is to end suicide among young LGBTQ+ people.
Additionally, Sacred Heart’s local philanthropy is the Triangle Community Center in Norwalk.
“This community is a group of teens and young adults that meet and hangout weekly just to give each other support and friendship,” Monteforte said.
The members of the newest Greek Life organization, Lambda Delta Xi.
Source: Sophomore, Natalia Scipioni
The Trevor Project’s 2023 national survey on LGBTQ+ youth mental health found that 56% of young LGBTQ+ people who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to get it.
The diaternity will provide a safe space for the campus- wide LGBTQ+ community, while also supporting local and national LGBTQ+ communities through their connection with the Trevor Project and the Triangle Community Center.
“Lambda Delta Xi Diaternity seeks to make a difference for the LGBTQ+ community on and off campuses across the country,” the diaternity’s website states.
The vision of the original founders of Lambda Delta Xi, the vision of president Monteforte, and the chosen philanthropies associated with the organization are all seamlessly aligned.
“I would honestly say that Lambda Delta Xi is a forever family where everyone is on the same playing field. It’s awesome,” Monteforte said.
