Epsilon Sigma Iota Sorority, Incorporated (ESI) was founded on November 4, 1920, at Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C. It was later incorporated on June 17, 1921.


Spring 2008 Membership


HISTORY

Epsilon Sigma Iota Sorority, Incorporated (ESI) was founded on November 4, 1920, at Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C. The sorority was founded by Pearl Beldon, Willie Hazel Blount, Ollie May Cooper, Margaret DuBose, May Corinne Martin, Bertha C. McNeil, Zephyr Abigail Moore, and Gladys Tignor Peterson. It was later incorporated on June 17, 1921, in Washington, D.C.

The organization was chartered with a threefold purpose. First, it was to be used as a tool to motivate women to become lawyers. Second, it was to serve as a conduit to placing female Howard Law graduates in meaningful legal careers. Finally, it was to create a useful network of female graduates.

While ESI’s mission continues to encompass the focus of networking and mentorship that was established by our founders, we have additionally committed ourselves to community outreach and economic development. ESI seeks to empower women through programs that focus on academic, professional and personal development. Most importantly, we encourage women to assume leadership positions at the law school and in the greater legal community.

MISSION

To encourage women to assume leadership positions in law school and throughout the legal community, to provide opportunities for networking and mentorship, and to promote the role of women as legal practitioners, academicians and scholars. The Sorority is to serve as a vehicle for achieving these goals, with an ultimate aim of facilitating the overall advancement of women, especially those of African descent, in the legal profession.

PURPOSE

Epsilon Sigma Iota, incorporated in 1921, was founded for social and educational purposes, and to induce other women to enter into the study of law. Today, our focus has expanded to include promoting the advancement of women in the legal profession, especially those of color and from disadvantaged backgrounds, for the ultimate purpose of achieving a better, more prosperous society.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Epsilon Sigma Iota Sorority, Inc. is excited about the 2006 Fall Semester. Some of our upcoming events are below. Stay tuned for the many upcoming events!

CONTRIBUTIONS

Please feel free to help support the mission and purpose of Epsilon Sigma Iota Sorority Inc. by donating to our organization. If you are interested in contributing, please contact our Treasurer, Michele Jones at MLJones@law.howard.edu.

PROGRAMS

LEARNING TO HUSTLE
Learning Hustle at the HUSL is held every fall semester. It is a program geared towards 1L students, and is the first formal introduction of the Sorority to the new students. It serves as an opportunity for first year students to get advice from upperclassmen about their specific professors’ teaching and testing styles. We introduce ourselves and activities at the beginning of the program and offer general advice regarding success in law school. After introductions, the students split into groups according to their section. Sorors who had done well in a professor’s class and/or section imparted advice to the corresponding students. As an added bonus and as evidence of our sincere attempt to reach out to 1Ls, each student received the contact information for all the members of the Sorority at the conclusion of the program. Learning to Hustle at the HUSL, as it has been for years, was a huge success and undoubtedly helped 1Ls start the school year off on the right foot. SURVIVING 21 CREDITS This lunchtime program is held every spring semester and it serves as the follow-up program to Learning to Hustle at the HUSL. During this event, Members provide tips to first year students on how to adequately prepare for 21 credits of coursework and exams. The session addresses concerns with time management and professor specific tips. The Members begin the program by introducing themselves and informing the audience of the extra-curricular activities in which they are active. They also provide tips on how to obtain Journal, Moot Court, Trial Ad and Scroll membership.

SCAVENGER HUNT
In order to further the goals of Epsilon Sigma Iota Sorority, Inc., the Ladies of the classes of 2006 and 2007 instituted the first annual Pre-Howard Law School Football game event geared towards the women of the Law School. The goal of this event is to give the women an opportunity to meet each other and create a familial bond before the actual game. The event chosen for the first year was a scavenger hunt. An invitation is posted in the student lounge inviting the first year women to participate in a Scavenger Hunt that will take them on a path around the Law School campus and reveal the Legacy of Howard. This event culminates with a reception held in the student lounge. During the reception, Ladies of ESI read a poem to welcome the new ladies to the law school, award prizes for those who complete the hunt, and provide light refreshments while the ladies mingle and get to know each other. The first event was a great success.

REFLECTIONS: Relax…Relate…Release… This annual program that encourages dialogue in an open and stress free atmosphere for women at Howard University School of Law. Reflections is an annual program that usually occurs in the fall semester and gives women an opportunity to reflect on opportunities at the law school, the good, the bad, the ugly, and how to make the law school a better place for the women that will come after us. Relax: This program is an opportunity for women at the law school to take a load off and enter an environment (a classroom transformed from the stress and bright lights found during daytime hours) to a comfortable, mood-setting place. Candles and light refreshments create the relaxing ambiance for women.

Relate: Busy schedules, the stress of the curve, grades, extra curricular activities and family obligations, keep law school women busy and sometimes stressed. This program gives the busy law school woman the opportunity to relate with other women in a forum that is unique and not consistently available and to relate to each other on stimulating issues that affect us daily. Previous Reflections topics include: competition at the law school, gender relations at the law school and the legal community, dating, entering the legal profession as a minority woman and the unique challenges that we face in that endeavor.

Release: Reflections is the only such program at the law school. With the stresses that accompany the legal profession, this atmosphere gives women the opportunity to discuss what’s on their minds and hopefully present a fresh outlook, new perspective or ways to deal with issues.

CANDY GRAMS
Every year, the women of Epsilon Sigma Iota Sorority, Inc. promote school spirit by sponsoring the sale of Halloween Grams, Valentine’s Day Candy Grams and Exam Grams. The Valentine’s Day and Halloween Candy Grams are cups full of holiday candy that are decorated in traditional holiday colors. All Grams come with a message that each purchaser fills out and the Sorors attach to the Gram. Each Candy Gram comes with a raffle entry to win a special holiday gift. Exam Grams are similar to the holiday Candy Grams, except their purpose is to wish other students good luck on their exams. These Grams are sold twice per academic year, in coordination with the final exam schedule. The Sorors deliver the Grams to student and staff mailboxes on the Thursday or Friday before the event they are commemorating. The Sorority sends announcements regarding the sale, including table location and delivery notices, via e-mail. All proceeds go to support events sponsored by the Sorority.

AFTERNOON TEA
The afternoon tea is a mix and mingle event and is usually held in the fall semester. The purpose of this event is to bring the women of the law school community together in fellowship. Both students and teachers are invited. A variety of teas are provided, along with various creams and sweeteners. Finger foods are prepared, such as; finger sandwiches, dips, and crackers, scones, tea biscuits and biscotti. After a brief welcome, the professors provide the students with advice and encouragement.

PHOTO GALLERY

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MEMBERSHIP

ESTABLISH A CHAPTER

If you are interested in establishing a law school chapter or Alumni chapter of Epsilon Sigma Iota Sorority, Incorporated, please contact the National Advisory Board at the following:
Epsilon Sigma Iota Sorority, Incorporated
Attention: National Advisory Board
2900 Van Ness Street, NW
410 Notre Dame Hall
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 806-8258
E-mail: esi@law.howard.edu

CONTACT US

Epsilon Sigma Iota Sorority, Incorporated
Howard University School of Law
2900 Van Ness Street, NW
Room 410, Notre Dame Hall
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 806-8258
E-mail: esi@law.howard.edu

revised December 11, 2007