Shi-ai
Shi-ai's Background
Shi-ai is a branch of Panhellenic Council made up of two Sophomore girls from every chapter. They all come together to create a campus-wide pledge class with the purpose of enhancing and promoting interhouse unity. The girls work together to plan and execute various service projects throughout the year.
 
Shi-Ai Today
As times have changed since 1907, Shi-Ai has adapted to fit into a modern lifestyle of contemporary college women. Shi-Ai is a sophomore honorary service organization composed of two sophomore members from each sorority chapter. The women complete one major service project each semester. They also plan Panhellenic Pride Week in the Spring. This organization is a great way for women from a variety of chapters to get together and meet other women who are also involved in the Greek Community. It is a year of bonding through social activities and projects. It is an honor, as only two members from each chapter are nominated to Shi-Ai.
 
Members
Alpha Chi Omega -
Alpha Delta Pi  - Sara Karony
Alpha Epsilon Phi - Hannah Seidenberg, Rebecca Helbert
Alpha Gamma Delta -
Alpha Omega Epsilon -
Alpha Omicron Pi - Stephanie d’Anza, Jane Schuman
Alpha Phi - Jessica Bilski, Kelsey Guglielmi
Alpha Xi Delta - Lauren Locke, Brittany Kusay
Chi Omega - Collette Williams, Catherine Toupin (VP INTERNAL)
Delta Delta Delta  - Elissa Kim, Jen Baldassarre
Delta Gamma - Kasey Pontarelli
Delta Zeta - Shelby Svientek, Amanda Kowalzyk
Gamma Phi Beta - Anna Smith, Stephanie Drnek
Kappa Alpha Theta - Kelly Brander, Michelle Taugner
Kappa Delta - Kali Crane, Kelcey Wilmott
Kappa Kappa Gamma -
Kappa Phi Lambda -
Phi Mu - Katie Diedrich, Maggie Modica
Phi Sigma Sigma -
Pi Beta Phi - Megan Silas, Katy Rehus
Sigma Alpha - Sadie Geiger (VP EXTERNAL), Whitney Massey
Sigma Delta Tau - Tovah Schwartz (PRES), Becky Belvisi (VP SERVICE)
Sigma Kappa - Becca Kissel, Caitlin Hruska
4H House - Janelle Tronc, Bobbi Paulis
 
Purpose of Shi-Ai
Shi-Ai, originally known as Yo-Ma, first appeared on the campus at the University of Illinois in the fall of 1907. At that time, each of the sororities recruited new members individually resulting in a great deal of bitter feelings between the chapters. To overcome these bitter relations, Yo-Ma served as one of the first organized clubs to enhance relations among campus women. At the time of its formation, only the Young Women’s Christian Association, three literary societies and a few professional clubs, existed for women
 
Founding Members
Louis Pellens—a member of Pi Beta Phi—and Nondas Russel—of Chi Omega—were two outstanding members of the Greek Community. They took the initiative to organize Yo-Ma. The first meeting was held on November 5th of 1907 at Pellens’ chapter house. In attendance, were representatives from the eight national sororities existing on the University of Illinois campus at the time: Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Xi Delta, Chi Omega, Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Kappa
 
Activities
In addition to being honorary, Shi-Ai was, and still is, a service organization. Shi-Ai worked for many service projects including a Christmas Party for a nursing home, mild fund drive for needy C-U families, a foster child plan, a Valentine’s Day party for orphans, and earning Christmas gifts for underprivileged children. Furthermore, each spring Shi-Ai organized a Sister Swap. Four girls were selected by their own house and each pair went to a different sorority to live there for a week and get to know the girls.
 
Traditions and Rituals
In the early years of Yo-Ma, pledging and initiations were accompanied by many traditions, which no longer exist today. On the night of the first meeting after pledging, the pledges were instructed to take food to the old well opposite the Beta Theta Pi house. The Yo-Ma salute was used, and later the pledges had to declare themselves to be “The Scum of the Earth.” In order to become eligible for initiation, each pledge had to present a skit of each sorority symbolizing the purpose of Shi-Ai. Pledges also had to obtain signatures from all actives before initiating. An evening in the cemetery was always part of the initiation despite the fact that Miss Leonard, the Dean of Women at the time, protested the practice by appearing in person at the cemetery. Additional requirements of initiation included the candidates wearing their hair in as many braids as they were old, along with a few extra worn for any misdemeanors, and each woman had to sing an original song.
 
Expansion of Shi-Ai
Yo-Ma consolidated with a similar club called “Shi-Ai” from Northwestern University. At this time, Yo-Ma was renamed Shi-Ai. The consolidation took place at a convention of Shi-Ai delegates from Northwestern and the University of Illinois held on March 28, 1929 at the University of Illinois’ Delta Gamma chapter house. Consequently, March 28, 1920 has been adopted as the date upon which Shi-Ai was founded although its history can be tracked back to 1907. The names of the two founding chapters are Sigma Sigma Alpha at Northwestern University and Alpha Sigma Sigma at the University of Illinois. New chapters admitted to the organization shall be named Sigma Sigma Beta, Sigma Sigma Gamma, and so forth, through the Greek alphabet.
 
Shi-Ai Facts
Shi-Ai’s emblem: A wreath displaying each of the sorority’s flowers
Colors: Emerald green and straw yellow
Flower: Narcissus