*Teniqua, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (left) and Paris, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (right) before their dance performance.
The history of the rivalry between Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (DST) and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA) dates back to 1912, when 22 members of the Alpha Chapter of AKA decided that they wanted to change the direction of the sorority and rename it Delta Sigma Theta. When a graduate member of AKA rallied enough support to shoot the idea down, the 22 women were denounced of their greek letters. From this, the 22 women reorganized under their own sorority and named it Delta Sigma Theta, and from this, a rivalry between the two sororities was formed. Given the history of rivalry between Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, you might think members of the two sororities could never be friends.
No historic rivalry can ever separate the four year friendship of Teniqua Westry, a member of AKA, and Paris Hawkins, a member of DST. After meeting each other their freshman year at Brenau, and sharing countless hours together in Brenau’s dance department, these seniors are inseparable friends who will ALWAYS be friends. After an interview full of laughter, reminiscing, and even a few tears, it is safe to say that Paris and Teniqua are a pair that no one can separate.
Quick facts about Paris:
Major: Dance Performance
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Sorority: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Pledge Year: Spring ‘14
Quick Facts about Teniqua:
Major: Dance
Hometown: Stone Mountain, GA
Sorority: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Pledge Year: Spring ’13
Tell our readers about your friendship and how it developed.
Paris: “We met our freshman year at this social that Brenau has to welcome all of the new students. And then we were always together because we both have dance classes. Freshman year we were literally always together because dance is such a time consuming major.”
Teniqua: “From about 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. we’re dancing. We figured, ‘hey, we might as well be friends.’ That’s how it all started.”
How long have you all been friends?
Paris: “We’re seniors now, so it’s been about 4 years.”
Teniqua, you’re a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Paris, you’re a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Inc. Why is your respective sorority important to you?
Teniqua: “I love my sorority because… I just love everything about it. When I first got on campus, I wasn’t into the whole Greek thing. I knew I wanted to go Greek, but I decided that I was going to wait. Once I started getting involved and going to their (AKA’s) events, and met the women here, I just loved everything that they were doing. When it came down to it and I learned more about my sorority, I just loved it. Now I’m in it, and I just love it even more.”
Paris: “When me and my family moved to Georgia from New Orleans because of Hurricane Katrina, the Deltas at my middle school that they enrolled me in just gave us all the help in the world. For them to care so much I was like, ‘I want to be a part of this.’ I see these beautiful, black, strong women, helping out other people and caring about other people, so I wanted to be a part of that. And there are a lot of Deltas in my family, so I already had my mind made up once I got here.”
What is your favorite memory with each other?
Paris: “Lord! That’s a hard question. There are so many good moments.”
Teniqua: “I would say when we went to New York and I got sick, and Paris got lost walking all through New York City just to find some soup for me.”
Paris: “Yeah! I remember we went out to New York City for the Brenau’s dance department. Everyone else had left and I was like ‘I’m not gonna just leave her here sick by herself!’ So I went to get her some soup.”
Paris, what is your most favorite thing about Teniqua?
Paris: “My favorite thing about her is that she’s emotional”
Teniqua: “And I’m getting emotional now! (She really did get emotional. And can you blame her? Their friendship is just so cute!).”
Paris: “She’s so emotional it’s ridiculous, and I love it because I’m not extra emotional. Like, yeah I get mad but that’s the most emotion you’ll get out of me. But she makes me emotional because she’s emotional. Like… she’s crying now!”
(Teniqua really did cry. But can you blame her? This is honestly the cutest friendship ever!).
Teniqua, what’s your favorite thing about Paris (this is where more crying happened. But again, can you blame her)?
Teniqua: “She’s just always here for me. That’s my favorite thing about her. She’s always there when I need her.”
Least favorite thing about each other?
Paris: “I don’t really have a least favorite thing about her. You know how someone’s imperfections make them perfectly imperfect? That’s what I would say about Teniqua.”
Teniqua: “Paris gets on my nerves, but it wouldn’t be real if she didn’t. The most annoying thing she does is tell me that she’s going to go somewhere with me, and then just decides that she’s not going to go anymore! We’ll make plans and then she’ll call me and be like ‘Oh, I’m tired.’”
What advice would you give to friends who want to join different sororities?
Teniqua: “Remember why you guys are friends.”
Paris: “If the organization makes you feel differently about your friend, then that person was never your friend in the first place.”
Teniqua: “Exactly. No Greek member wakes up in the morning and says, ‘Oh I’m gonna slap a Zeta today.’”