As the sun streamed in through the windows of T-Spoons on Market Street, a cheerful UI sophomore, Tiantian Sun, described her efforts to create the first Asian sorority on campus, alpha Kappa Delta Phi.

Sun’s début on the UI campus freshman year was also her first time in the United States. A native of Qingdao, China, her experience and the corresponding culture shock served as inspiration to create the sorority.

“One of the main goals is to find a home for Asian girls on campus,” Sun said. “In order to feel like you are a part of the organization, you have to feel like you belong. Girls who just came to college from China or Korea or Japan, will feel more at home [in an Asian sorority].”

American women might not understand Asian cultures and values, she said, which makes it more difficult for Asian women to relate with their American counterparts.

Sun considered joining other sororities but never felt like she belonged, she said. Still, the idea of a sorority was appealing.

“I lived with a girl from a Latina-based sorority last year,” she said. “ I always felt jealous when she came back in her cute purple shirt from a meeting.”

The first informational session, in May of last semester, attracted around five women. The second session, held on Sept. 10, brought in 22 students.

Eighteen women have turned in interest cards, said Kelly Jo Karnes, the associate director of the UI Office of Student Life. Other women who were unable to attend the meeting have e-mailed Karnes expressing interest.

Already, the group exceeds the 12 to 15 women needed in order to file with the sorority’s national headquarters and become a colony — one of the first steps in the road to becoming an official chapter.

Sun said she was pleased with the turnout, but was not surprised by the level of interest, especially after the reactions she had from some of her friends. Sun said her friends were excited when she told them about creating the sorority.

“They were really excited,” she said. “Some of them have been thinking about doing this as well, but none really stepped up.”

Karnes said she hopes the sorority will become an official chapter sometime next year, creating a multicultural greek council that will include existing Latino and Latina organizations on campus.

Karnes described the current lack of Asian sororities and fraternities as a “void in our campus” and noted that the UI is trailing national trends.

Sun echoed this idea of a cultural void.

“Iowa has a long, long history, and yet, this is the first Asian sorority,” she said. “It is an opportunity to create a different cultural environment and increase diversity.”

Among the 18 students who turned in interest cards, UI freshman Diana Cole said she is excited to be a part of the initiating group for the sorority and to see how it affects the campus.

“I am excited that there were people who weren’t Asian coming to the meeting,” she said as she relaxed in the IMU lobby after rowing practice. “If people learn more about Asian cultures, it could open their eyes to other ethnicities, open them up to sharing new ideas and reaching out to their friends and branching out from there.”