In 1914 during the First World War, college campuses across the country were vacated by the men who left to fight. Many women felt the need to form strong bonds that could not be severed over a lifetime. Secret sororites were strictly prohibited by the administration, but that did not prevent a group of daring young women who took it upon themselves to hold candlelight meetings. While Sigma Simga Sigma was not the first national sorority, it was the first to be officially recognized by Grove City College. 

 

The Tri-Sigma Sorority enjoyed seventy-one prosperous years on the Grove City College Campus until March 11, 1988 when the sorority was stripped of its charter. The sorority remained without charter for approximately nine months until it was reinstated on November 27, 1988. 

 

On June 6th, 1989, the national Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority filed suit over Grove City's use of the name. They claimed that they were founded before the Grove City College Tri-Sigmas, and that they registered the name. The preliminary information was gathered and revealed that the national organization had in fact been registered before the Grove City College Tri-Sigmas. Because the chances of winning the lawsuit looked grim, it seemed wisest to agree to change the name of the sorority. Thus, the Tri-Sigmas became the Tri-Zetas. The court ruled that the Grove City Tri-Sigmas would be allowed to keep all of the t-shirts, paddles, and paraphernalia.