Delta Sigma Epsilon, a national social sorority, was first organized in 1914 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Through the succeeding years the sorority continuously branched out, admitting chapters in colleges and universities throughout the entire country.

In 1948, a group of women students at U-D had formed their own local social sorority known as Rho Gamma Zeta. They had developed a set of ideals to aspire to, and were looking to affiliate with a national group that shared these same ideals. In examining many Panhellenci groups, the women of Rho Gamma Zeta decided upon Delta Sigma Epsilon, which christened the U-D group as the Beta Beta Chapter of Delta Sigma Epsilon on January 27,1952.

Delta Sigma Epsilon's existence was to promote, to the highest degree, friendships as lasting as life itself. Women pledging their allegiance to Delta Sigma Epsilon had to be of good character, maintain high scholarship and develop leadership skills. These same women also freely contributed to their communities, their college scene, their homes and country.

Woven into the fabric of sorority life in Delta Sigma Epsilon were social events to mark several occasions. Dinner dances were held at Christmas for the women. The Beta Beta Chapter awarded its annual scholarship key to the freshman coed who had written the best term paper that year. Another dinner dance, held in the Spring and co-hosted with another fraternity on campus, was known as the Maytime Ball. Guests from all areas of university life attended this end-of-season event. Throughout the year other awards were given to members in the form of rings, bracelets and plaques.

Delta Sigma Epsilon opened its doors at U-D to any coed meeting the standards of DSE. Any religious denomination was accepted. Back then, a pledge pin cost 50 cents, the initiation fee was $27.50 plus the cost of the official badge. Members also paid national collegiate dues of $10.00 a year, and $1.00 per month for local dues. The women of Delta Sigma Epsilon, collegians or alumnae, were also eligible for scholarships.