New Sororities Bring Old Traditions
Phi Mu and Alpha Chi Omega, the sororities recently selected to join the UA in fall 2012, have long and prestigious histories, officials said.
Alpha Chi Omega was founded by members of the DePauw University School of Music in October 1885 in Greencastle, Ind. It was the country’s sixth women’s fraternity.
Founders believed their organization would be the first and last of its kind, so they chose to make the their Greek name include “Alpha,” the first letter in the Greek alphabet, and “Omega,” the last letter.
“Alpha Chi Omega is honored and overjoyed to join the vibrant and growing Panhellenic community at the UA,” said Marsha King Grady, national president of Alpha Chi Omega.
Alpha Chi, the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation and the sorority’s National Housing Corporation serve more than 200,000 members in over 130 collegiate chapters and 200 alumni chapters nationwide.
The sorority was “very impressed with the spirit of community among the Panhellenic leadership” at the UA, Grady said.
Mattie Jo Cowsert, an Alpha Chi at Missouri State University, said she is excited to see her sorority expanding.
“Some of my best friends go to UA and are involved in Greek Life there, so I know what a strong Greek community they have. I’m excited to see my sorority growing, and thrilled to gain sisters at Arkansas,” Cowsert said.
Phi Mu, which was founded in 1852 at Wesleyan College in Macon, Ga., is the second-oldest sorority in the nation. Since its founding, Phi Mu has built a sisterhood of more than 175,000 and chartered 228 chapters at universities across the nation.
“It is always an honor for our extension team to work to bring back a closed Phi Mu chapter,” said Andie Kash, vice president of communication and extension for Phi Mu.
“We are looking forward to working with the campus community to bring Phi Mu back to UA’s campus,” Kash said.
Alyson Neighbors, a Phi Mu at Arkansas Tech University, said she is happy to see her sorority joining UA Greek Life.
“Phi Mu really does stand for good morals and academic excellence, and has definitely changed my life for the better in my college years. I’m excited that women at the UA will now have the opportunity to be a part of the special sisterhood that is Phi Mu.”
