 "Photo: Jennifer Thomerson / THE DAILY GAMECOCK")
Taylor Martin has always been a self-proclaimed overachiever, so naturally she wanted to get involved in a student organization. After seeing posters around campus and hearing positive reviews from friends, Martin decided to rush Phi Mu this semester.
Phi Mu is the newest sorority at USC, but the organization itself is the second oldest in the country. It was founded in 1852 at Wesleyan College in Macon, Ga., and has colonized 120 collegiate chapters as well as 175 alumnae chapters. USC’s Lambda Theta Chapter is one of five new alumnae chapters being colonized.
Since Phi Mu is new to the Greek Village at Carolina, its rush was held later in the semester and was separate from regular sorority recruitment. This factor made Phi Mu more appealing to Martin, first-year middle-level education student.
“The later rush definitely helped influence my decision to rush Phi Mu,” Martin said. “I was not ready to rush during the first rush period. I needed to get adjusted to the campus first.”
Phi Mu recruited 252 young women, making this the largest colonization in the nation, which is “so exciting for something brand new,” Martin said.
“We are thrilled to have Phi Mu as our newest member of the Greek Community at Carolina,” Ron Binder, director of Greek Life, said in a recent press release. “They bring a wonderful set of values that will help us achieve our goal of becoming the Premier Greek Community in North America.”
Since the colony is brand new, the founding members have a lot of work to do.
“We still need rules, requirements and a house and we need to get other girls excited about joining Phi Mu,” Martin said.
First-year business student Jill Shepard is excited about being a founding member.
“We can shape the sorority into what we all want,” she said.
Shepard felt the alumna members were very “welcoming and open” which made her rush experience more enjoyable.
The alumna who helped start the Lambda Theta Chapter is as excited as its founding members.
“Extension at Carolina has truly been one of my most rewarding experiences since I have joined Phi Mu,” Resident Consultant Christa D’Amico said in a statement on Phi Mu’s Web site. “Our success here has shown just how strong
Phi Mu is as a National organization and as one of the best women’s organizations in the country.”
For more information on Phi Mu, visit sc.phimu.org.
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