Phi Mu celebrated its fifth anniversary as a campus sorority Nov. 9.
The sorority’s annual Victory, a celebration for new members, fell on the same date. Hosted at the Barn at the Woods in Edmond, the 1950s-themed dance celebrated the anniversary.
Twenty-eight freshmen joined this semester, giving the sorority 81 members. The chapter started out with only 13 members, so the group has grown considerably, said Emily Pereira, dance performance junior and Phi Mu president.
“In the beginning, we didn’t even have a house, and it was harder to recruit members because it was so new, and people didn’t really know much about it or our values or anything,” Pereira said. “Now I feel like we’re very good with opening up to the campus, and we have so many girls now.”
Phi Mu partners with Children’s Miracle Hospital, an organization that raises money for children’s hospitals, and hosts several charity events every semester. Growing awareness of sorority’s philanthropy helped recruitment, Pereira said.
“Everything takes a little bit of time, but I also think that people are starting to see that our philanthropy is very important. Everybody loves kids, so that’s helped us,” she said.
Alyssa Snow, design and production freshman, said she did not consider joining a sorority until she heard about the philanthropy efforts. Snow said she appreciates Phi Mu’s dedication to their cause, which she connects with.
“Our philanthropy is really important to us. That’s kind of the time that everyone comes together,” Snow said.
Phi Mu puts a lot of effort into their service events, and their devotion to their cause will only grow, Snow said.
“There’s steps being taken to make sure that the philanthropy can get bigger and better every single year,” she said.
Phi Mu’s emphasis on inclusion sets them apart, Pereira said.
“There is a place for everybody. It wouldn’t be the same if somebody wasn’t here, so Phi Mu’s all about diversity and inclusion nationally, all over the country, and trying to spread positivity in such a not positive world,” she said.
Pereira said Phi Mu’s supportive dynamic is unlike anything she’s experienced before.
“I’ve never been a part of something where girls help each other up instead of take each other down, and every single girl in that house will help you and lift you up,” she said.
The sorority will never cease efforts to keep spreading positivity, Pereira said.
“We’ll never stop growing,” she said. “We will just keep going and empowering everybody.”
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