By Susannah Waite, Editor-in-Chief
Phi Mu, OCU’s fourth Panhellenic sorority, began colonization on campus this week.
The organization was invited to campus in April after a formal extension process.
Officers from Phi Mu national headquarters are on campus to begin recruitment.
“We attended Stars 101 sessions in the spring and summer,” said Jessica Winkles, extension director for Phi Mu. “We’ve been on campus for about a week and participated in the first round of formal recruitment.”
Phi Mu had recruitment parties similar to the other houses and made a presentation during the first round of Formal Recruitment.
“We talked to them about Phi Mu as a national organization, shared information about the national philanthropy, Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, and explained how our recruitment process will work,” Winkles said.
The organization began marketing and public relations on campus this week.
“We will also have personal interviews with each potential new member, and those will take place over the next two weeks,” she said. “In the personal interviews, we talk to them about Phi Mu’s expectations for our new chapter and talk about the time commitment and financial commitment.”
Students interested in Phi Mu can sign up for recruitment at gophimu.com.
The application is open until Sept. 5.
Phi Mu will host several recruitment parties before their Bid Day.
“The recruitment parties are open for anyone who has signed up, or they can come to a party and sign up after that,” Winkles said.
The first event for Phi Mu is a drop-in recruitment event scheduled 2-3:30 p.m. Friday at the Alpha Phi house, in the Panhellenic Quadrangle.
“We’ve got some names of interested women we will be reaching out to, and other Panhellenic women have recommended their friends as well,” she said.
Elise Bradshaw, a chapter consultant, will live on campus the first year to assist the new chapter.
Meetings will be hosted in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center for the first year the sorority is on campus.
Phi Mu is scheduled to move in to the fourth house on the Panhellenic Quad, where the Student Health Center is located, by Fall 2014.
“We want to be about the same size as the other sororities,” Winkles said. “I think the women of Phi Mu have the unique opportunity to be a founding member of their chapter and make history on campus and leave a legacy at OCU.”
Phi Mu was excited to come to OCU, she said.
“We were most interested in coming to OCU because of the support of Panhellenic and the entire campus,” Winkles said. “We appreciate the commitment to academic successes and academic standards on campus.”
Other upcoming events include “Pink Goes with Everything” on Aug. 29 and the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital’s event Sept. 4.
Sept. 6 is the scheduled Bid Day.
“Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council are throwing a bid day celebration for us,” Winkles said. “It is for the whole campus community to come out and celebrate with us.
“I’m looking forward to meeting with everyone interested in Phi Mu and continuing to get to know Panhellenic and other students on campus.”
Lee Hall, director of student life, has overseen Panhellenic through the extension process.
“We are thrilled with our choice and think Phi Mu is a perfect fit for OCU,” Hall said.
Leave a Reply