Two New Sororities Chosen to Colonize at UM

Paige Gustafson

JOUR 271

27 September 2012

News Story #3

505 words

Two New Sororities Chosen to Colonize at UM 

            UNIVERSITY, Miss.— In Fall 2012, the Alpha Delta Pi chapter will be joining the Ole Miss campus, along with the Alpha Phi chapter in Fall 2015. The process to even consider colonizing these two chapters was a long one, a process that was in the works since Bid Day 2011. An Extension Committee, a committee made up of respected leaders around campus, all 9 sororities, Panhellenic delegates, and students all participated in choosing the two new sororities.

            “Once the Extension Committee opened Ole Miss for expansion, sororities were able to apply. Then a few of the sororities that applied were invited back for formal presentations. People voted and now we have two new sororities!” said Panhellenic President Katie Kellum.

            Other than Alpha Delta Pi and Alpha Phi, the chapters of Delta Zeta and Alpha Gamma Delta also gave presentations. Kellum said it was a tough decision as to which two sororities would join campus, but Alpha Delta Pi and Alpha Phi’s outstanding presentation won the council over.

            “They both had great enthusiasm towards expanding at Ole Miss, they both could bring something different to the Panhellenic community, and they were both well liked by all,” Kellum said.

            Even though the university promised land for up to three houses, it was still a mystery as to where the land was. It has finally been decided that the sororities will build their houses across from what is now Pi Beta Phi and Kappa Alpha Theta on Rebel Drive. 

            Along with the other 9 sororities, Alpha Delta Pi will be participating in recruitment next Fall. Since this will be their first year recruiting new members, their process will be different than the other 9 sororities.   

“They (Alpha Delta Pi) will first market themselves to women who either thought the other nine chapters weren’t for them or people and leaders around campus who could not go Greek for other reasons. Then, they will only participate in the first rounds of Philanthropy until the next year of Recruitment,” Kellum said.

 The colonization of the two sororities will hopefully benefit the Panhellenic community. Kellum believes it will give a new and different option to girls who will be going through recruitment in the future. Besides the Panhellenic President, active members in the Panhellenic community also have high hopes for the new additions.

“Having these two new sororities will greatly benefit our campus. The pledge classes in each of the sororities are over 100 girls and that's too much. This will definitely help decrease the size during recruitment,” said Kappa Delta member Haley Teare.

Ryan Dougherty, member of Alpha Omicron Pi, couldn’t agree more with Teare. “There were 133 girls in my pledge class and it was too overwhelming. If it were smaller it would’ve been easier to get closer as a chapter. I still don’t know everyone in my pledge class and I don’t think that’s right,” Dougherty said.

With high hopes in the air, the Panhellenic community can’t wait to welcome Alpha Delta Pi and Alpha Phi with open arms.