Extension to South Carolina, A Huge Success

Love, Honor, Truth. These are the top values of Phi Mu, the new sorority at Carolina. As of Saturday, 233 pledges participated in Phi Mu’s traditional initiation ceremony, making Phi Mu the 10^th nationally recognized sorority of the NPC (National Panhellenic Conference) on USC’s campus.

Kristy Mondelli, a recent graduate from Tennessee Tech and Phi Mu alumnae, is one of Carolina’s Phi Mu Resident Chapter Consultants. “Greek Life at Carolina is booming! It was important for Greek Life to bring a new sorority on campus in general. All of the other sororities on campus were growing at such a rapid rate that they were outgrowing themselves and getting too hard to manage. Now with Phi Mu on campus there is another place to call "home" for 80-90 potential members next rush season,” said Mondelli.

Phi Mu was founded in 1852 at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. It began as the Philomathean Society, a literary society, and is the second oldest secret society for women. The Philomathean Society became Phi Mu Fraternity in 1904. Because the word "sorority" was not commonly used when Phi Mu was chartered, its proper name is Phi Mu Fraternity even though it is a women's organization.

Mondelli said she’s excited to see what future years bring to the girls at Carolina who were initiation this past Saturday. “Over 550 girls rushed to be apart of Phi Mu and 233 were chosen for initiation! This is such a historical day for Phi Mu as well as USC. I feel very honored to witness the formation of our new Lambda Theta Chapter,” she said.

Second year nursing student, Lindsay Dangerfield, said she joined Phi Mu for the “true sorority experience” and that being a founding member has many advantages. “Charter members, or founding sisters of Phi Mu hold a very special place in the heart of Phi Mu. There is a very small percentage of Phi Mu's that are charter members, and because of this rare occasion it makes it very special! We have the chance to make Phi Mu exactly what they want it to be. We are currently working on forming our by-laws and standards for what we expect out of one another,” said Dangerfield.

Initiation is a very sacred and emotional experience for each sorority and fraternity. “It’s something you never forget. Initiation is the basis of what we stand for. It contains our deepest secrets that our founders created so long ago. Ritual is what sets us a part from other organizations,” said Mondelli.

Lindsay Dangerfield explained, “I can’t tell you much about what happened during initiation because we have all vowed to keep that between us sisters. However, I can tell you that what happened inside that room Saturday morning will stay in my heart forever. It has bound me and my fellow Phi’s together and it’s something that’s kind of unexplainable unless you are a part of it.”

Phi Mu’s National President, Robin White Fanning, spoke on Saturday evening at the Phi Mu banquet for the new members and their families. In her speech she explained, “You have joined a special sisterhood and become part of something much larger than yourself. Others will know you as a member of Phi Mu. Your conduct and actions will not only reflect on you, but will be a reflection of the other Phi's and sisters here today, across the nation and around the globe. You must remember that at all times and let your actions bring honor and prestige to yourself, to your fellow Phi’s and sisters, and to Phi Mu Fraternity. Being in a sorority is a wonderful experience but it requires a commitment from each member for the organization to be successful.”

These girls have already raised funds for Project Pet, Chi Psi Fraternity’s canned food drive, Torch Relay, as well as The Children’s Miracle Network of Columbia. Phi Mu also received second place in the Homecoming float competition and third in the banner competition. “The Phi's are involved in every aspect of Greek Life, Philanthropic, Social, Educational, and Leadership. We have a very diverse and talented group of girls who are active in every aspect of campus life. We have participated in almost every Campus-wide event as well,” said Mondelli.

“Being a Phi Mu pledge has already helped me in so many ways, so now that I’m an official member, as of Saturday, I’m excited to see the other numerous opportunities that will come my way because of Phi Mu. I love how no matter where I go in the country or where I wind up after graduation, there will always be a Phi Mu sister near by because Phi Mu membership is for a lifetime,” said Dangerfield.

All Phi Mus have different college experiences, but they all share a Bond of Sisterhood. They all believe in the ideals of their Creed: Love, Honor, and Truth. Each Phi Mu who gives time as an active member, officer, or volunteer, contributes to the continued success of Phi Mu Fraternity.

For more information on Phi Mu Fraternity you can go to www.phimu.org, or to see what the Carolina Phi’s are up to, visit www.sc.phimu.org.

USC Beauty Wins National Pageant

While there are countless beautiful girls at the University of South Carolina, few are willing to do what it takes to compete in a pageant. In addition to looking hott and being confident, this elite group of women knows what it takes to obtain and maintain a pageant title. One of the most experienced is Courtney Hope Turner. Courtney is a second year Multi-Media & Mass Communications student who recently won the title of Miss Teen United States, a national beauty competition in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Miss United States Pageant focuses on overall beauty, poise, confidence, personal interview, on-stage question, as well as community involvement. “It’s mix between outward and inner beauty. They don’t want you to leave your crown on the shelf to get dusty, they want you to put it to work and do things you couldn’t do without it. The opportunities are endless when you win a title such as this,” said Turner.

Being a beauty queen is more than just being beautiful. Pageant director Laura Mills explains, “You have to possess a confidence and a sense of charisma that when you walk into a room you attract people’s attention. It’s about so much more than what you look like. You have to be the total package. You have to have the style but you also have to be the personality- and Courtney is just that.”

Turner has had a few years of pageant experience, capturing other titles such as Miss Charleston Teen USA, Miss Teen South Carolina United States, and Miss North Augusta Teen USA, which she says has been a confidence builder. “Pageants have pushed me outside of my comfort zone and have taught me how to be a good public speaker, overcome my fears, and really how to inspire others.”

This USC student has many ambitions for her one year as Miss Teen United States. She said she sees her position as a very special job. “It gives me a responsibility. There are lots of people who know who I am, and who look up to me. It’s not about being a diva. It’s being a role model wherever you go and to whoever you come across.”

Turner will attend many community service events with the crown. She has already made appearances in Atlanta, Charleston, Greenville, Augusta, North Augusta, Aiken, Columbia, and Charlotte. She has visited Troops and the Veteran Hospital, giving out gifts to the wounded soldiers. She has also helped to promote various businesses at the Chamber of Commerce. While in Las Vegas, she made an onstage introduction for Demi Lovato and David Archuleta of American Idol on their summer concert tour.

“Of course pageant girls do the fun appearances with celebs and have umpteen photo shoots, but service is also a factor of the title. It gives the girls the chance to give back to their communities and touch people’s lives,” said Mills.

Along with her title, Turner has modeled for top designers such as Riva Design, Sherri Hill Pageantry & Prom, and P.S. Outfitters. She can be found on Russell Athletic advertisement posters at DICK’S Sporting Goods as well as in a commercial for Donald Trump’s Miss Universe Pageant.

In addition to the various pageant activities, she has taken four years of ballroom dance, has a black belt in martial arts, likes to snowboard, plays piano, and loves to skydive. Here at USC, Turner is involved with the White Water Rafting & Mountaineering Club and Campus Crusade.

“I feel very honored to be Miss Teen United States because this was something that has always been a dream of mine that I worked very, very hard for and nothing feels more satisfying than when a dream comes true. And now with my title, I want to bless others because I feel blessed.” Turner is currently visiting middle schools in and around Columbia, speaking to kids on how to have positive self-esteem. In January, she is organizing an event that will promote and raise funds for stopping Human Trafficking. Also, watch out for her on TV because she has been casted for a Belk commercial in the spring. For more information on the Miss United States pageant go to www.unitedstatespageant.com.