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 10th 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.
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