This semester, Tech students are witnessing the beginning of a new sorority on campus. So far, the Alpha Phi colony has hosted a myriad of recruitment events in hopes of chartering the Iota Mu chapter. With over 150 chapters nationwide, Alpha Phi is one of the world’s oldest and most established sorority.
Among Alpha Phi’s feats is its award-winning membership magazine, which is in its 120th year of circulation. It was also the first National Panhellenic Council (NPC )sorority to have a site on the World Wide Web.
Tracy Briggs, the Resident Specialist of the Educational Leadership Consultants (ELC) and an alumna of the Iota Theta chapter of Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada, has come to Tech to aid in the recruitment process and establish the Iota Mu chapter from the local sorority Chi Omega Tau. The ELC was founded by Alpha Phis in 1894, but was then known as “traveling delegations.”
According to the Alpha Phi International website, “ELCs work hands on with Alpha Phi chapters to develop recruitment plans, devise marketing strategies, provide motivation and support, analyze situations and make vital decisions.” Every year, ELCs travel to visit many chapters and one colony.
“In winter of 2007, a message went to the National Panhellenic Council Sororities notifying us that Georgia Tech was open for extension and invited those not already on campus to submit a written proposal for starting a chapter on campus,” Briggs said.
After Alpha Phi and several other sororities applied for the spot and sent representatives to Tech’s campus, the College Panhellenic Council finally chose Alpha Phi as the new sorority to settle onto campus. Alpha Phis were excited about starting a chapter at Tech. Briggs explained that, “there was absolutely something special about Tech to Alpha Phi.
“Since we began our process of extension last spring, we have continued to be impressed by the outstanding women on this campus. We are confident that the women at Tech will make outstanding members of our Fraternity, and more than 12,000 Alpha Phi alum in the metro Atlanta area have already committed themselves to becoming role models and advisors to our members at Georgia Tech.”
The formation of the Iota Mu chapter is difficult, and requires the participation of the new constituent members as well as former Alpha Phis from around the world. The ELCs play a huge role in the creation of a new Alpha Phi chapter. The new members, however, will also play a significant role. “The members of this chapter must be willing to work hard to build a name for Alpha Phi on campus and represent Alpha Phi on an international level in a positive way,” states Briggs.
The Alpha Phi recruiters are hard at work at selecting the individuals that will become the first sisters of the chapter at Tech.
“Starting a new sorority…is a great opportunity to build the Tech chapter into something very special.” Briggs said, noting the exclusivity of a sorority that was a member of the first National Panhellenic Conference.
Alpha Phi Foundation has recently initiated some noteworthy tasks, including reveling in its 50th anniversary in 2006. At its last convention, the Foundation pledged “to raise $10 million dollars by the year 2010 to aid in cardiac research, women’s leadership development, emergency aid and scholarships,” Briggs said. Alpha Phi’s has donated more than $1 million to cardiac health since 1946.
To date, nearly 100 women on campus have expressed interest in Alpha Phi, but “by the end of the recruitment, only a select group of women will be chosen to become sisters and establish Alpha Phi as a home for future generations of Tech’s best and brightest,” Briggs said.