Mississippi State University recently added a chapter of the Pi Beta Phi sorority, the first sorority to be added to the Greek community in almost 20 years.
MSU Panhellenic Council members looked at the number of women enrolled at MSU and the current chapter sizes to determine the need for a new sorority.
Heidie Lindsey, Greek life associate director, said the average size of each of the six current sororities is 170 members each, which overcrowds the sorority houses and their dining halls.
“We started putting the word out to all the National Panhellenic Council sororities that we don’t have [and provided] them with a sales packet of the school,” Lindsey said.
Six sororities were asked to submit their information for review.
Then the NPH council formed an extension committee to review the information. The committee chose three sororities, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Delta Pi and Pi Beta Phi, to come give presentations at MSU, Lindsey said.
“[They tried] to sell us on why they should be the one we choose,” she said. “It goes both ways . because we were trying to sell ourselves as well.”
The council extended an invitation to Pi Beta Phi in April 2008, and they accepted.
Luellen Smith, Pi Beta Phi national grand vice president of membership, said after the sorority was selected as a finalist, it stepped up its campaign.
“We sent our materials in and we were one of the finalists chosen to come in and give a presentation,” she said. “Since then, we have been working very hard to prepare for this day [Bid Day].”
Lindsey said the national organization will invest millions of dollars into colonizing at MSU and is also building a house on Sorority Row.
“We have three lots left out there, so Pi Phi is getting one,” she said. “Their lot is out next to Sigma Phi Epsilon and next to Farmhouse.”
The first Pi Beta Phi initiates will have the opportunity to live on campus together in bulk housing, Lindsey said.
She said the next step in this process has been recruiting, which began in the summer during orientation and has continued into fall rush.
“We need women who could step up to the plate and be leaders,” Lindsey said. “When you start a new group, you really have to find a strong group of leaders.”
Jessica Hinson, Pi Beta Phi resident leadership development consultant, said currently there are 67 pledges, but an open bid for more members will continue until Sunday
Hinson and Megan Campbell will be the two consultants helping the Pi Beta Phi women through the semester.
Hinson said they will lead the girls through new member meetings on Monday nights and plan events for the girls to get to know each other better.
“It’s been really great. It’s amazing to see how excited the women are,” she said. “They are already asking about philanthropy events and getting involved on campus.”
Hinson and Campbell are starting to get on-campus contacts to help get the girls involved, she said.
Jodi Webb, junior psychology major and Pi Beta Phi pledge, said the women went to eat lunch and bowl to spend some time together and start becoming a sisterhood.
“This last week has been a lot of getting to know the girls,” she said.
For more information, students can contact Heidie Lindsey at 325-3063.