Although the proposed Alpha Omicron Pi sorority chapter never materialized, several girls who met during the recruitment process have started their own social group.
The Ladies Social Circle began the recruitment process on Monday and will continue through Thursday, with open socials on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
The idea for the organization arose after Alpha Omicron Pi failed to meet membership requirements needed to establish a chapter at MSU.
Megan Walley, the circle’s vice president of public relations, said the women who had become involved in AOPi wanted to continue the relationships they had already begun.
“We wanted to continue seeing each other and continue the strong friendships we had formed,” Walley said.
President Krystle Carollo said the organization’s focus will remain on those relationships.
“We’re unique because we’re not a sorority,” Carollo said. “We’re a group of friends that have come together and take the things we value most, and we’re building on those friendships.”
As a recognized organization, the group will be free to use the university’s facilities for meetings and events, Carollo said.
Marita McArthur, the Circle’s vice president of recruitment, said the organization seems to have a lot of support.
Recruitment began this week with a Caribbean-themed social on Monday night, and will continue with a “Vogue Night” social tonight and a “Ladies in Red” social on Wednesday night. As the themes imply, attendees will wear something a little glamorous tonight and something red Wednesday night.
The socials will take place in The Union room 309 at 7 p.m. both nights.
“Anybody is welcome to come,” Walley said. “They can ask us questions about anything, and we’re going to tell them about our history.”
Carollo said the circle is primarily interested in women looking for ways to be involved on campus and in the Starkville community.
The group has already participated in a drive to raise needed items for the Oktibbeha County Humane Society and plans to implement a future drive to aid fire victims in the western United States.
In addition to the socials, there will be a sign-up sheet for interested women in the Panhellenic office, located on the first floor of the Union, next to The Dawg House.
A second recruitment is planned for mid-February.