Rho Delta Chapter of Phi Mu Fraternity

Phi Mu Fraternity

Rho Delta Chapter

Central Michigan University

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Phi Mu History

On January 4, 1852, Mary Ann (DuPont) Lines, Mary Elizabeth (Myrick) Daniel and Martha Bibb (Hardaway) Redding founded an organization called the Philomathean Society at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, Georgia. Wesleyan was the first institution to grant college degrees to women.

For the next two months the Founders were busy gathering additional members, creating a constitution, devising an initiation service and adopting a secret and an open motto. On March 4, 1852, the members announced the formation of their new society, which became the Alpha Chapter of Phi Mu Fraternity. Since that time, March 4 has been observed as Founders' Day.

By the turn of the century, the Philomathean Society had developed a strong body of alumnae, a history rich in tradition and the confidence to expand into a national organization. On August 1, 1904, the Philomathean Society was chartered by the State of Georgia as a national organization with the exclusive use of the Greek letters ΦΜ and the right to establish additional chapters on other campuses.

Today Phi Mu has grown to encompass a diverse membership of more than 150,000 women nationwide.

Rho Delta History

The Rho Delta chapter of Phi Mu at Central Michigan University originally began as the Delta Rho local sorority in 1981, when a group of Sigma Pi little sisters disbanded. There was so much unity between these women that they decided to start their own sorority and randomly chose two Greek letters: Δ (Delta) and Ρ (Rho). The Delta Rho were accepted on Central Michigan University's campus on September 25, 1981, becoming the first new sorority on campus in 23 years. On October 3, 1983, Delta Rho became a colony of Phi Mu Fraternity. Finally, on January 19, 1985, the colony was installed as the Rho Delta chapter of Phi Mu.

Delta Rho Facts

Delta Rho Crest

Red & Yellow

Colors

Yellow Sweetheart Rose

Flower

"Ambition Knows No Bounds"

Motto

Garnet

Gem

Sun

Mascot

Founders

Karen Woods, Cyndee Wilson, Connie Voight, Debe Laske, Cheryl Long, Lynn McDonald, Amy McLennon, Tami Steinbrick, Eileen Dobbyn, Elaine Waclawek, Gail Traskos, Marlene Sulkowski, and Shelly Goyette

First Pledge Class

Dottie Rivers, Kelly Formsma, Sabine Wicher, Kelly Eisen, Karen Thayer, Teri Shilts, and Susan Malin

(These names are from the 1981 composite.)

Founding Father

Dr. George Jones of Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Page Updated: 04 Dec 2006

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