Phi Mu, Kent State University’s newest sorority chapter in the Greek community, participated in its first formal recruitment this semester.

“There were 300 girls who were not placed last year,” said Anna Lood, vice president of recruitment and retention for the Panhellenic Council. “A lot of them went to Phi Mu, who were new at the time, and it was very exciting for them.”

Although Phi Mu is the newest sorority on the Kent State campus, it is the second oldest women’s fraternity in the nation, according to its national website.

The members of Phi Mu wasted no time in their involvement in the Greek community last year, raising approximately $1,200 to benefit Delta Zeta’s national philanthropy for the hearing and speech impaired, according to its chapter website.

Phi Mu’s national philanthropy is the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

“I fell instantly in love with this philanthropy, being a special education major,” said Kyle Fitch, a senior. “It just really hit close to home in my heart.”

Cassandra Beachy, a junior nursing major, said the organization and her sisters have been a positive influence on her life.

“Phi Mu has made me a better person by surrounding me with vibrant women who want the best for me,” she said. “Since joining the Rho Kappa Chapter, I try to live my life by the three ideals mentioned in the Creed of Phi Mu- Love, Honor, Truth.”

Both Fitch and Beachy are charter members of the Rho Kappa Phi Mu chapter, which means they were a part of the first initiated class at Kent State. 

The chapter does not currently own its own property to hold day-to-day activities; however, during recruitment, events were held at the Kappa Sigma fraternity house on Fraternity Circle.

“Phi Mu and Kappa Sigma have always had great relations, so we unanimously voted to allow them to use the property,” said Tyler Douglas, the Kappa Sigma housing manager and senior communication studies major. “We remember what it was like to not have a house in the Greek community, and we believe in paying it forward.”

Senior special education major Jared Howells, president of the Kent State Kappa Sigma chapter, said the Phi Mu made helping them easy.

“Being able to help a new Greek organization get their feet off the ground is something that I am proud to be a part of,” Howells said. “I think our favorite part about having Phi Mu use our house was the food, and the house smelled prettier than ever.”

Contact Gabrielle Martinez at [email protected].