Phi Mu

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Phi Mu
ΦΜ
250px
Founded March 4, 1852; 172 years ago (1852-03-04)
Wesleyan Female College, (Macon, Georgia)
Type Social
Scope National
Motto Les Soeurs Fideles
The Faithful Sisters
Colors      Rose      White
Symbol Quatrefoil
Flower Rose Color Carnation
Publication The Aglaia
Philanthropy Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
Chapters 125 and 11 planned colonies
Members 175,000+ collegiate
Mascot The Lion "Sir Fidel"
Headquarters 400 Westpark Drive
Peachtree City, Georgia, USA
Homepage http://www.phimu.org

Phi Mu (ΦΜ) is the second oldest female fraternal organization established in the United States. It was founded at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. The organization was founded as the Philomathean Society on January 4, 1852, and was announced publicly on March 4 of the same year. Phi Mu is one of the two "Macon Magnolias," a term used to celebrate the bonds it shares with Alpha Delta Pi.

Today, Phi Mu has 122 collegiate chapters, 11 planned colonies, 225 alumnae chapters, and more than 150,000 initiated sisters. In its 163-year history, Phi Mu has chartered over 228 chapters. Phi Mu's National Headquarters is in Peachtree City, Georgia.[1] Phi Mu's national philanthropy is Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. The organization's open motto is "Les Soeurs Fideles," meaning "The Faithful Sisters."

History

The Philomathean Society was founded in March 1852 at Wesleyan College by Mary Ann Dupont (Lines), Mary Elizabeth Myrick (Daniel), and Martha Bibb Hardaway (Redding). Wesleyan was the first institute to grant bachelor's degrees to women and is known as the birthplace of the collegiate sorority. However, some sororities predate the term "sorority" and are thus known as "fraternities for women." The Philomathean Society joined the National Panhellenic Conference in 1904, taking on the Greek letters Phi Mu. Alpha Delta Theta, a small national sorority founded at Transylvania University, merged with Phi Mu in 1939.

Symbols

Phi Mu's motto is Les Soeurs Fideles ("The Faithful Sisters"). The official colors are rose and white. The symbol is the quatrefoil, while the official flower is the rose color carnation. Phi Mu has a mascot, a lion, named "Sir Fidel".

Phi Mu does not have an official stone.

Creed

Phi Mu's creed is the uniting statement that every member of Phi Mu is expected to know and live her life by. The creed defines what it means to be a noble woman, enumerating several practices. The second-to-last line of the creed sums up the most important Phi Mu belief: "To practice day by day love, honor, truth."


To lend to those less fortunate a helping hand.
To think of God as a protector and guide of us all.
To keep forever sacred the memory of those we have loved and lost.
To be to others what we would they would be to us.
To keep our lives gentle, merciful and just,
Thus being true to the womanhood of love.

To walk in the way of honor, guarding the purity of our thoughts and deeds.
Being steadfast in every duty small or large.
Believing that our given word is binding.
Striving to esteem the inner man above culture, wealth or pedigree.
Being honorable, courteous, tender,
Thus being true to the womanhood of honor.

To serve in the light of truth avoiding egotism, narrowness and scorn.
To give freely of our sympathies.
To reverence God as our Maker, striving to serve Him in all things.
To minister to the needy and unfortunate.
To practice day by day love, honor, truth.
Thus keeping true to the meaning, spirit and reality of Phi Mu.[2]

Philanthropy

Phi Mu's interest in philanthropy is expressed in the first line of its Creed, "To lend to those less fortunate a helping hand," a guiding principle for Phi Mu. As the only sorority corporate sponsor for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, Phi Mu is committed to raising more than $500,000 for CMN every year. The money raised and donated is used locally to support one of the 170 Children's Miracle Network Hospitals nationwide. In total, Phi Mu has contributed over $8.5 million and countless hours in an attempt to improve the quality of life for sick children and their families throughout the country. Phi Mu has also established an annual "National Philanthropy Day" each October.[3]

Controversies

In 2010, the Phi Mu chapter at the University of Texas at San Antonio was disciplined for hazing pledges. Pledges were blindfolded, roped, and forced to a remote barn to recite the sorority's creed and imitate animals.[4]

In 2011, the sorority made national headlines after the chapter at the University of Southern Mississippi dressed in blackface for a "Cosby" themed party. The sorority members involved were placed on probation by Phi Mu's national headquarters and offered a public apology for their misconduct.[5]

Notable alumnae

Arts and Entertainment

Business

  • Evett Simmons (Alpha Tau) - president of the National Bar Association (2000)[6]
  • Pat Mitchell (Alpha Alpha) - president, PBS[6]
  • Toria Tolley (Beta Nu) - VP/consultant, The Psychological Advantage, former CNN weekend anchor[6][18]
  • Tammy Cohen (Alpha Lambda) - owner and founder of Employers Reference Source, Inc. (ERS),[6][19]

Politics & Public Service

  • Carol Laise (Gamma Delta) - U.S. Ambassador to Nepal 1966-1973, first woman director general of the Foreign Service[20][21]
  • Betty Montgomery (Delta Kappa) - first female Attorney General of Ohio[6]
  • Melinda Schwegmann (Alpha Eta) - first female Lt. Governor of Louisiana[6]
  • Elizabeth Weaver (Delta) - former Michigan Supreme Court Justice and chief justice[6]
  • Tova Wiley (Eta Alpha) - first woman to hold the rank of Commander in the U.S. Navy, winner of the Legion of Merit Award[6]
  • Beverly B. Martin (Alpha Iota) - U.S. Federal Judge, sits on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit[22]

Literature

Athletics

  • Gayle S. Barron (Alpha Alpha) - winner of the Boston Marathon, 1978.[6][26]

Chapters

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References

  1. Home. Phi Mu. Retrieved on July 1, 2010. "National Headquarters 400 Westpark Drive Peachtree City, GA 30269."
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  4. http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/article/UTSA-sorority-on-probation-for-hazing-795586.php
  5. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2011-11-15/blackface-cosby-sorority/51214224/1
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  8. [1][dead link]
  9. 9.0 9.1 http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/missusamagicf/MA1975Delegates.html&date=2009-10-26+02:45:07
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  18. http://www.americanprofile.com/article/2079.html
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  22. Beverly B. Martin
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  24. [3] Archived October 25, 2011 at the Wayback Machine
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  26. List of winners of the Boston Marathon#Women's Open

External links