(Source: www.wikipedia.org.)
Phi Mu Lodge,
October, 2006
Phi
Mu to Close – National representative cites finances
and low membership
By
Steven Gadzinski
Formal recruitment ended in February, but it was the last
one for members of the Phi Mu Fraternity – at
least for now.
On March
15, 2010, the Rho Epsilon chapter of the Phi Mu Fraternity
was closed, effective on May 30, 2010. Current sisters were
informed of the decision by national president Robin
Fanning, and an official letter was sent to chapter alumni.
The letter outlined low membership and financial concerns
as the reasons for the closing.
“It was definitely a surprise,” said Karen
Linderborg, Palos Park, IL. senior. “A lot of members
were upset about the lack of time to get a decent (active
member) number up and how less than 70 girls went
out for formal recruitment this year.”
Phi Mu recruited seven women during formal recruitment.
Since they have not been initiated, their national
organization has released them from obligations.
“This makes them eligible to join another sorority on
campus if they so choose and are invited,” said Jenny
Greyerbiehl, assistant director for greek life and student
organizations.
The sisters have the opportunity to appeal the decision,
but are still deciding on a course of action. A decision
for appeal needs to be made within thirty days, according
to Jessica Smith, Lake Orion senior and member of Phi Mu.
“A member of the national council would be assigned
to help our chapter write their appeal letter which would
have to include a plan on how to increase membership and to
clear up old debt that the chapter may have,” Smith
said.
After the letter is written, three members of Phi Mu would
have to present their case to the national
headquarters in Macon, Georgia. Their case would then be
re-examined by the national council.
“As far as I know, we have decided not to fight the
appeals process because of how expensive it would
be,” says Smith.
Expenses, such as airfare to Georgia, would have
to be paid by members of Phi Mu.
Should the appeal be denied, all current non-graduating
members would be granted alumni status within the
organization. In the event that Phi Mu recolonized on
campus, those sisters would resume regular member status.
Recolonization would normally be considered to occur three
to five years after closing.
Christina Poulin, 2009 Albion and Phi Mu alumnae, thinks
that recolonization is a possibility.
“We have a very enthusiastic alumni base that can
vouch for recolonization after the next couple of
years,” says Poulin. “A clean slate would be
great for this chapter, and I think that Phi Mu’s
message, ‘To be to others what we would they would be
to us,’ fits well on Albion College’s
campus.”
From
the Albion College
Pleiad, March 26,
2010