Pi Beta Phi became Hopkins’ newest sorority when it initiated 61 undergraduate women and five alumna women on November 20. This chapter, Maryland Gamma, is Pi Beta Phi’s 134th active chapter and the first chapter in Maryland.
A new sorority was necessary on campus partially because of the rising popularity of Hopkins Greek Life and also because of the recent removal of Kappa Alpha Theta.
Previously there were three National Panhellenic Conference sororities on campus: Alpha Phi, Phi Mu and Kappa Kappa Gamma.
“After spring recruitment in Feb 2010, the average Panhellenic sorority had 145 women,” wrote Rob Turning, the head of Hopkins Greek life, in an email to The News-Letter. The Panhellenic Council had been considering a new sorority for years, but this high average was further motivation for Hopkins Greek Life to pursue this plan.
After the decision to find a new sorority was reached, a suitable candidate had to be found. There were 26 National Panhellenic Conference sororities, but only 22 could apply because there were already three on campus and Theta had previously been kicked off campus. Out of the 22 available, 15 sororities applied for the position.
“The JHU Panhellenic put together a committee of six undergraduates and four faculty/staff Panhellenic alumnae to review the applications,” Turning wrote.
The committee narrowed the applications to two finalists: Pi Beta Phi and Alpha Chi Omega. Finally, Pi Beta Phi was selected in a vote by the three other Panhellenic sorority chapters.
Shortly after being chosen, Pi Beta Phi began setting up the chapter. “Stephanie Baysinger, a graduate of Loyola Marymount (Los Angeles) and [an] HQ staff member moved here in August to start recruiting upperclassmen,” Turning wrote.
They started recruiting upperclassman and spreading the word of the new sorority with the help of the three existing sororities. “They hosted several information nights, and then officially ‘colonized’ the new group in October,” wrote Turning.
Once the sorority became an officially charted chapter, it had to recruit sisters. Rushing was a great time for perspective sorority sisters to get to know the sorority as well as the other potential pledges.
“The other women rushing that I met all seem like well grounded, motivated, and really fun and friendly people, and the more events I went to the more excited I got,” sophomore Hannah Cohen wrote in an email to The News-Letter. “After rush I knew that Pi Phi was something I wanted to be a part of.”
Liz Carr, the Vice President of Finance said that she saw joining Pi Phi as a unique opportunity. “I am a junior and I felt like there was something missing from social life,” Carr said.
Carr explained that the recruitment process was very easy. “There were four events, an hour each and it was really very convenient,” she said.
“We also got to meet the Pi Phi chapter from George Washington and it was really fun,” Carr added.
“The group completed their new member program in mid-November, and hosted their initiation weekend from November 18-21.
The Pi Beta Phi National president and their Grand Council flew in for the ceremonies and installed them as a new chapter on November 20,” Turning wrote.
“It was very exciting! The Ground Council flew out and the National President actually initiated us,” Carr said.
Pi Beta Phi offered girls a new option and a second chance for those who had not joined a sorority freshman year. “I hadn’t rushed freshman year because I was unsure of what Greek life would be like, and I also felt like I was too busy,” Cohen wrote.
Liz Duval, the Chapter President, said that she was drawn to Pi Phi because of its national reputation and because she found that she would fit in. “Initially I wanted to be a part of Theta but that didn’t work out and then one of the other sororities really fit,” Duval said.
Furthermore, as a new and upcoming sorority, Pi Beta Phi offers its sisters leadership roles in establishing the sorority as an integral and respected part of Hopkins Greek life.
“I liked the idea of being able to start Pi Beta Phi at Hopkins and to have a very active role in molding it and helping it grow into something truly great,” Cohen wrote.
Carr agreed.
“This was a really unique opportunity to start something new on campus,” She said.
Duval commented that the recruitment and Initiation period has been very exciting. “It’s been an unbelievable 6 week period,” Duval said. “We bundled like in a blanket and established an amazing sisterhood. All the girls really came together as one unit.”
The newly initiated sisters of the chapter are very happy with their experiences so far. Pi Beta Phi participates in many activities, including community service. Each sorority has a certain philanthropic goal that they pursue throughout the year.
In an effort to raise literary rates, Pi Beta Phi had teamed up with First Book, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to giving children from low-income homes the opportunity to read and own books.
The sisters have adopted this cause as their own. “I also had fallen in love with Pi Phi’s dedication to its national philanthropy, literacy, and how active its members are at working hands on in their communities around the country and internationally”, Cohen wrote.
In addition to their philanthropic efforts, Pi Beta Phi offers its members a great way to get involved in more activities and meet new people.
“I’ve loved getting to meet so many more young women like myself, as well as those with completely different interests than my own, who I never would have so instantly opened up to,” Cohen wrote. “That support is the most amazing feeling ever.”
With regards to recruitment in the Spring both Carr and Duval expressed some worries.
“We’re thinking about themes right now and trying to teach everyone how to recruit,” Carr said. “No one’s been on that side before and we want to form a cohesive group to say ‘this is Pi Phi and this is what we’re here for,’” she said.
“It’s been so busy with Initiation and the Leadership Committe and officer positions have just been filled,” Duval said. “We’re just trying to train the sisters about what you can and cannot say,” she said.
“Unfortunately we’re so new and we’ve been so rushed into Greek life,” Duval stated. “We don’t really know how to do recruitment and we’re not as rehearsed.”
Carr noted that Pi Phi’s newness might pose a challenge for recruiting in the Spring.
“It’ll be hard to hook girl in since we’re so new and it’s only been two months between Initiation and recruitment,” she said.
Despite reservations, however, the ladies of Pi Phi are moving ahead with recruitment. Carr said that even with the semester winding down there will be a few more recruitment events for girls to get to know the freshmen.
“We have an event on Tuesday, December 7th in the Library,” Duval said. “It’ll be a stressbuster event.”
Duval also said that on the bright side, the other members of Greek life have been really helpful. “In terms of fraternities, Beta has been so supportive; they’re like our big brothers,” she said.
