Alpha Phi sorority joins Clemson University’s Panhellenic community

Published: March 12, 2012

By Aliza Darnell

CLEMSON — The Clemson University Panhellenic Association has expanded its community to include Alpha Phi in the Spring of 2012, increasing Clemson’s Panhellenic membership to 12 sororities.

The last time Clemson expanded its Panhellenic membership was in the spring of 2009 with the addition of Sigma Kappa.

Since its founding in 1872 at Syracuse University, Alpha Phi has expanded across the country. The Clemson Iota Rho chapter marks Alpha Phi’s 158^th chapter and the first Alpha Phi chapter in South Carolina. Across the nation, Clemson is one of five institutions where Alpha Phi is colonizing this academic year.

After weeks of campus visits, meetings and presentations from three national sororities, Panhellenic Council affirmed the recommendation of the Extension Selection Committee to invite Alpha Phi to Clemson.

“Alpha Phi was chosen because they have similar values and traits that Clemson Greek Life embodies. They also showed such an interest in being part of Clemson, which is something we value,” said Samantha Martin vice president of Panhellenic recruitment and head of the Extension Selection Committee. “They can learn from us, but we can also learn from them so I think this will be an exciting time.”  

Since the beginning of the semester representatives from Alpha Phi have been on campus recruiting women for the new sorority and getting to know Clemson’s culture.

“Clemson has really welcomed Alpha Phi with open arms," said Sarah Dariano, educational leadership consultant for Alpha Phi. "We are so fortunate to be entering a strong and established Greek Community full of well-rounded leaders. This year we hope to bring Alpha Phi's traditions to Clemson while adding more leaders to the community.”

Representatives from Alpha Phi on campus also commented on their excitement for such Clemson traditions as First Friday and the sense of the Clemson Family they have experienced.

“Students here on every level love Clemson,” said Shannon Rodenheiser, educational leadership consultant for Alpha Phi. “We want to be part of that, so those landmark Clemson traditions are exciting for us.”

Alpha Phi’s mission is to be a sisterhood of women supporting one another in lifelong achievement. There is no “cookie-cutter” image of an Alpha Phi woman, according to Dariano. Rather they seek women who are “involved and well-rounded.”

Alpha Phi extended bids this semester to 120 women who will be the first initiated into Clemson University’s founding class of the Iota Rho chapter.

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