Sororities

According to its entry in the Microcosm, in 1955 the women of Pi Beta Phi encouraged all members to participate in campus activities and to maintain high scholarship.  They held a number of social events including a formal in honor of the seniors, a pledge formal, and a pledge tea.  In 1955, the officers of Pi Beta Phi were Susan J. Marquardt, president; Suzanne S. Ruggles, vice-president; Susan D. Epley, secretary; and Alma M. Balla, treasurer.

In 1955, the women of Zeta Tau Alpha were active members of the Dickinson community.  They held a song festival to raise funds for a cerebral palsy organization and invited all members of the greek community to participate.  Their social calendar included Sunday morning breakfasts, teas for faculty and fraternity representatives, and the Pledge and Winter Formals.  A picture in the Microcosm also documents the women of Zeta Tau Alpha supporting athletics on campus.  The officers of the organization in 1955 were Wilma V. Hatter, president; Barbara L. Burket, vice-president; Barbara J.

In 1955, the Microcosm documented a number of activities of the women of Phi Mu.  The organization held three rummage sales and two carwashes to benefit their Toy Cart at the Carlisle Hospital and the Carlisle Children's Home.  Phi Mu also held a Mary Sachs fashion show to benefit the Philadelphia Arthritic Society.  The officers of the Beta Delta chapter in 1955 were Louise E. Howard, president; Edith F. Cooke, vice-president; Edith H. Bean, secretary; and Ruth M. Costenbader, treasurer. 

The Dickinsonian reports that the Pan-Hellenic dance, chaired by Ellen Morrow, would be scaled back from previous years. According to the president of the Pan-Hellenic Council, Elinor G. Derr, they would not hire a professional interior decorator and would use records for music. The dance would be  Pan-Hellenic Week's only all-College event.

In 1955, the women of Chi Omega maintained a busy schedule of scholastic, social, and service-related activities.  Their serivce projects included Campus Chest and assisting at a local Recreational Center for underprivileged children.  They raised money for each of these activities through rummage sales and a jazz concert.  They organized informal discussions with professors on pertinent topics and held a tea at the beginning of the year to welcome new faculty and transfer students.  Their social activities included a hayride, Winter Formal, breakfast in rooms, serenading college men, and a

In 1954 the women of Pi Beta Phi dedicated their time to a number of philanthropic and social activities.  Their most important philanthropy continued to be their contributions to the Pi Phi Settlement School in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  Members were expected to uphold the principles of "true democracy, good sportsmanship, and high standards of conduct."  The officers of Pi Phi in 1954 were Rae E. Halberstadt, President; Mary E. Smith, Vice President; Frances J. Holt, Secretary; and Doroth L. Dykstra, Treasurer.

In 1954, the women of the Pan-Hellenic Council continued their work toward maintaining good relations among all of the women's fraternities and supervising the rush process, which was deferred to the second semester.  In the fall, they organized two Pan-Hellenic teas, which allowed freshmen women to meet upperclassmen, sponsored the annual Pan-Hellenic Weekend, and sold flowers and Parents' Day and Homecoming.  The members of the Council now receive Pan-Hellenic Keys, to show their affiliation with the organization and to promote good spirit and cooperation among the women's groups.  Shirle

The first mention of a sorority is documented in the 1893 Microcosm amidst the pages of fraternities. All that is stated is the initials A.H.L. as well as their colors, gold and lavender. The members include Mary A. Humrich, Eurania R. Mapes, Margaret A. B. Line, Elizabeth Root, Charlotte B. Gardner, and Margaret S. Maxwell. No further explanation is given about the chapter and it is never mentioned again in any subsequent yearbooks.

• The Women's Glee Club was in action under the leadership of William Bretz (of Harrisburg), who in the year of 1924 completed his fourth year as the clubs' director.

• The Phi Mu Sorority won the sorority "scholarship loving cup of the Interfraternity Council" for the third consecutive year.

For more information about the Interfraternity Council visit: http://www.dickinson.edu/storg/ifc/about.html

Frances Vuilleumier (Class of 1924) reports in an interview that Dickinson had four sororities: Pi Phi, Chi Omega, Phi Mu, and Zeta Tua Alpha. She characterizes Pi Phi as the oldest and strongest sorority as well as the only sorority that "survived." According to Vuilleumier, "it was considered quite a good thing to be a Pi [Phi]," and daughters of faculty members often joined Pi Phi. Chi Omega, explains Vuilleumier, was not as old as Pi Phi. Vuilleumier claims that its members were "very social." Vuilleumier's sorority, Phi Mu, was a newer sorority and was always academic.