Written by Madeline Wall, Staff Reporter
During this past month, many young men and women have found their home in one of eight Greek life organizations on Roanoke College’s campus. Even on a small campus, over 150 students are currently involved in either fraternity or sorority life. The Greek community is expected to grow its numbers, helping more students find a place to make lifelong memories and everlasting connections.
This semester, the community hopes to begin the process of founding a chapter of a fourth sorority, which would offer another option for women to join a sisterhood that aligns with their own goals and values.
Roanoke College supports five fraternities and three sororities in their social and philanthropic endeavors. The five fraternities — Kappa Alpha, Pi Kappa Alpha, Pi Kappa Phi, Pi Lambda Phi, and Sigma Chi — are all governed by the Interfraternity Council. The three sororities — Alpha Sigma Alpha, Chi Omega, and Delta Gamma — are all governed by the Panhellenic Council.
Nearly two years ago, the conversation started about adding a fourth sorority to the Panhellenic community on campus. Liz Werner, who serves as the primary Greek Advisor, has been involved in the process since the beginning. Werner, along with other staff and student committees, has worked tirelessly to listen to students’ needs and research options for what would best fit the community now and in the future.
Among the input provided by Werner and sorority members Madelyn Belitz and Elise Bamforth, it is obvious that the idea for a new sorority sparked when many young women reported that none of the three Panhellenic organizations on campus felt like home. There have also been requests to “even out” the options provided to women, noting that there are only three options for women and five options for men.
To sum up the extensive process, once women came to Liz Werner asking to add a fourth sorority, an interest committee formed. After that, the Panhellenic organizations on campus each delegated one member from each of the three sororities to add to the conversation in the interest committee. With staff members, sorority members, interest committee members, and more, the Extension committee formed. Their goal is to find the best organization to fit the Greek community on campus and satisfy the needs of women who want to find a home.
Although many Panhellenic members have mixed views about adding another sorority, Madelyn Belitz, who is the Delta Gamma representative on the Extension committee, is hopeful the new addition will bring even more women on campus into the Greek community. Elise Bamforth, who has previously served as the President of Panhel, is confident that a fourth sorority will help foster connection among the entire Greek community.
Excited and hopeful about the addition of a new sisterhood, the Extension committee was recently able to host two organizations here on campus: Phi Mu and Delta Phi Epsilon. One of the two sororities will likely establish an active chapter on campus by Fall of 2027.
Sororities are often characterized by their values and philanthropic endeavors. When choosing between Phi Mu and Delta Phi Epsilon, the Extension committee must examine each organization’s traits.
According to the Phi Mu website, their values are love, honor, truth, and a desire to help those in need. They partner with the Children’s Miracle Network to raise money to support pediatric care. Many may be surprised to know that Phi Mu was an active sorority on campus for 59 years, becoming inactive in 2014. Although the history is complicated, the three unrecognized sororities on-campus, Eta Phi, Gamma Eta, and Ivy, derived from Phi Mu’s suspension in 2014.
The Extension committee is also considering Delta Phi Epsilon, emphasizing justice, sisterhood, and love. According to their website, Delta Phi Epsilon supports three organizations through its philanthropy: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, National Association for Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, and the Delta Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation.
No matter what the Extension committee decides, the addition of either organization is worth celebrating. So many people across campus have worked hard to explore another opportunity for women on campus to find community and sisterhood, while also considering the needs of the Roanoke community as a whole.
Moving forward, it may take about a year for the fourth sorority to be fully established. In the meantime, the new organization will be active on campus in many capacities, advertising and marketing its opportunities. Students should reach out to staff members such as Liz Werner and Panhellenic representatives if they have questions about getting involved.
