Gamma Phi Beta sorority will return to this university in spring 2016, reinstating the chapter after it disbanded in 2000.
Since this university’s Panhellenic Association’s decision in late November to bring the sorority back, the Gamma Phi Beta chapter has been planning its return to the campus. The chapter will hold its first formal recruitment in spring 2016, said Heather Lockwood, Gamma Phi Beta international director of sorority growth.
“University of Maryland is a thriving university both from an organizational standpoint, as far as [the] Panhellenic community, but just as a university as a whole,” Lockwood said. “We’re just so excited.”
Last spring, this university’s Panhellenic Association formed a committee to discuss the options to bring a 16th sorority to the group. They decided there was enough interest to support a new Panhelleic organization, said Kahlin McKeown, the Panhellenic Association’s programming and advising coordinator.
“We were looking for someone who would complement the community,” McKeown said. “The students said they wanted someone who going to come in and be innovative and bring new refreshing ideas to the community, and also have a strong tie to the philanthropy.”
Many sororities applied to join this university, but Gamma Phi Beta stood out because it has been represented on the campus before and it had enthusiastic alumnae, she said.
“Gamma Phi Beta typically had a lot of success,” McKeown said. “They have recently started or restarted chapters at big schools like Duke or Michigan and been right on par with the average chapter size with the rest of campus.”
Alpha Xi Delta joined this campus in 2012 after disbanding in 1993, and it was successful immediately, said Alex Broseker, this university’s Panhellenic president, so the Panhellenic Association is excited for the new addition.
“It’s always great when a new chapter comes,” the senior criminology and criminal justice major said. “They liven the spirit of the Greek community. … It kind of reminds them why they went Greek in the first place.”
Broseker said she was most impressed with Gamma Phi Beta’s philanthropy, which she said is different from those of other sororities at this university.
“They really love their philanthropy, Girls on the Run,” Broseker said. “A lot of our philanthropies are more focused on fundraising; theirs can be more community service-related, and I think there’s an awesome aspect to that.”
An award-winning alumni chapter of Gamma Phi Beta is in Washington, which Lockwood said makes this campus a great place to revitalize this university’s chapter with its local support and connections. The chapter at this university was originally chartered in 1940 and thrived for 60 years.
“These roots, they grow deep,” she said. “We’re so ready to continue the legacy we already have at Maryland.”
Gamma Phi Beta international will research this university to understand the campus culture, while staff and volunteers will begin working to raise awareness on the campus and to find a house, Lockwood said.
“Greek Life is an awesome experience with leadership opportunities [and] networking,” Broseker said. “I think the university will respond really well.”
