According to a recent press release from F&M’s Panhellenic Council, Alpha Xi Delta (AXD) sorority has been invited to start a colony at the College starting in Fall 2014, with Phi Mu (PM) sorority to colonize beginning in Fall 2016. AXD and PM will become F&M’s fifth and sixth sororities, respectively.
“We are so excited for the opportunity to join the Franklin & Marshall community, and we look forward to establishing a new, cherished link in our Sisterhood at this renowned institution,” said Sandi Edwards, national president of AXD, according to a press release from the sorority.
The Panhellenic Council decided to pursue extension in order to provide F&M women interested in joining Greek life with more options, and to allow existing sororities to shrink to a more manageable size.
The invitation comes after a process known as extension, in which the Panhellenic Council watched presentations from four national sororities—AXD, PM, Delta Xi Epsilon, and Sigma Sigma Sigma—and invited one to colonize at the College. Panhellenic’s decision was made based on sororities’ alumni network, the strength of their national organizations, development programs, and more.
Founded in 1893 at Lombard College in Illinois, AXD has initiated over 150,000 members and maintains chapters at 121 colleges and university campuses. PM, founded at Wesleyan College in Georgia in 1852, is the second-oldest sorority in the nation.
More information on AXD and PM’s colonization will follow as it becomes available to The College Reporter.
Sophomore Steven Viera is the News Editor. His email is sviera@fandm.edu.