Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Incorporated (ΜΣΥ) is a multicultural intercollegiate sorority founded on November 21, 1981 at Rutgers University, New Brunswick and is recognized as the First Multicultural Sorority in the Nation.[2] It is a non-profit Greek-lettered organization for college-educated women that promotes the goals of Academic Achievement, Unity Amongst All Women, and University and Community Service.[3] Mu Sigma Upsilon is a multicultural-based sorority in the United States and a founding member of the National Multicultural Greek Council.

Mu Sigma Upsilon
ΜΣΥ
FoundedNovember 21, 1981; 42 years ago (1981-11-21)
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
TypeCultural Interest
AffiliationNMGC
ScopeNational
MottoMujeres Siempre Unidas
Women Always United
ColorsBaby Blue   White  
SymbolAmazon Woman
PublicationThe Amazonian [1]
PhilanthropyNAACP
Chapters66
Members1,578 collegiate
NicknameMSU, MUs, Amazonas, Sophisticated Ladies
HeadquartersP.O. Box 7728
North Bergen, NJ 07047
United States
WebsiteOfficial website

History edit

In the early 1980s, more women from culturally diverse backgrounds were pursuing college degrees. Five women came together and decided to create a support system for these women.[4] Mu Sigma Upsilon was founded on November 21, 1981, at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, as a Social Fellowship. The five Founding Mothers of Mu Sigma Upsilon are:

  • Eve Bracero - Puerto Rican
  • Lillian Sierra - Puerto Rican
  • Karinee Candelario - Puerto Rican
  • Ruth Gonzalez - Puerto Rican
  • Sylvia Vigo - Puerto Rican[5]

In the early 1980s, Mu Sigma Upsilon became the first sorority to be founded with a multicultural, rather than a specific ethnic or cultural, base.[6] Mu Sigma Upsilon became a Greek-lettered organization in the early 1990s.[7] It is the sister organization of Lambda Sigma Upsilon, a Latino-based fraternity.

R.A.C.E is a national event of the sorority. Each chapter runs its version of the event, where campus cultural organizations are invited to perform in costume and provide cultural displays for table-top exhibitions during the event. Members are encouraged to wear national dress about their cultural background or heritage and provide sample delicacies from all parts of the world.[8][9]

Symbols and Traditions edit

Motto: Mujeres Siempre Unidas / Women Always United

Official Colors: Baby Blue and White

Official Mascot: The Amazon woman, strong, fierce and independent.

Nicknames: The Sophisticated Ladies of MSU, or The MUs (pronounced mews) for short.[10]

Philanthropy edit

Every five years, the organization selects a national philanthropy as beneficiary. Through this process, we are able to dedicate ourselves as a national organization to aiding a single charity organization for five years at a time, and continue to assist many more organizations in the future. Previous philanthropies include:

Mu Sigma Upsilon's current philanthropy for 2021-2026 is: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)[11]

Mu Sigma Upsilon Foundation edit

The Mu Sigma Upsilon Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization. The mission of the foundation is to provide essential support and financial resources for the educational, leadership, and charitable purposes of the sorority to enrich the lives of members and assist in improving the community in which they serve.[12]

T.I.A.R.A. Interest Group edit

T.I.A.R.A. stands for Togetherness, Independence, Academics, Respect and Achievement. The T.I.A.R.A. Group is the official interest group of Mu Sigma Upsilon. Being an active T.I.A.R.A. gives interested ladies the opportunity to get an in-depth look at the sisterhood. They experience first-hand what it would be like to be a sister of MSU through event/meeting planning, programming, fundraising and networking. It also allows for the prospective members to build relationships with one another and Mu Sigma Upsilon sisters.[13]

Chapters edit

Undergraduate Chapters edit

Mu Sigma Upsilon does not name their chapters by the Greek alphabet, but rather chapters are given culturally significant names.[14] Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are indicated in italic.

Chapter Established Institution City State Status Reference
Amazona November 21, 1981 Rutgers University–New Brunswick New Brunswick NJ Inactive [15][16]
Siksika November 30, 1983 William Paterson University Wayne NJ Active [15]
Conquistadoras April 12, 1989 New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark NJ Inactive [15][16]
Matriarca November 29, 1990 Montclair State University Montclair NJ Active [15]
Aborigena April 17, 1991 Rutgers University-Newark Newark NJ Active [15]
Mosaic April 25, 1991 Kean University Union NJ Active [15]
Indigena December 1, 1994 New Jersey City University and Saint Peter's University Jersey City NJ Active [15]
Destinidas April 12, 1995 Bloomfield College Bloomfield NJ Active [15]
Zaona November 18, 1995 Stockton University Pomona NJ Active [15]
Jhansi November 10, 1996 Pennsylvania State University - Main University Park PA Active [15]
Godasiyo November 10, 1996 Penn State Altoona Altoona PA Inactive [15][16]
Palenque November 14, 1998 Bloomsburg University Bloomsburg PA Active [15]
Narra November 19, 1998 New York University New York City NY Inactive [15][16]
Emeritus November 14, 1999 Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah NJ Inactive [15][16]
Concordia November 14, 1999 University of Connecticut Storrs CT Active [15]
Abrianeme March 16, 2001 College of New Jersey Ewing NJ Active [15]
Devi March 9, 2002 University of Kansas Lawrence KS Inactive [15][16]
Anansi March 24, 2002 Cornell University Ithaca NY Inactive [16]
Evadne March 24, 2002 Le Moyne College Syracuse NY Inactive [15][16]
Haumea March 15, 2003 University of Central Florida Orlando FL Active [15]
Xurima March 20, 2003 Seton Hall University South Orange NJ Inactive [15][16]
Genesis November 1, 2003 Kutztown University Kutztown PA Active [15]
Yazi March 10, 2004 Florida Memorial College Miami FL Inactive [15][16]
Orisha March 28, 2004 State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz NY Inactive [15][16]
Quinquatria March 26, 2005 Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken NJ Inactive [15][16]
Nysa March 26, 2005 SUNY Oneonta Oneonta NY Active [15]
Vathara May 1, 2005 Johnson & Wales University, Florida Miami FL Inactive [15][16]
Lazuline November 12, 2005 Millersville University Millersville PA Active [15]
Celtic November 20, 2005 Old Dominion University Norfolk VA Inactive [15][16]
Gaia April 1, 2006 Syracuse University Syracuse NY Inactive [15][16]
Kyathira April 1, 2006 University at Buffalo and Buffalo State University Buffalo NY Active [16]
Themiskyra April 6, 2006 SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury NY Inactive [15][16]
Cheveyo 2006 Lamar University Beaumont TX Inactive [16]
Hasinai April 8, 2006 Stephen F. Austin University Nacogdoches TX Active [15]
Zotikon April 13, 2006 Hunter College; St. Francis College New York City NY Active [15]
Dhyani April 15, 2007 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte NC Active [15]
Janus April 6, 2008 Barry University Miami FL Inactive [15][16]
Novastella April 13, 2008 West Chester University West Chester PA Active [15]
Kailasa April 11, 2009 University of Georgia Athens GA Active [15]
Ionia April 11, 2009 East Stroudsburg University East Stroudsburg PA Active [15]
Freyja April 19, 2009 Rowan University Glassboro NJ Active [15]
Bodhati December 5, 2009 Virginia Tech Blacksburg VA Inactive [15][16]
Roma April 17, 2010 George Washington University Washington DC Inactive [15][16]
Rhea April 18, 2010 Penn State Abington Abington PA Inactive [15][16]
Boetia April 16, 2011 Georgia College & State University Milledgeville GA Active [15]
Arikara November 18, 2011 University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney NE Active [15]
Kumi April 1, 2012 SUNY Oswego Oswego NY Active [15]
Yemaya April 22, 2012 Lehigh University Bethlehem PA Active [15]
Miakardia November 10, 2012 Bucknell University Lewisburg PA Active [15]
Kimimela November 11, 2012 University of South Florida Tampa FL Active [15]
Zarya April 6, 2013 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth North Dartmouth MA Active [15]
Sekhmet November 2, 2013 Marshall University Huntington WV Active [15]
Akasa November 23, 2013 Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver CO Inactive [15][16]
Atitlán 2014 Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana PA Inactive [15][16]
Samara November 16, 2014 Rutgers University–Camden Camden NJ Active [15]
Úthaulia April 1, 2017 Lycoming College Williamsport PA Active [15]
Wujimu April 7, 2017 DePauw University Greencastle IN Active [15]
Dianaia March 31, 2018 University of Rochester Rochester NY Inactive [15][16]
Maulana November 10, 2018 SUNY Plattsburgh Plattsburgh NY Inactive [15][16]
Artemisia November 17, 2018 Felician University Rutherford NJ Inactive [15][16]
Ọkụ March 30, 2019 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus Teaneck NJ Inactive [15][16]
Horaeziel April 6, 2019 SUNY Cortland Cortland NY Inactive [15][16]
Arcus April 13, 2019 SUNY Albany Albany NY Inactive [15][16]
Eden November 16, 2019 Moravian College Bethlehem PA Active [15]
Huitaca April 23, 2021 Lafayette College Easton PA Active [15]
Saqqara April 1, 2023 Binghamton University Binghamton NY Active [15]
Bellatrix 1991 Memorial for Dearly Departed Sisters Active [17]

Graduate Chapter (Aretias) edit

Mu Sigma Upsilon's Aretias Graduate Chapter provides alumnae members with a system to become mentors and advisers to each other and to undergraduates. The chapter remains actively involved in academic programs at undergraduate chapters and surrounding communities with or without an undergraduate chapter. The Aretias Chapter also offers interested women the opportunity to join the sorority at the Graduate level.[18] Women interested in joining MSU’s Aretias Chapter would have completed an undergraduate program with a minimum 3.0 grade point average, or be actively pursuing a degree of higher education. [19]

Local Aretias Chapters:

  • Aretias North New Jersey
  • Aretias Pennsylvania
  • Aretias New York
  • Aretias New England
  • Aretias Central Florida

References edit

  1. ^ The Amazonian magazine
  2. ^ "Who We Are". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. 2014-09-04. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  3. ^ "Who We Are". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
  4. ^ "Our History". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority. 4 September 2014.
  5. ^ "Founding Mothers". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority. 4 September 2014.
  6. ^ "Multiculturalism". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority. Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  7. ^ "The Inclusive Sorority". The Courant. Retrieved 2003-03-18.
  8. ^ "New Jersey City University sorority will hold "R.A.C.E."". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
  9. ^ "R.A.C.E.<". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority. 4 September 2014.
  10. ^ "Our History". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. 2014-09-04. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  11. ^ "National Philanthropy". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. 2022-03-07. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  12. ^ "Mu Sigma Upsilon Foundation". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. 2017-08-19. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  13. ^ "Join MSU". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. 2014-09-04. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  14. ^ "Undergraduate Chapters". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (December 3, 2022) Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed January 24, 2022.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad "Undergraduate Chapters". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. 2014-09-04. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  17. ^ "Bellatrix Chapter". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. 2014-09-04. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  18. ^ "Aretias (Graduate Chapter)". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority. Archived from the original on 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
  19. ^ "Aretias (Graduate Chapter)". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. 2014-09-04. Retrieved 2023-02-26.