To enhance your college experience! Being Greek means participating in community service, scholastic achievement, social activities, and being part of an organization that gives you lifelong benefits.
To hold ourselves to the highest standards of academic excellence, lifelong friendship, and commitment to community and person development.
The Sororities
Alpha Phi
National Founding Date: October 10, 1972
CSM Founding Date: November 5, 2000
Colors: Silver and Bordeaux
Symbols: Ivy Leaf and Teddy Bear
Flowers: Lilly-of-the-valley, forget-me-not
National Philanthropies: Alpha Phi Foundation, Forget-Me-Not Fund
Open Motto: “Union hand in hand”
Sisterhood Events: Glenwood Springs Soak, snowshoeing, intramural sports, Formals, M-Climb, Jock Jam Party, and much more!
Bio: Alpha Phi wasfounded in a time where women were viewed as merely housewives and nothing more. Women in the educational system were looked down upon and even opposed; our ten founders were seeking friends that they could sympathize wuth. Alpha Phi was founded in 1872 at Syracuse University. It was the first women's organization to use Greek letters as an emblem. Alpha Phi is an International Women's Fraternity because it was formed before the word sorority was coined. It became international when Xi chapter was chartered at the University of Toronto in 1906.
Alpha Phi's colors were originally gold and blue, but in 1879, noting that a fraternity had similar colors, they were changed to silver and Bordeaux. Our flowers are lily of the valley and gold forget-me-not. The fraternity's symbol is the Ivy Leaf and the constellation is Ursa Major, "the Great Bear". Our mascot, the Phi bear, represents our constellation and was adopted in 1974. Our public motto is "union hand in hand".
The Iota Zeta Chapter of Alpha Phi at the Colorado School of Mines was chartered in 2000. We had 36 founders! Iota Seta moved into its beautiful house in 2004. Alpha Phi was founded upon great values and still keeps them; Iota Zeta is no exception.
Pi Beta Phi
National Founding Date: April 28, 1867
CSM Founding Date: February 1, 1986
Colors: Wine and Silver Blue
Symbols: Arrow and Angel
Flowers: Wine Carnation
National Philanthropies: Links to Literacy, Arrowmont School of Arts
Open Motto: “To promote friendship, develop women of intellect, and integrity, cultivate leadership potential, and enrich lives through community service”
Sisterhood Events: Chapter Retreat, etiquette dinner, Pink Party, weekly social events, Saturday Breakfast Club, Yaya in the Wawa water fight.
Sigma Kappa
National Founding Date: November 9, 1874
CSM Founding Date: January 26, 1980
Colors: Lavender and Maroon
Symbols: Dove and Heart
Flowers: Violet
National Philanthropies: Alzheimer’s Disease, Inherit the Earth, Maine Seacoast Mission.
Open Motto: “One heart, one way.”
Sisterhood Events: Sisterhood Retreat, karaoke, white elephant gift exchanges, scrap booking, decades parties, bowling, BBQs, Mr. Big Digger male beauty pageant.
Bio:Sigma Kappa Zeta Pi Chapter is a collection of disparate individuals with very different hobbies and lifestyles—from athletes to ballet dancers to musicians—who have lived in many countries such as Portugal, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada. They are happy, alacritous people who work hard but also know how to have a good time. They are quirky, deeply loyal, and care for each other unconditionally. For these girls, Sigma Kappa is home. Perhaps that’s because Sigma Kappa is a place where they can get away from all the guys at Mines. Perhaps it’s because they all have common goals—to grow intellectually, spiritually, and socially throughout college. But probably it’s because every Sigma Kappa knows her sisters will always be there to care for her, and that she will care for them.
Sigma Kappa’s philanthropy projects are an integral part of the girls’ caring mindset. They do not simply raise money for faceless charities but instead get involved in a personal way. This can be seen through their focus on gerontology. Helping to brighten local nursing homes with hand-painted flower pots, sponsoring dances for senior citizens, and raising money for Alzheimer’s research are important parts of Sigma Kappa’s activities. Another way they reach out to individuals in need is by helping provide for poor fishing families in Maine (where Sigma Kappa was founded). Sigma Kappas work to provide these families with gifts and vital necessities during the cold winter months. The girls’ effort to connect on a personal level also extends to the Golden community through the chapter’s highway cleanup program. The sisters understand the importance of being involved in the place they live—both at Mines and with other people in the community.
Along with philanthropy, schoolwork—as unusual as it may sound—has a special place in the hearts of Sigma Kappas. They are proud to be attending a difficult and respected school. Improving grades through group study hours and utilization of class resources, as well as a lot of encouragement, is always a primary focus at Sigma Kappa. Since the founders of the sorority were the first women to attend their college, their goal was to take advantage of their privilege in being educated and learn all they could, as well as to show the male world that women could be just as successful in school as men. At Mines, because women are much in the minority, the story of the founders—and focus of the sorority—has a special meaning.
Just as the founders did, the girls of Sigma Kappa have high expectations for their futures. These include medical school, graduate school, and a wide range of science and engineering fields. As they grow through college they are inspired by each others’ dedication and passion. All feel that during the darkest times in school, their sisters have been there to encourage them, to help with their work, and to help them focus on the dimensions of personal growth that cannot be taught in a classroom.
What is a sorority?
It is a women’s organization founded on the precepts of honor and knowledge that encourages lifelong bonds of friendship through shared collegiate experiences.