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Mu Sigma Upsilon

Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Incorporated (ΜΣΥ) is an American multicultural intercollegiate sorority. It was founded in 1981 at Rutgers University–New Brunswick and is recognized as the first multicultural sorority in the nation. Mu Sigma Upsilon was a founding member of the National Multicultural Greek Council. It is the sister organization of Lambda Sigma Upsilon, a Latino-based fraternity.

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Mu Sigma Upsilon
ΜΣΥ
FoundedNovember 21, 1981 (1981-11-21)
Rutgers University–New Brunswick
TypeSocial
AffiliationNMGC
StatusActive
EmphasisCultural Interest
ScopeNational
MottoMujeres Siempre Unidas
"Women Always United"
Colors  Baby Blue and   White
SymbolAmazon Woman
PublicationThe Amazonian 1
PhilanthropyNAACP
Chapters72
Members1,578 active
NicknameMSU, MUs, Amazonas, Sophisticated Ladies
HeadquartersP.O. Box 7728
North Bergen, New Jersey 07047
United States
Websitewww.msu1981.org

Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Incorporated (ΜΣΥ) is an American multicultural intercollegiate sorority. It was founded in 1981 at Rutgers University–New Brunswick and is recognized as the first multicultural sorority in the nation.2 Mu Sigma Upsilon was a founding member of the National Multicultural Greek Council. It is the sister organization of Lambda Sigma Upsilon, a Latino-based fraternity.

History

As the number of women from culturally diverse backgrounds pursuing higher education rose in the early 1980s, a need emerged for a dedicated support system. On November 21, 1981, five women—Eve Bracero, Lillian Sierra, Karinee Candelario, Ruth Gonzalez, and Sylvia Vigo—established Mu Sigma Upsilon at Rutgers University–New Brunswick as a social fellowship.

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.3 Mu Sigma Upsilon became a Greek-lettered organization in the early 1990s.4

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.56

Symbols

The sorority's motto is Mujeres Siempre Unidas or "Women Always United". Its colors are baby blue and white. Its mascot is the Amazon woman. Its nicknames are The Sophisticated Ladies or The MUs (pronounced mews).7 Its publication is The Amazonian.

Philanthropy

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)8

Mu Sigma Upsilon Foundation

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.9

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

T.I.A.R.A. is an acronym for Togetherness, Independence, Academics, Respect, and Achievement. As the official interest group for Mu Sigma Upsilon, the T.I.A.R.A. Group allows prospective members to engage with the organization’s operations prior to induction. Participants gain experience in event planning, programming, fundraising, and networking, while establishing relationships with both current sisters and other prospective members.

Chapters

Undergraduate Chapters

Mu Sigma Upsilon does not name their chapters by the Greek alphabet, but rather chapters are given culturally significant names.10 Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are indicated in italics.

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status Ref.
Amazona November 21, 1981 Rutgers University–New Brunswick New Brunswick, New Jersey Inactive 1112
Siksika November 30, 1983 William Paterson University Wayne, New Jersey Active 11
Conquistadoras April 12, 1989 New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, New Jersey Inactive 1112
Matriarca November 29, 1990 Montclair State University Montclair, New Jersey Active 11
Aborigena April 17, 1991 Rutgers University-Newark Newark, New Jersey Active 11
Mosaic April 25, 1991 Kean University Union Township, New Jersey Active 11
Bellatrix 1991 Memorial 13
Indigena December 1, 1994 New Jersey City University and Saint Peter's University Jersey City, New Jersey Active 11
Destinidas April 12, 1995 Bloomfield College Bloomfield, New Jersey Active 11
Zaona November 18, 1995 Stockton University Pomona, New Jersey Active 11
Jhansi November 10, 1996 Pennsylvania State University - Main University Park, Pennsylvania Active 11
Godasiyo November 10, 1996 Penn State Altoona Altoona, Pennsylvania Inactive 1112
Palenque November 14, 1998 Bloomsburg University Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania Active 11
Narra November 19, 1998 New York University New York City, New York Inactive 1112
Emeritus November 14, 1999 Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah, New Jersey Inactive 1112
Concordia November 14, 1999 University of Connecticut Storrs, Connecticut Active 11
Abrianeme March 16, 2001 College of New Jersey Ewing Township, New Jersey Inactive 11
Devi March 9, 2002 University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Inactive 1112
Anansi March 24, 2002 Cornell University Ithaca, New York Inactive 12
Evadne March 24, 2002 Le Moyne College Syracuse, New York Inactive 1112
Haumea March 15, 2003 University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Active 11
Xurima March 20, 2003 Seton Hall University South Orange, New Jersey Active 1112
Genesis November 1, 2003 Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown, Pennsylvania Active 11
Yazi March 10, 2004 Florida Memorial College Miami, Florida Inactive 1112
Orisha March 28, 2004 State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, New York Active 1112
Quinquatria March 26, 2005 Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, New Jersey Inactive 1112
Nysa March 26, 2005 SUNY Oneonta Oneonta, New York Active 11
Vathara May 1, 2005 Johnson & Wales University, Florida Miami, Florida Inactive 1112
Lazuline November 12, 2005 Millersville University Millersville, Pennsylvania Active 11
Celtic November 20, 2005 Old Dominion University Norfolk, Virginia Inactive 1112
Gaia April 1, 2006 Syracuse University Syracuse, New York Active 1112
Kyathira April 1, 2006 University at Buffalo and Buffalo State University Buffalo, New York Active 12
Themiskyra April 6, 2006 SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, New York Active 1112
Cheveyo 2006 Lamar University Beaumont, Texas Inactive 12
Hasinai April 8, 2006 Stephen F. Austin University Nacogdoches, Texas Inactive 11
Zotikon April 13, 2006 Hunter College; St. Francis College New York City, New York Active 11
Dhyani April 15, 2007 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina Active 11
Janus April 6, 2008 Barry University Miami, Florida Inactive 1112
Novastella April 13, 2008 West Chester University West Chester, Pennsylvania Active 11
Kailasa April 11, 2009 University of Georgia Athens, Georgia Active 11
Ionia April 11, 2009 East Stroudsburg University East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania Active 11
Freyja April 19, 2009 Rowan University Glassboro, New Jersey Active 11
Bodhati December 5, 2009 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia Inactive 1112
Roma April 17, 2010 George Washington University Washington, D.C. Inactive 1112
Rhea April 18, 2010 Penn State Abington Abington Township, Pennsylvania Inactive 1112
Boetia April 16, 2011 Georgia College & State University Milledgeville, Georgia Inactive 11
Arikara November 18, 2011 University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney, Nebraska Inactive 11
Kumi April 1, 2012 SUNY Oswego Oswego, New York Active 11
Yemaya April 22, 2012 Lehigh University Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Active 11
Miakardia November 10, 2012 Bucknell University Lewisburg, Pennsylvania Active 11
Kimimela November 11, 2012 University of South Florida Tampa, Florida Inactive 11
Zarya April 6, 2013 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Dartmouth, Massachusetts Active 11
Sekhmet November 2, 2013 Marshall University Huntington, West Virginia Inactive 11
Akasa November 23, 2013 Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, Colorado Inactive 1112
Atitlán 2014 Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana, Pennsylvania Inactive 1112
Samara November 16, 2014 Rutgers University–Camden Camden, New Jersey Active 11
Úthaulia April 1, 2017 Lycoming College Williamsport, Pennsylvania Active 11
Wujimu April 7, 2017 DePauw University Greencastle, Indiana Active 11
Dianaia March 31, 2018 University of Rochester Rochester, New York Active 1112
Maulana November 10, 2018 SUNY Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, New York Inactive 1112
Artemisia November 17, 2018 Felician University Rutherford, New Jersey Inactive 1112
Ọkụ March 30, 2019 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus Teaneck, New Jersey Inactive 1112
Horaeziel April 6, 2019 SUNY Cortland Cortland, New York Inactive 1112
Arcus April 13, 2019 SUNY Albany Albany, New York Active 1112
Eden November 16, 2019 Moravian College Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Inactive 11
Huitaca April 23, 2021 Lafayette College Easton, Pennsylvania Active 11
Saqqara April 1, 2023 Binghamton University Binghamton, New York Active 11
Dhoruba November 9, 2024 University of Delaware Newark, Delaware Active 11
Apaniiwa November 2025 Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Active

Graduate Chapter (Aretias)

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.14 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.15

Local Aretias Chapters:

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

See also

References

References

  1. The Amazonian magazine
  2. "Who We Are". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. September 4, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  3. "Multiculturalism". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  4. "The Inclusive Sorority". The Courant. Retrieved March 18, 2003.
  5. "New Jersey City University sorority will hold "R.A.C.E."". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  6. "R.A.C.E.<". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority. September 4, 2014.
  7. "Our History". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. September 4, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  8. "National Philanthropy". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. March 7, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  9. "Mu Sigma Upsilon Foundation". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. August 19, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  10. "Undergraduate Chapters". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority.
  11. Carroll Lurding; Fran Becque, eds. (December 3, 2022). "Women's Organizations (M): Mu Sigma Upsilon" (PDF). Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Retrieved January 24, 2022 – via University Library: Student Life and Culture Archives.
  12. "Undergraduate Chapters". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. September 4, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  13. "Bellatrix Chapter". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. September 4, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  14. "Aretias (Graduate Chapter)". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  15. "Aretias (Graduate Chapter)". Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. September 4, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
External links