In December, the Alpha Phi sorority announced its plan to "revitalize" Duke's chapter--a process that entailed retiring all current members and starting a new Alpha Phi chapter through informal rush.
With spring semester nearly complete, Alpha Phi officials say the new group is on its way to rebirth here at the University.
The revitalization began this semester, and Allison Mills, Alpha Phi's adviser said "everything is going according to plan."
The recreation of Alpha Phi is centered around two components: marketing and informal rush. Mills describes the marketing procedure as "spending one-on-one time with the [Panhellenic Council] and [Interfraternity Council] in attempts to get to know the two groups better."
Informal rush has been successful so far. Representatives declined to give names, but said the new chapter has already extended a few bids to prospective members.
Educational Leadership Consultant Beth Spooner said the informal rush process will continue through all of next year, with "aggressive recruitment of sophomore and junior girls." Spooner added that the new Alpha Phi chapter has yet to decide whether it will take part in Panhel's formal rush process in January 2002.
As the new Alpha Phi chapter has found early success, so has the alumnae chapter that formed in order for the revitalization to take place.
Brianne Barker, a member of the Alpha Phi alumnae chapter, said the group is "more relaxed" and that the members get to spend time getting to know one another. "We're not constantly working for recruitment," she said.
The alumnae group still holds weekly meetings and social events, but it operates independently of the new Alpha Phi chapter. "We are really happy with the way things are going for us," Barker said. "We've gotten everything we hoped for."
But she cannot yet predict the success of the new sorority group.
"It's too early to tell how the new chapter will be. We've given up a lot for the revitalization process, so we're hoping it will be successful," she said.
The next step for Alpha Phi involves continued marketing and recruitment of new members. An Alpha Phi consultant will be on hand throughout the next academic year to help the new chapter along.
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