With acceptance as its mantra, Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority hopes to reach out across campus to women interested in becoming part of greek life.
The sorority, founded in 2003, is the first national multicultural sorority at the University, according to its website.
Despite its eight-year presence, the three current Xi Phi members said they have had difficulty gaining recognition throughout campus.
“If we aren’t known as someone coming right in, we get looked over because we’re so small,” said Tiffany Reese, a senior member majoring in telecommunications and film. “By the time Get on Board Day comes along, it’s a little overwhelming.”
The sorority is not part of the Panhellenic Association; instead, it is part of the United Greek Council.
Rachel Brown, the president of DXP, said the sorority has attempted to have greek life mention their names to the potential new members who are not extended a bid during formal Fall Recruitment week, but their attempts have been largely ignored.
Calls to the office of greek life for a response were not returned.
Brown said she believes the sorority stands out from the other sororities of the Panhellenic society. Brown said DXP is very LGBTQ-friendly, a factor she said she believes is not often found elsewhere.
Part of the reason for the club’s anonymity is the fact that the sorority does not participate in recruitment week.
Instead, the sorority holds interest meetings in the Ferguson Center to get to know interested participants on a deeper level and further explain details that may otherwise get overlooked, Reese said.
Though Delta Xi Phi is smaller than most sororities, Brown said the girls take pride in this factor as it provides a means for better connections with their sisters.
The girls bond in several ways, including high involvement in philanthropy and dedication to the five pillars of friendship, sisterhood, community service, multiculturalism and the advancement of women through higher education.
DXP’s adviser, Erien Watson, said the girls are planning community service with a local children’s group and the event Take Back The Night, which stands against violence towards women. The girls also participate in several forums throughout the year, she said.
Several of the sorority forums are focused on integrating these five pillars.
“For example, we partnered with the Women’s Resource Center last year and hosted a forum centering around women in different career fields who broke the ‘glass ceiling,’” Brown said.
The chapter is one of only two chapters in the Southeast, according to its website.
Brown said this has caused a close connection to the other chapter, which is located at Mississippi State. Each year, the two meet at UA or MSU for bonding exercises and a formal.
Reese said Delta Xi Phi’s informational meetings will be held Sept. 13, 14, 27 and 28 in room 204A in the Ferg at 7 p.m. The dates for the October meetings are yet to be determined.
“We want you to support and believe in what we believe in and be as open minded as we are and want to have another family,” Reese said. “That’s what it is; it’s a sisterhood for life.”
