New sorority joins WUSTL campus

Nov. 25, 2008 -- The Alpha Omicron Pi (AOPi) Fraternity for women will be the seventh National Panhellenic Conference organization to join the Greek community at Washington University in St. Louis, announced Ryan Jasen Henne, director of Greek Life. Colonization is slated for spring 2009.

"The Greek Life Office, and the rest of the Greek community, is excited and optimistic that this organization will bring a new population of women into the system and allow them the chance to experience new leadership initiatives, as well as learning and philanthropic opportunities their Greek affiliation can provide them," Henne said.

Alpha Omicron Pi will work with the Washington University Women's Panhellenic Association and the Greek Life Office to identify a colonization timeline to ensure their successful transition to campus. Representatives of the fraternity will be on campus December 1, 2008 to meet with student leaders and Greek Life staff. In the coming months, AOPi will train local alumnae as advisors and hire a resident consultant to work with the colony full time.

Currently, there are six nationally recognized sororities, and 11 nationally recognized fraternities present on campus. The fraternities have houses and the sororities have suites in the Women's Building. The Greek system at Washington University makes up approximately 27 percent of the undergraduate population.

AOPi was founded in 1897 at Barnard College of Columbia University. Alpha Omicron Pi is an international women's fraternity inspiring academic excellence and lifelong learning, developing leadership skills through service to the fraternity and the community and promoting friendship for a lifetime.

For more information, contact Henne at (314) 935-7985 or ryan.henne@wustl.edu.