At a university where female students may often feel outnumbered, it can be a challenge for a young woman to feel at home among her peers.

However, as of fall 2008, the Theta Epsilon chapter of Alpha Delta Pi has called Methodist University its home, giving women across campus a place to come together as sisters.

The first and only national sorority on campus, Alpha Delta Pi (nicknamed ADPi) was also the first secret society for women in the United States. Founded on May 15, 1851 by six students at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, Georgia, the sorority made its debut at the world’s first university chartered to grant degrees to women. With a rap sheet boasting so many firsts, is it any mystery why the slogan, “The First. The Finest. Forever.” was chosen to represent the fraternal organization?

The sorority includes 137 active chapters across the U.S. and Canada, with 10 other chapters right here in North Carolina (Duke, NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, UNCW, UNCC, UNCG, Appalachian State, East Carolina, Queens U of Charlotte, and most recently Wake Forest).

As a philanthropic sorority, all the ADPi chapters join together to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities, which provides a comfortable, homey environment for seriously ill children and their families during long hospital stays. To date, the sorority has contributed over $3 million to 271 Ronald McDonald Houses in 30 countries. Also, Alpha Delta Pi sisters and alumnae often volunteer their time and efforts to local Houses.

Last spring, in just a few hours, Theta Epsilon chapter raised over $200 from students during the ‘Pie an ADPi’ event at MU’s annual Spring Fling. For one dollar, students and faculty could purchase a chance to smother a tin of whipped cream into the face of an ADPi of their choice. Although spoiling whipped cream and a 90 degree day undoubtedly do not go well together, the event was a financial success nonetheless.

This year, MU can expect to see more greek sponsored events than ever. ADPi is striving to solidify the new greek system on campus, and all the sisters are determined to get involved, give back to the community, and of course, have fun.

All female students are invited to attend the recruitment events beginning August 30, 2010 to see what Alpha Delta Pi has to offer, and to draw their own conclusions on the sorority sisters who boast, “We live for each other.”