Mu Sigma Upsilon

Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority Incorporated (ΜΣΥ) is a multicultural sorority associated with the National Multicultural Greek Council. It is a non-profit Greek letter organization of college-educated women committed to academics, unification of all women and the services for their communities and universities.

History

By the beginning of the 1980s, more and more women from culturally diverse backgrounds were pursuing college degrees. Five women came together and decided to create a support system for these women, a student organization that would celebrate diversity and foster progress for years to come. These five women founded Mu Sigma Upsilon, with the intent to unify women while observing their differences.

Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Incorporated was founded on November 21, 1981, at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, as a Multicultural Greek Letter Society, and celebrating our diverse sisterhood for more than 33 years. The founders were five sophisticated women determined to establish an organization that brought together all women. It was their limitless vision that enabled these determined women to break down the barriers and build the bridges that connected women from all different parts of the world. Hence, our motto “Mujeres Siempre Unidas” or “Women Always United.”

Today Mu Sigma Upsilon has grown to a membership of hundreds of women with recognized chapters reaching from Connecticut all the way across to Texas and expanding rapidly. Although the 21st century poses different challenges for college women, one thing remains the same – Mu Sigma Upsilon is still a home away from home for all its sisters and together, women can do more than they ever thought possible.

Founding Mothers

Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. was originally founded as a Social Fellowship on November 21, 1981 at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. The founders were five women determined to establish an organization that brought together all women. It was their limitless vision that enabled these determined women to break down the barriers and build the bridges that connected these women. Hence, their motto "Mujeres Siempre Unidas," or "Women Always United. As the years went by, the members of Mu Sigma Upsilon saw many Greek organizations emerging on university campuses and decided to become a Greek lettered organization.

The five Founding Mothers of Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. are:

• Eve Bracero
• Lillian Sierra
• Karinee Candelario
• Ruth Gonzalez
• Sylvia Vigo

MSU has grown to a membership of hundreds of women with chapters in 14 states across the country including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Kansas, Florida, Virginia, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Washington D.C, Nebraska, Massachusetts, West Virginia, and Colorado.

Multiculturalism

In 1990, the founding mothers saw the need for a sorority that crossed the societal boundaries of race, religion, culture, and class. While other Greek organizations are and continue to grow more diverse, Mu Sigma Upsilon's foundation is based on diversity and their sisters embrace multicultural ideals and interests; They speak to use the sorority as a vehicle to educate the surrounding campus and community on issues of diversity.

Mu Sigma Upsilon recognizes that diversity is not limited to race, and they are proud to have achieved a sisterhood which is quite diverse with respect to not only race, but religious heritage, geographic origin, sexual orientation, socioeconomic class, nationality, political ideology, and even choice of major and career. Ultimately, multiculturalism is the belief that there is inherent value in discovering, understanding, and appreciating all the ways in which people are different from each other. It is for this reason that they differentiate ourselves, in name and in purpose, from Greek organizations with the word “MUlticultural”

Goals

Academic Excellence

The members of Mu Sigma Upsilon believe that with the knowledge gained through a higher education, women can succeed in our future endeavors. Within each chapter is a system to ensure academic excellence among their sisters and interested ladies. With study groups and academic workshops they are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of academics.

Unity Amongst All Women

Through unity there is strength, through strength there is power, and with power, women can overcome any obstacle. With annual retreats, conventions and banquets the ladies of Mu Sigma Upsilon strive to strengthen their bonds as women and sisters. They reach out to all women with forums relevant to the needs in today's society with forums on all topics including health, professionalism and relationships.

To Be Active In The University And Community

All people are extensions of the communities in which they were raised. In giving back to them, Mu Sigma Upsilon is ensuring progressive growth and improvement for future generations. MSU provides services through formal or informal partnerships with local nonprofit and community-based organizations, as designed to improve the quality of life for community residents or to solve particular problems related to community needs such as health care, child care, literacy training, education (including tutorial services), welfare, social services, transportation, housing and neighborhood improvement, public safety, crime prevention and control, recreation, rural development, and community improvement, students with disabilities, etc.

This multicultural sorority does not allow their modest size get in the way, of executing dynamic programs throughout the year, that are geared toward the empowerment of women, diversity, education, and community involvement.

National Philanthropy

Mu Sigma Upsilon is unique in the fact that every two years the national organization selects a new national philanthropy as a way to dedicate themselves to aiding a single charitable organization while foreseeing to assist many more organizations in the future.

Mu Sigma Upsilon's National Philanthropy for 2014-2016 academic years will be the The Girl Effect. The Girl Effect is a movement based on the unique potential of adolescent girls to end poverty for themselves and the world. It’s about getting girls on to the global development stage and driving massive resources to them. It is based on the common belief in the field of International Development that when given the opportunity, girls and women are more effective at lifting themselves and their families out of poverty, thereby having a multiplier effect within their villages, cities, and nations.

R.A.C.E.

R.A.C.E. (Recognizing and Celebrating Ethnicities) was established at Rutgers University’s New Brunswick, NJ Campus in 1994 as a forum through which cultural diversity could be highlighted and showcased in a new and exciting way. Through R.A.C.E., both the multicultural nature of our organization, as well as that of the community around us, is demonstrated.

R.A.C.E. has taken the form of a variety show involving performances from various cultural organizations represented on campus. Members of campus cultural organizations perform in costume and provide cultural displays for table-top exhibition during the event. Sisters sometimes wear national costumes pertaining to their cultural background or heritage and provide sample delicacies from all parts of the world!

From dance to song, music to the spoken word, R.A.C.E. has become a part of the Multicultural Blueprint of Mu Sigma Upsilon and is presented at various schools where MSU maintains active chapters. R.A.C.E. is the ultimate educational experience and a true artistic celebration of differences that, ultimately, bring us all closer together. For almost 20 years, this event has upheld our multicultural tradition while promoting diversity and a deeper understanding of cultures, as well as challenging stereotypes throughout the university and community.

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

T.I.A.R.A. stands for Togetherness, Independence, Academics, Respect and Achievement The T.I.A.R.A. Group is the official interest group of Mu Sigma Upsilon. Being an active T.I.A.R.A. allows MSU hopefuls the opportunity to get an in-depth look at the sisterhood. They experience first-hand what it would be like to be a sister of Mu through planning, programming, fundraising and networking. It also allows for the prospective members to get to know one another as well as Mu Sigma Upsilon sisters.

Chapters

Undergraduate Chapters

Undergraduate Chapters of Mu Sigma Upsilon

Name	School	City	State	Established
Amazona	Rutgers University	New Brunswick	NJ	1981-11-21
Siksika	William Paterson University	Wayne	NJ	1983-11-30
Las Conquistadoras	New Jersey Institute of Technology	Newark	NJ	1989-04-12
Matriarca	Montclair State University	Montclair	NJ	1990-11-29
Aborigena	Rutgers University-Newark	Newark	NJ	1991-04-17
Mosaic	Kean University	Union	NJ	1991-04-25
Indigena	New Jersey City University; Saint Peter's University	Jersey City	NJ	1994-12-01
Destinidas	Bloomfield College	Bloomfield	NJ	1995-04-12
Zaona	Stockton University	Pomona	NJ	1995-11-18
Jhansi	The Pennsylvania State University - Main	University Park	PA	1996-11-10
Godisayo	Penn State Altoona	Altoona	PA	1996-11-10
Palenque	Bloomsburg University	Bloomsburg	PA	1998-11-14
Narra	New York University	New York	NY	1998-11-19
Emeritus	Ramapo College	Mahwah	NJ	1999-11-14
Concordia	University of Connecticut	Storrs	CT	1999-11-14
Abrianeme	--	Ewing	NJ	2001-03-16
Devi	--	Lawrence	KS	2002-03-09
Anansi	--	Ithaca	NY	2002-03-24
Evadne	--	Syracuse	NY	2002-03-24
Haumea	University of Central Florida	Orlando	FL	2003-03-15
Xurima	Seton Hall University	South Orange	NJ	2003-03-20
Genesis	Kutztown University	Kutztown	PA	2003-11-01
Orisha	--	New Paltz	NY	2004-03-28
Yazi	--	Miami	FL	2004-03-10
Quinquatria	--	Hoboken	NJ	2005-03-26
Nysa	SUNY Oneonta	Oneonta	NY	2005-03-26
Vathara	Johnson & Wales University - North Miami	Miami	FL	2005-05-01
Lazuline	Millersville University	Millersville	PA	2005-11-12
Celtic	--	Norfolk	VA	2005-11-20
Gaia	Syracuse University	Syracuse	NY	2006-04-01
Kyathira	University of Buffalo & Buffalo State	Buffalo	NY	2006-04-01
Themiskyra	SUNY Old Westbury	Old Westbury	NY	2006-04-06
Cheveyo	--	Beaumont	TX	2006-04-08
Hasinai	Stephen F. Austin University	Nacogdoches	TX	2006-04-08
Zotikon	Hunter College; St. Francis College	New York	NY	2006-04-13
Dhyani	University of North Carolina at Charlotte	Charlotte	NC	2007-04-15
Janus	--	Miami	FL	2008-04-06
Novastella	West Chester University	West Chester	PA	2008-04-13
Kailasa	University of Georgia	Athens	GA	2009-04-11
Ionia	East Stroudsburg University	East Stroudsburg	PA	2009-04-11
Freyja	Rowan University	Glassboro	NJ	2009-04-19
Bodhati	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	Blacksburg	VA	2009-12-05
Roma	--	Washington	DC	2010-04-17
Rhea	The Pennsylvania State University - Abington	Abington	PA	2010-04-18
Boetia	Georgia College & State University	Milledgeville	GA	2011-04-16
Arikara	University of Nebraska at Kearney	Kearney	NE	2011-11-18
Kumi	SUNY Oswego	Oswego	NY	2012-04-01
Yemaya	Lehigh University	Bethlehem	PA	2012-04-22
Miakardia	Bucknell University	Lewisburg	PA	2012-11-10
Kimimela	University of South Florida	Tampa	FL	2012-11-11
Zarya	University of Massachusetts Dartmouth	North Dartmouth	MA	2013-04-06
Sekhmet	Marshall University	Huntington	WV	2013-11-02
Akasa	--	Denver	CO	2013-11-23
Atitlán	Indiana University of Pennsylvania	Indiana	PA	2014-11-08
Samara	Rutgers University - Camden	Camden	NJ	2014-11-16

Aretias Chapter

Mu Sigma Upsilon's Aretias Graduate Chapter provides the organization with a strong support system through which members become mentors, advisers and great outlets for networking possibilities. The chapter remains actively involved in academic programs at undergraduate chapters as well as surrounding communities with or without an undergraduate chapter.

The chapter also offers interested women the opportunity to join the sorority at the Graduate level and is therefore composed of women who have completed their undergraduate studies as well as those who joined the organization at the graduate level.

External links

• Official website