Alpha Omricron Pi celebrated the 75th anniversary of their MSU Chapter Beta Gamma this Saturday. They shut down the street and provided food, entertainment, and talked about their experiences with Alpha Omicron Pi. Colligates, alums, and the vice president of the sorority came to help celebrate and talked about how the sisterhood affects them.
The Beta Gamma Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi hasn’t always had an easy time at MSU.
Despite a closure of the chapter in 1969 for two decades, the sorority, located at 333 Charles St., celebrated its 75th anniversary at MSU on Saturday. Linda Grandolfo, the nationwide vice president of the sorority, was present at the event and said the anniversary was a monumental event for the MSU chapter.
“(75 years is) an amazing accomplishment,” Grandolfo said. “It’s really a showing of the commitment (members) have not only to their own chapter, but to AOPi (nationwide).”
About 100 Alpha Omicron Pi sisters showed up Saturday afternoon to celebrate at a block party that closed the street. After speeches from AOPi alums, guests were entertained by the a cappella group Spartan Dischords, magician Jeff Olds and a DJ.
“It was a little bit different than your normal formal 75th anniversary party,” said Lauren Wreford, a finance senior who has been a member of the sorority since her freshman year. “I think it was nice to have a block party.”
Alpha Omicron Pi was founded 112 years ago at Columbia University. Although the MSU chapter was chartered 75 years ago on September 22, 1934, with 13 members, the sorority experienced a 20-year shutdown in 1969 because of a lack of interest in the Greek system. However, when interest in the Greek system picked up, AOPi returned to campus in May 1989.
Although the MSU chapter shut down for 20 years, Grandolfo said it has a good reputation in the community, mostly through its philanthropy.
“They continue to grow and to grow, to excel and to really enjoy being with each other,” Grandolfo said.
Werford said that the biggest change she has seen at the MSU chapter is the number of members. She said the chapter has about 80 girls.
“When I came back for the fall semester (2007) there were only 43 actives at the time,” Werford said. “I’m predicting at the end of this recruitment, we’ll be at … 115 (members).”
MSU chapter president psychology senior Whitney Smith said she’s excited for the chapter’s future at MSU.
“We have our downfalls but we always find our way back up,” Smith said. “I can’t wait to celebrate our 100th year.”
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