Executive board members of sorority Beta Kappa Mu pose for a portrait on Michigan State University's campus.
It all started with a feeling, a feeling that the Muslim women attending Michigan State University needed something for them and founded by them. With more than 2,000 student organizations and none of them catering to serve this group of women, a change needed to be made.
On April 16, 2025, the Beta Kappa Mu Sorority Incorporated was founded at MSU with the goal of creating a welcoming, safe environment to foster the education of Muslim women. Although this was created primarily to be a safe space for Muslim women, anyone who is looking to seek sisters who value inclusivity, community service, and sisterhood are warmly welcomed.
“What really inspired me to create the sorority was the fact that there wasn’t any space for Muslim women,” Beta Kappa Mu founder and advertising and public relations graduate Siham Hassan said. “This is not only the first sorority but the first student organization that is just there for Muslim women and creating a space for them.”
To celebrate the beginning of this sisterhood, they held the very first Founding Flame ceremony that same day, which welcomed a new legacy to be born. Standing proudly with 20 members and one advisor, they have paved the way for many years to come.
“I would love to continue growing this organization to have that longevity and impact on the current girls but also the future girls,” Hassan said. “Creating a program that every single girl can be proud to be a part of and be glad to represent both on campus and off.”
This sisterhood was built upon SALAM, translated in Arabic to "peace be with you," the five guiding pillars of the chapter are service, advocacy, leadership, authenticity, and mentorship. These pillars are the very values that push the members to break barriers and uplift one another.
One of the pillars that is extremely important to the sisters of Beta Kappa Mu is service. Being able to serve their community and help give back is a huge importance to them. Currently they are devoting their philanthropic services to helping mentor high school students by planning events that are catered to them.
“This was crafted for the Muslim girls to have our own safe space, so I just loved the idea of being a part of something like that,” events coordinator and supply chain management senior Fatima Jarra said. “Having the opportunity to build strong relationships on campus, providing a hand, and being a sister to other Muslim women is something that stood out to me.”
Some of the other events that they are hosting center around sisterhood, including the most recent being a cookie decorating social. These are designed in a way to get as many people involved but also to start forming those sisterhood bonds.
“I am most excited about meeting other people,” new member and exploratory freshmen Rahma Aato said. “But also meeting people that have the same beliefs as me and someone who probably has gone through the same experiences as me, which is very meaningful to me.”
The founding of Beta Kappa Mu Sorority Incorporated is a significant milestone in the overall culture of Greek life on campus. Although they aren’t under a certain council yet, they are still a beacon of hope for change. Being a space that focuses on not only the importance of diversity, but also on leaving a path for all future generations of women to find sisterhood at such a large school.
