Progressive sorority moves toward chapter status
Published June 6, 2007
The Delta colony of Gamma Rho Lambda, a national sorority for progressive women, is looking to build its membership after gaining colony status in April.
The colony, founded at MU in the spring of 2007 by senior Ashlee Kolieboi and junior Ashley Price, is focusing on recruitment, Vice President Kelley Robinson said.
"We're looking to build a strong sisterhood and foster a community that hasn't been represented and bring them into the Greek community," Robinson said.
The group gained colony status in April after a visit from Lindsey Smith, vice president of expansion for the national organization. The Delta colony will petition the national organization of Gamma Rho Lambda in fall of 2009 to become a full-fledged chapter, and Robinson said the colony "wants a strong core group of women."
Smith said she sees an opportunity for the MU colony to be successful, citing the college town atmosphere of Columbia.
"The college town is a great advantage in recruiting members as well as nurturing a diverse membership," Smith stated in an e-mail. "The GRLs at Mizzou have taken full advantage of this situation and are doing a fantastic job at building the infrastructure to create sustainable success."
GRL has 18 dues-paying members, Robinson said, but the organization plans to increase that number. The colony sponsored an event in April called "New GRLs on the Block" to raise awareness about the group. Robinson was pleased with the results.
"We got all of our members to show up, which was great," Robinson said. "That event was really about getting exposure and showing the community we can put on these really well-done events."
Robinson said the event was a chance to see how sorority members would work together.
Gamma Rho Lambda will continue to seek out more students and will have representation at Summer Welcome for new students who might be interested. The group is also focusing on development among the current members.
"It's not enough to bring this group together," Robinson said. "You have to foster development."
The colony is developing academic resources and support groups, as well as emphasizing the social and community aspects of the group.
Robinson said the group also plans to work with organizations such as the Women's and Gender Studies Undergraduate Organization, the Women's Center and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center.
Robinson said the group is looking for "ways in which we can feed people onto other organizations" because the groups deal with similar subject matter.The colony will play host its own rush week in the fall to attract new members.
"All of our activities for rush week are pretty standard," Robinson said.
The rush week runs from Aug. 27 to Aug. 31.
"All events are open to everyone," Robinson said. "All of our stuff is inclusive of anyone who wants to come out."
Robinson, who is already a member of the Panhellenic Council community, said people are inquiring more about the colony as the group becomes better known. She predicts more feedback next year, when the colony can apply to become an associate member of the Multicultural Greek Council, a council in Greek Life that acts as an umbrella organization for diversity-oriented Greek organizations.
"It'll be interesting to see how other organizations react when we start participating in traditionally Greek events," Robinson said.
Robinson said the incorporation of Gamma Rho Lambda into Greek culture would be beneficial for members of the colony, as well as other members of the Greek community.