In the dead of winter earlier this month, hundreds of freshman women lined up outside 12 different sorority houses and awaited another session of small talk lasting precisely 30 minutes. But the prospective members of Sigma Alpha Iota did no such thing — they sang karaoke instead.
SAI sorority and Phi Mu Alpha fraternity are the two Greek organizations on campus dedicated to music. Although members are not required to be in the School of Music — and in fact most aren’t — the sorority and fraternity provide a Greek experience devoted specifically to one common interest.
“We do have a GPA requirement of 2.5, but other than that, the only things we look for are that members enjoy music and be involved on campus,” Weinberg junior Sarah Anderson said.
Anderson has been involved with SAI for two and a half years, and also is a member of Delta Zeta sorority. Because SAI is not a Panhellenic organization, Anderson is able to do both.
“The main difference is that DZ has more social events, and SAI has more performance opportunities,” Anderson said.
SAI conducts rush in fall and winter, with fall rush exclusively for upperclassmen. Women attend three to four events, such as a formal dinner with performances, an international lunch or this year’s ’80s karaoke gathering. After that, bids are given out and the pledge period begins.
Anderson said SAI’s biggest philanthropy is helping Girl Scouts earn their music badges.
“It’s fun because the girls are so excited and full of energy,” Anderson said. “We have different workshops, like make your own instrument.”
Amanda Harris, a fifth-year piano performance and German double major and president of SAI, said the sorority’s impact on her college career has been huge.
“My mom was in SAI, and I wanted the experience of doing something with music without the pressure,” Harris said. “It’s opened the door to so many new people that I would never have met if it weren’t for SAI.”
This December, Northwestern’s chapter of SAI will become the first nationally to reach 100 years of continuous membership. According to Harris, planning already is under way. A two-day gala, scheduled for April, will include a formal at the Hilton Hotel and a concert at Pick-Staiger featuring female faculty members.
“The concert is celebrating women in music,” Harris said.
Phi Mu Alpha, the music fraternity, also stages performances and music-related events throughout the year. Music freshman Peter Pachak-Robie played in his first pledge class concert two weeks after initiation.
“I got to know most of the guys through marching band,” he said. “It’s a place to use other people to expand your own musicality.”
The rush process for PMA consisted of several nights of optional activities or discussions. Pachak-Robie said he hadn’t been to any events before he got a bid. This year’s 11-member pledge class is the largest in the chapter’s history.
Both the sorority and the fraternity require members to be involved in an all-chapter choir, which rehearses at least weekly.
“I got the opportunity to sing in a choir and play in a jazz band, which I have never done before,” Pachak-Robie said.
Reach Kristyn Schiavone at [email protected].
