[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 148 (Wednesday, September 14, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E927]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





HONORING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE BETA BETA CHAPTER OF ALPHA PHI SORORITY 
                      AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELISSA SLOTKIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 14, 2022

  Ms. SLOTKIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the oldest 
women's organization in East Lansing, Michigan: the Alpha Phi, Beta 
Beta Chapter at Michigan State University. This year, they mark 100 
years of fellowship, sisterhood, and service to the community.
  But the history of this beloved organization dates back even farther 
than a century. On March 20, 1891, The Feronian Literacy Society was 
formed. It was the first all-women's group at the Michigan Agricultural 
College (M.A.C.), the institution that later became Michigan State 
University. According to the 1891 M.A.C. yearbook, two women worked 
together to create the initial concept, with stated goals to ``advance 
its members' intellectual, social and moral standing, to train mind, 
heart, and soul.'' Together with 15 other women, they formed the 
initial membership.
  Given that there were only 20 women enrolled at Michigan Agricultural 
College at the time, it will come as no surprise that the group faced 
opposition from other literary societies on campus. But the Feronian 
women pressed on, trailblazers from the very start. In 1921, the ban on 
national Greek organizations was lifted at the college, and one of the 
first organizations to be established was Alpha Phi Sorority--created 
by members of the Feronian Society. In 1922, the Feronian Society 
officially petitioned Alpha Phi Sorority to become the newest chapter, 
and the Beta Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi was officially born.
  Just a few months later, the Beta Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi initiated 
78 women to become the first women's panhellenic group at Michigan 
Agricultural College. It remains the only sorority still in operation 
after 100 years. In 1935, the chapter was given $2,000 toward 
purchasing the land at 616 M.A.C. A few years later, women moved into 
this stately home, marking the debut of what is now known as ``Sorority 
Row.'' This house, now expanded, has been the home-away-from-home for 
generations of Alpha Phi sisters.
  That sisterhood now includes thousands of women, and today I honor 
each one of them. I offer this tribute so that all may know of the 
courage and leadership of the women who blazed the trail from the 
Feronian Society to become the Beta Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Sorority. 
May they continue to enrich the lives of Spartan women and their 
communities well into the future.

                          ____________________