# Mu Sigma Upsilon

Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Incorporated (ΜΣΥ) is an American multicultural intercollegiate sorority. It was founded in1981 at Rutgers University–New Brunswick and is recognized as the first multicultural sorority in the nation. Mu Sigma Upsilon was a founding member of the National Multicultural Greek Council.

## History

In the early 1980s, more women from culturally diverse backgrounds were pursuing college degrees. Five women came together and decided to create a support system for these women. Mu Sigma Upsilon was founded on November 21, 1981, at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, as a Social Fellowship. The five Founding Mothers of Mu Sigma Upsilon are:
* Eve Bracero - Puerto Rican
* Lillian Sierra - Puerto Rican
* Karinee Candelario - Puerto Rican
* Ruth Gonzalez - Puerto Rican
* Sylvia Vigo - Puerto Rican
In the early 1980s, Mu Sigma Upsilon became the first sorority to be founded with a multicultural, rather than a specific ethnic or cultural, base. Mu Sigma Upsilon became a Greek-lettered organization in the early 1990s. It is the sister organization of Lambda Sigma Upsilon, a Latino-based fraternity.
R.A.C.E is a national event of the sorority. Each chapter runs its version of the event, where campus cultural organizations are invited to perform in costume and provide cultural displays for table-top exhibitions during the event. Members are encouraged to wear national dress about their cultural background or heritage and provide sample delicacies from all parts of the world.

## Symbols

The sorority's motto is Mujeres Siempre Unidas or "Women Always United". Its colors are baby blue and white. Its mascot is the Amazon woman. Its nicknames are The Sophisticated Ladies or The MUs (pronounced mews). Its publication is The Amazonian.

## Philanthropy

Every five years, the organization selects a national philanthropy as beneficiary. Through this process, we are able to dedicate ourselves as a national organization to aiding a single charity organization for five years at a time, and continue to assist many more organizations in the future. Previous philanthropies include:
* Mavin Foundation
* Women In Need NYC
* Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
* Girls Inc
* Keep A Breast Foundation
* The Girl Effect
* To Write Love On Her Arms
Mu Sigma Upsilon's current philanthropy for 2021-2026 is: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

## Mu Sigma Upsilon Foundation

The Mu Sigma Upsilon Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization. The mission of the foundation is to provide essential support and financial resources for the educational, leadership, and charitable purposes of the sorority to enrich the lives of members and assist in improving the community in which they serve.

## T.I.A.R.A. Interest Group

T.I.A.R.A. stands for Togetherness, Independence, Academics, Respect and Achievement. The T.I.A.R.A. Group is the official interest group of Mu Sigma Upsilon. Being an active T.I.A.R.A. gives interested ladies the opportunity to get an in-depth look at the sisterhood. They experience first-hand what it would be like to be a sister of MSU through event/meeting planning, programming, fundraising and networking. It also allows for the prospective members to build relationships with one another and Mu Sigma Upsilon sisters.

## Chapters
### Undergraduate Chapters

Mu Sigma Upsilon does not name their chapters by the Greek alphabet, but rather chapters are given culturally significant names. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are indicated in italics.
| Chapter | Charter date and range | Institution | Location | Status |
| Amazona | November 21, 1981 | Rutgers University–New Brunswick | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Inactive |
| Siksika | November 30, 1983 | William Paterson University | Wayne, New Jersey | Active |
| Conquistadoras | April 12, 1989 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | Newark, New Jersey | Inactive |
| Matriarca | November 29, 1990 | Montclair State University | Montclair, New Jersey | Active |
| Aborigena | April 17, 1991 | Rutgers University-Newark | Newark, New Jersey | Active |
| Mosaic | April 25, 1991 | Kean University | Union Township, New Jersey | Active |
| Bellatrix | 1991 | | | Memorial |
| Indigena | December 1, 1994 | New Jersey City University and Saint Peter's University | Jersey City, New Jersey | Active |
| Destinidas | April 12, 1995 | Bloomfield College | Bloomfield, New Jersey | Active |
| Zaona | November 18, 1995 | Stockton University | Pomona, New Jersey | Active |
| Jhansi | November 10, 1996 | Pennsylvania State University - Main | University Park, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Godasiyo | November 10, 1996 | Penn State Altoona | Altoona, Pennsylvania | Inactive |
| Palenque | November 14, 1998 | Bloomsburg University | Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Narra | November 19, 1998 | New York University | New York City, New York | Inactive |
| Emeritus | November 14, 1999 | Ramapo College of New Jersey | Mahwah, New Jersey | Inactive |
| Concordia | November 14, 1999 | University of Connecticut | Storrs, Connecticut | Active |
| Abrianeme | March 16, 2001 | College of New Jersey | Ewing Township, New Jersey | Active |
| Devi | March 9, 2002 | University of Kansas | Lawrence, Kansas | Inactive |
| Anansi | March 24, 2002 | Cornell University | Ithaca, New York | Inactive |
| Evadne | March 24, 2002 | Le Moyne College | Syracuse, New York | Inactive |
| Haumea | March 15, 2003 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, Florida | Active |
| Xurima | March 20, 2003 | Seton Hall University | South Orange, New Jersey | Inactive |
| Genesis | November 1, 2003 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Kutztown, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Yazi | March 10, 2004 | Florida Memorial College | Miami, Florida | Inactive |
| Orisha | March 28, 2004 | State University of New York at New Paltz | New Paltz, New York | Inactive |
| Quinquatria | March 26, 2005 | Stevens Institute of Technology | Hoboken, New Jersey | Inactive |
| Nysa | March 26, 2005 | SUNY Oneonta | Oneonta, New York | Active |
| Vathara | May 1, 2005 | Johnson & Wales University, Florida | Miami, Florida | Inactive |
| Lazuline | November 12, 2005 | Millersville University | Millersville, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Celtic | November 20, 2005 | Old Dominion University | Norfolk, Virginia | Inactive |
| Gaia | April 1, 2006 | Syracuse University | Syracuse, New York | Active |
| Kyathira | April 1, 2006 | University at Buffalo and Buffalo State University | Buffalo, New York | Active |
| Themiskyra | April 6, 2006 | SUNY Old Westbury | Old Westbury, New York | Active |
| Cheveyo | 2006 | Lamar University | Beaumont, Texas | Inactive |
| Hasinai | April 8, 2006 | Stephen F. Austin University | Nacogdoches, Texas | Active |
| Zotikon | April 13, 2006 | Hunter College; St. Francis College | New York City, New York | Active |
| Dhyani | April 15, 2007 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina | Active |
| Janus | April 6, 2008 | Barry University | Miami, Florida | Inactive |
| Novastella | April 13, 2008 | West Chester University | West Chester, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Kailasa | April 11, 2009 | University of Georgia | Athens, Georgia | Active |
| Ionia | April 11, 2009 | East Stroudsburg University | East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Freyja | April 19, 2009 | Rowan University | Glassboro, New Jersey | Active |
| Bodhati | December 5, 2009 | Virginia Tech | Blacksburg, Virginia | Inactive |
| Roma | April 17, 2010 | George Washington University | Washington, D.C. | Inactive |
| Rhea | April 18, 2010 | Penn State Abington | Abington Township, Pennsylvania | Inactive |
| Boetia | April 16, 2011 | Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, Georgia | Active |
| Arikara | November 18, 2011 | University of Nebraska at Kearney | Kearney, Nebraska | Active |
| Kumi | April 1, 2012 | SUNY Oswego | Oswego, New York | Active |
| Yemaya | April 22, 2012 | Lehigh University | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Miakardia | November 10, 2012 | Bucknell University | Lewisburg, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Kimimela | November 11, 2012 | University of South Florida | Tampa, Florida | Active |
| Zarya | April 6, 2013 | University of Massachusetts Dartmouth | Dartmouth, Massachusetts | Active |
| Sekhmet | November 2, 2013 | Marshall University | Huntington, West Virginia | Active |
| Akasa | November 23, 2013 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, Colorado | Inactive |
| Atitlán | 2014 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Inactive |
| Samara | November 16, 2014 | Rutgers University–Camden | Camden, New Jersey | Active |
| Úthaulia | April 1, 2017 | Lycoming College | Williamsport, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Wujimu | April 7, 2017 | DePauw University | Greencastle, Indiana | Active |
| Dianaia | March 31, 2018 | University of Rochester | Rochester, New York | Inactive |
| Maulana | November 10, 2018 | SUNY Plattsburgh | Plattsburgh, New York | Inactive |
| Artemisia | November 17, 2018 | Felician University | Rutherford, New Jersey | Inactive |
| Ọkụ | March 30, 2019 | Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus | Teaneck, New Jersey | Inactive |
| Horaeziel | April 6, 2019 | SUNY Cortland | Cortland, New York | Inactive |
| Arcus | April 13, 2019 | SUNY Albany | Albany, New York | Inactive |
| Eden | November 16, 2019 | Moravian College | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Huitaca | April 23, 2021 | Lafayette College | Easton, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Saqqara | April 1, 2023 | Binghamton University | Binghamton, New York | Active |

### Graduate Chapter (Aretias)

Mu Sigma Upsilon's Aretias Graduate Chapter provides alumnae members with a system to become mentors and advisers to each other and to undergraduates. The chapter remains actively involved in academic programs at undergraduate chapters and surrounding communities with or without an undergraduate chapter. The Aretias Chapter also offers interested women the opportunity to join the sorority at the Graduate level. Women interested in joining MSU’s Aretias Chapter would have completed an undergraduate program with a minimum 3.0 grade point average, or be actively pursuing a degree of higher education.
Local Aretias Chapters:
* Aretias North New Jersey
* Aretias Pennsylvania
* Aretias New York
* Aretias New England
* Aretias Central Florida