Built on empowerment and community, the nation’s first multicultural sorority, Mu Sigma Upsilon Incorporated, is expanding to Quinnipiac University. The University of Connecticut’s MSU is working with Quinnipiac to be the next chapter in the state.
Founded in 1981, MSU is a national organization with 70 chapters across the country, with UConn’s being the only one in Connecticut, according to their website.
“We recognize that diversity isn’t just race or anything, but it’s everything, religion, creed, how you grew up, your culture, things like that,” UConn marketing major and MSU member Elviany Quiroz said.
Across the 70 chapters, the national organization has 1910 sisters with over 120 ethnicities.
MSU sets itself apart from other Greek organizations by being built on diversity, rather than evolving over time.
“While other Greek organizations are and continue to grow more diverse, our organization foundation is based on diversity and our sisters embrace multicultural ideals and interests,” according to their website.
MSU also follows three main goals: academic excellence, unity amongst all women and to be active in the university and community.
UConn’s MSU has collaborated with Quinnipiac in the past, which is one of the reasons the university appealed to UConn MSU expansion. Being in close proximity for more future collaborations also drew them to Quinnipiac to create another “support network.”
“We want to empower more women here in Connecticut, and we’ve been wanting to expand to Quinnipiac for a while, so we’re really excited to start our process into having our another chapter over there,” Quiroz said.
MSU hosts several events and activities to align with their goals, including study night, community service, as well as Stepping and Strolling.
“Stepping is to pay homage to African American sisters, that cultural heritage, and then strolling is more of a dance form, kind of like synchronized dancing,” Quiroz said.
MSU is “noted as the first multicultural organization to embrace traditions of stepping,” according to their website.
Currently, UConn MSU’s biggest goal is to increase their presence and garner more interest.
UConn’s chapter held a “Ladies Night Informational” via Google Meet Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. for Quinnipiac students interested in joining MSU. Students will hear from both active members and alumni who also play a large role in expanding the organization.
While still in the early stages, UConn MSU is eager to expand its network and community to Quinnipiac.
“I haven’t been able to express how excited everybody is about trying to expand to Quinnipiac,” Quiroz said.
In the future, MSU at UConn looks to expand further across Connecticut as well.
