Kappa Phi makes its return to Miami University

Kappa Phi returned to Miami University’s Panhellenic Council last semester after an alumna took the initiative to reestablish the chapter, restoring a sorority that focuses on service.

Kappa Phi was established in 1916, according to Kappa Phi’s constitution found on its Miami Central page. It is built on a “Christ-centered sisterhood” with a commitment to philanthropic service focused on four pillars: service, worship, sisterhood and study.

“When I found Kappa Phi, I found people that have similar goals, similar interests, and it was just a place where I felt like I could belong,” alumna Kara Conniff said.

Conniff is a placement coordinator for student teachers at Miami and a 2003 graduate. She was a member of Kappa Phi when she attended and wondered what happened to the chapter, so she started to do some research.

Conniff says she discovered the chapter went inactive around 2021 because of enrollment numbers post-pandemic. She sent out only a few emails to other chapters and alumni about her interest and received overwhelming support to move forward with her initiative. She reached out to her office neighbor in McGuffey Hall, Sarah Watt, to help her.

“It was January,” said Watt, an associate professor in the inclusive education program. “And [Kara] was like ‘let’s do this,’ and I was like ‘alright,’ and we did it.”

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Now Kappa Phi’s Miami Central page lists Conniff as the adviser, while Watt’s role is the patroness, since she is not an initiated member.

It was an easy start up, only taking about six months, because of the organization’s prior presence on campus, Conniff said. Since they are affiliated with Panhellenic, they could bypass the student organization registration process through ASG.

Before the end of last semester, they had their first meeting, made an executive board and began the initiation process for new members, said junior co-president Lillian Toth.

Toth said membership is open to anyone who is interested.

“Even if you just want to come to the events we have, like the pumpkin patches or [the] Christmas party, it’s just so much fun,” Toth said.

Unlike other sororities on campus, Kappa Phi does not turn away people during recruitment. To be as inclusive as possible, they operate without enrollment caps, and dues are approximately $100, considerably lower than other Greek chapters.

A unique feature of the group is the ability for member dual enrollment, which allows active members of other Panhellenic organizations to join Kappa Phi without giving up their affiliation.

Toth found the group through the other co-president, Abby Slack. The pair met on the first day of freshman year, and when Slack approached her with the idea of helping bring Kappa Phi back to campus, Toth jumped at the opportunity.

The two now work together, answering emails, attending meetings and getting Kappa Phi up and running. She adds that it has been stressful, but it is worth it to help form a community of friendship.

“Our mission is to bring girls together who just may not feel like they have a place they fit right now,” Watt said. “We just want to make sure that we’re a place that’s really, I think, warm and inviting and welcoming.”

Kappa Phi is inviting upperclassmen to join them this fall, said Conniff. To recruit first-year students, the organization will participate in formal spring recruitment alongside Miami’s other Panhellenic sororities.

Students who want to learn more about the Christian-service sorority can follow their Instagram, @kappa_phimu, where they will post future meetings and events.

groselcf@miamioh.edu