Mu Epsilon Theta

{{Short description|American service sorority}}{{Infobox fraternity

| name = Mu Epsilon Theta

| letters = {{lang|grc|ΜΕΘ}}

| crest = Mu_Epsilon_Theta_logo.png

| image_size =

| founded = {{start date and age|1987|01|16}}

| birthplace = University of Texas

| status = Active

| affiliation = Independent

| type = Christian sorority

| mission =

| motto = "Our Strength is from Above"

| pillars = Spirituality, Service, Sisterhood

| colors = {{color box|#000000}} Black, {{color box|#FFFF00}} Yellow, and {{color box|#C0C0C0}} Silver

| flower = Yellow rose

| jewel = Onyx, Topaz, and Diamond

| mascot = The Lamb

| patron saint = Catherine Labouré

| chapters = 1 active

| members =

| lifetime = 3,841+

| footnotes =

| emphasis = Catholicism

| scope = Local

| colonies =

| state = Texas

| address =

| city = Austin

| ZIP code =

| country = United States

| homepage = {{url|http://muepsilontheta.org}}

}}

Mu Epsilon Theta ({{lang|grc|ΜΕΘ}}) is an American collegiate Catholic sorority. It was established at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas in 1987.

History

Mu Epsilon Theta was founded at the University of Texas at Austin as a local sorority based on Catholic principles on October 21, 1986.{{Cite book |last=Torbenson |first=Craig LaRon |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Brothers_and_Sisters/lJ0hFQlKx4oC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Mu+Epsilon+Theta%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA230&printsec=frontcover |title=Brothers and Sisters: Diversity in College Fraternities and Sororities |last2=Parks |first2=Gregory |date=2009 |publisher=Associated University Presse |isbn=978-0-8386-4194-1 |page= |pages=222 and 230 |language=en |via=Google Books}}{{Cite web |title=Our Story |url=https://www.muepsilontheta.org/story |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=Mu Epsilon Theta |language=en}} It was the fourth Catholic sorority to be established in the United States. Its purpose is to promote academics, community service, leadership, and moral and spiritual well-being for female students.{{Cite web |last=Hammel |first=Ambria |date=2013-05-13 |title=There's a new sorority at ASU — and it's Catholic |url=https://www.catholicsun.org/2013/05/13/asu-women-launch-catholic-sorority-forming-trinitarian-presence-at-public-universities/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=The Catholic Sun |language=en-US}} Its founders were Maria Alcocer, Evelyn Greenfield, and Patricia Perez.{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://muepsilontheta.wixsite.com/betachapter/history |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Mu Epsilon Theta Beta Chapter |language=en}}

The sorority was officially recognized at the University of Texas on January 16, 1987. Its members participated in activities such as weekly rosary prayers, monthly religious activities, and a spiritual retreat each semester.

In the spring of 1996, a colony was formed at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University). It was chartered as the Beta chapter in 1997. In April 2013, a colony was started at Arizona State University; it was chartered as Gamma chapter in the spring of 2015.{{Cite web |date= |title=Our Story |url=https://www.muepasu.org/our-story |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228012506/https://www.muepasu.org/our-story |archive-date=2021-02-28 |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=Mu Epsilon Theta ASU |via=web.archive.org}} Epsilon was chartered at Northern Arizona University in December 2015.{{Cite web |last=Hammel |first=Ambria |date=2015-12-09 |title=Catholic sorority expands to Flagstaff |url=https://www.catholicsun.org/2015/12/09/catholic-sorority-expands-to-flagstaff/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=The Catholic Sun |language=en-US}}

By 2021, the sorority had initiated 3,841 members.

Symbols

The motto of Mu Epsilon Theta is "Our Strength is from Above."{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://muepsilontheta.wixsite.com/betachapter |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Mu Epsilon Theta Beta Chapter |language=en}} Its pillars are spirituality, service, and sisterhood.{{Cite web |last=Hammel |first=Ambria |date=2016-01-15 |title=Catholics find faith-filled Greek Life opportunities at local universities |url=https://www.catholicsun.org/2016/01/15/catholics-find-faith-filled-greek-life-opportunities-at-local-universities/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=The Catholic Sun |language=en-US}} Its colors are black, yellow, and silver.{{Cite web |title=Our Brand |url=https://www.muepsilontheta.org/brand |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=Mu Epsilon Theta |language=en}} Its mascot is the lamb and its flower is the yellow rose. Its jewels are onyx, topaz, and diamond. Its patron saint is Catherine Labouré.

Chapters

Following is a list of Mu Epsilon Theta chapters. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in italics.

class="wikitable"
Chapter !Charter date and range	Institution !Location !Status !References
Alpha \|{{DTS\|January 16, 1987}}	University of Texas at Austin \|Austin, Texas \|Active \|
Beta \|April 26, 1997 – 2024	Texas State University \|San Marcos, Texas \|Inactive \|
Gamma \|2015 – 20xx ?	Arizona State University \|Tempe, Arizona \|Inactive \|
Delta \| 2015 ? – 20xx ?	University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University \|Dallas–Fort Worth and Denton, Texas \|Inactive \|
Epsilon \| December 5, 2015 – 20xx ?	Northern Arizona University \|Flagstaff, Arizona \|Inactive \|

class="wikitable"

Chapter

!Charter date and range

Institution

!Location

!Status

!References

Alpha

|{{DTS|January 16, 1987}}

University of Texas at Austin

|Austin, Texas

|Active