Who are the sisters of Alpha Phi? What are they all about? We interviewed the Tufts Chapter President, senior Stefani Rubenfeld, to learn more about the sorority as a Tufts University institution.
Nickname: A Phi
Designation: Zeta Theta
Symbol: Ivy Leaf
Flower: The Lily of the Valley, Blue and Gold Forget-Me-Not
Motto: “Union Hand in Hand”
Colors: Silver and Bordeaux
Founded: 1872, Syracuse University
Established at Tufts: 1978
Service/Philanthropy Projects: The Alpha Phi Foundation, Cardiac Care
National Website: www.Alphaphi.org
Physical Address: 14 Sawyer Avenue
President Stefani Rubenfeld
Class: 2012
Hometown: New York, NY
Major(s): Economics and Child Development with an Education Minor.
Did you always want to be in a sorority? I actually came to Tufts unsure about joining a sorority, but after spending time here I found that it was the right decision for me. I always had a large group of girlfriends from high school and summer camp and really missed that sense of sisterhood in college. After meeting some of the Alpha Phi sisters during my freshman year and sophomore fall, I knew it was an organization I wanted to be a part of.
What is it like to be President of Alpha Phi? Every day as President of Alpha Phi is both busy and exciting. As an organization we are constantly planning philanthropic and social events which take up a lot of our time. Alpha Phi sisters are also extremely involved in other campus organizations and I do my best to support my sisters in their endeavors by attending their events as well as the events hosted by other Greek organizations. Each day presents its own challenge, but being the President of this organization has also been amazingly rewarding. My role has afforded me incredible opportunities to meet interesting people and attend a multitude of leadership activities and discussions on campus. It is really great to feel you can have an impact at Tufts through a leadership role.
Are there any characteristics that define the sisters of Alpha Phi? In short, no. There are no two sisters in Alpha Phi who are exactly alike, but I think that’s part of what makes our sisterhood so incredible! At the same time, all Alpha Phi sisters try to live up to the same standards and present the same image. We are a group of smart, fun, passionate girls who try our best at everything we do.
Do you wish Tufts had a bigger Greek presence? I think that sometimes the impact of Greek life is overlooked at Tufts. The Greek organizations are responsible for some of the most popular events, both social and philanthropic, on campus. I would love for Greek Life to have more of a presence on campus so that individuals could learn about us and find a house that suits them. Being a part of a sorority has shaped my college experience in so many ways and I truly wish the same for other Tufts students who are searching for something bigger to be a part of.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about Greek life? Is there any truth to it? I think the biggest misconception about Greek life at Tufts is that we are largely social organizations. Of course, social activities are important to us, as we love to spend time with members of our individual organizations and the Greek community, but at the end we are so much more than this. Philanthropy is a cornerstone of our organizations and a large portion of our time and energy is devoted to planning amazing events to benefit our national philanthropies. I wish people would recognize the value of our organizations apart from the social piece.
What is your philanthropic project? Our National Philanthropy is Women’s Heart Health, which is a cause we feel deeply connected to as a women’s organization. Last year we pioneered a brand new philanthropy event: Bid Your Heart Out, a live and silent auction. Our auction was really successful and featured over 80 items including clothes, accessories, food, and sporting tickets. In the spring we also held Eat Your Heart Out, a week long bakesale where we sold different food items each day. We partnered with Lf clothing store to hold a trunk sale during the week as well.
Is there anything else we should know about Alpha Phi? Alpha Phi is such a unique organization full of some of the most amazing women I have met at Tufts. We are the smallest of the sororities on campus and I think it helps us to be as close as we all are. We love spending time with each other and form an incredible support system. We truly enjoy meeting other girls at Tufts and encourage anyone to come get to know us and learn more about all that we do!