The idea of sisterhood had appealed to Aly Inglish since she first came to the University, but she said joining a traditional Greek sorority didn’t interest her.

“I didn’t want to live in a house, I wanted to be super involved in service projects and none of the sororities on campus really appealed to me,” Inglish, Tempe, Ariz., junior said.

She said a friend of hers at Arizona State University joined a service sorority and spoke so highly of her experience Inglish decided it was the kind of organization she was looking for, but couldn’t find on campus. A service sorority is an organization that is unrelated to the greek system.

Last fall Inglish began the process of bringing the Omega Phi Alpha service sorority to the University.

Service sororities are different than the greek life community in that community service is the main focus and not just one of four pillars, which also include scholarship, leadership and sisterhood, according to KU Greek Life. After handing out fliers and posting notices online, Inglish said by December there were 15 girls interested in joining, and the number was now up to 35. Students interested in the community service-oriented group have until March 9 to sign up and assist in establishing the KU chapter of Omega Phi Alpha.

Inglish said that although she knew greeks on campus engaged in community service, she wanted an organization where it was a primary purpose. There are no membership quotas or gender barriers in service sororities, and sponsored events are alcohol-free. Inglish said that having dry events made it more welcoming and comfortable for members who didn’t want to drink.

One thing Inglish said she loved about the idea of service sororities was the same kind of sisterhood as greek sororities.

“We have big sisters and little sisters just like the greek system,” she said. “I already feel so close to the other members because we all want to achieve the same goals.”

Katelyn McKee, Overland Park junior and a colonist of Omega Phi Alpha, attended Truman State University her freshman year, where she said she became interested in joining a service sorority.

“They always had events going on and included the student body,” she said. After transferring to the University her sophomore year, McKee said she looked for similar organizations, but was surprised to find none.

“Lawrence seems to have this aptitude for doing a lot of service. I couldn’t believe they didn’t have service sororities,” she said.

The low cost of service sororities was what drew Rebecca Jesse Tolman, Chicago sophomore, to join Omega Phi Alpha. While most greek sororities have monthly dues, belonging to the service sorority costs only $40 per semester.

“It sounded like a really great opportunity to meet really great girls without paying an arm and a leg,” Tolman said.

Some of the service projects McKee said she was looking forward to were cleaning up local parks and campaigning for Breast Cancer Awareness Week. Although the KU colony won’t become an official chapter until next year, Inglish said she was already planning service projects. Tolman said one of the projects the colony was planning was a “green cooking” demonstration, which would show students how to cook and eat non-processed, natural and healthy foods on a budget.

Omega Phi Alpha will be tabling Thursday in front of Wescoe Hall.

— ­— Edited by Sam Speer