Phi Mu - Louisiana State University

Digital Composite Museum Launched! A New Way to Save and Share Our History W e are pleased to announce that Alpha Eta Chapter's digital composite museum is now live. You can now access the legacy of our past and present members anytime, anywhere. Our partners at HistoryIT have digitally preserved 61 of our composites and given them a virtual home. We can search for our classmates, friends, family, and even ourselves. Following the highest of industry standards, their well-trained team visited our house this past summer to conduct preservation imaging. ey then meticulously tagged each individual with names, initiation dates and positions held within the Chapter. All these details are interconnected in our digital composite museum, giving us the opportunity to dive deep into our history and make unique connections. You can view all our past presidents—or just have fun looking at how hairstyles have evolved over the past 60-plus years. Explore the composites when visiting our Chapter House via the now-installed museum- quality touchscreen or from your own home at phimu-chapter.historyit.com/alpha-eta- composites. We hope you enjoy connecting with our shared history for years to come. Scan to view! phimu-chapter.historyit.com/alpha-eta-composites 5 The 4090 News Averyell Althaus Kessler '66 Reminisces on Her Alpha Eta Days Phi Mu Is Still Home T he first time I walked into the newly built Phi Mu house at Louisiana State University, something unusual happened. Suddenly and without expectation, I was home. During the first week of recruitment, there were hundreds of young women all seeking to make friends and eager to fit into sorority life. Some were Louisiana natives and already knew members in every house. I was from Jackson, Mississippi, and knew no one. Luckily, the Phi Mu sisters brushed that aside, opened their doors, and said, "Come on in." Aer those days, I never had a second thought; this was the place for me. Some of my favorite Phi Mu adventures were things we all did together: putting up Homecoming decorations, dressing for the spring formal, Sunday lunch when our boyfriends were welcomed, and, of course, passing the candle. A few non-sanctioned events were freezing toothpaste tubes before anyone's alarm went off, tucking a boiled crab under the sheets of someone's bed, and dancing on the edge of the fountain in the middle of our beautiful courtyard. Sometimes, we impersonated e Supremes with an enthusiastic version of "Baby Love" or "Where Did Our Love Go?" ankfully, the front doors were locked because we were wearing our pajamas. roughout it all, a wonderful cadre of Phi Mu sisters taught me confidence and self-worth as well as the importance of academic achievement, serving others, and the value of lifelong friendships. Aer graduating from LSU with a bachelor's degree in English, I entered the first class of students at Mississippi College School of Law as one of five women. Following a 25-year practice in corporate and securities law, I managed marketing and publicity for my husband's business of bringing a series of national touring Broadway productions to Jackson. Now, I am a writer. I've lived most of my life in Mississippi and have kept up with Phi Mu from a distance. Now, I've retired to Baton Rouge and can attend alumnae events and visit the house! Recently, I returned to our house for a luncheon honoring alumnae that included an update on Chapter activities. Although many of the faces were new, our beautiful house remains the same for the lovely and talented young women who live there. And just as I'd hoped, it's still home. You can connect with Averyell at averyellk@aol.com and check out some of her stories at averyellkessler.com. Fall 2023 Reunion September 22-23, 2023 MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND PLAN YOUR RETURN TO 4090 W. LAKESHORE DRIVE. IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE ON THE PLANNING COMMITTEE, PLEASE CONTACT REUNION CHAIRWOMAN, MONIQUE MONIQUE PLAISANCE CARMOUCHE '89 PLAISANCE CARMOUCHE '89 AT MONIQUECARMOUCHE@GMAIL.COM OR (225) 229-9269. SAVE SAVE THE THE DATE! DATE!

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