In spring of 1984, a special rush was conducted by a national rush team for Sigma Kappa Sorority (composed of National Council member Phyllis Markley, Linda Berkshire, Mary Lou Turner and former National President, Ruth Miller), who were sent to campus to conduct interview and select the membership. Many chapter members from the Alpha Tau Chapter at Michigan State University came to Ann Arbor to help with some initial information sessions. This special rush was held following formal rush on campus, and approximately 300 women showed up at the initial mass meeting. Sigma Kappa selected and pledged 100 of these women, and the house was immediately at quota. The women were initiated in January of 1985.

In the spring of 1985, a lease was secured with Theta Xi Fraternity (located at 1345 Washtenaw Avenue) to rent their house for the Alpha Mu Chapter. Mary Alice Sulliven came to Ann Arbor as a chapter consultant to work with the chapter, and subsequently remained on campus as a graduate counselor when she enrolled in graduate school at the University of Michigan. From the beginning of its recolonization period, the chapter was established as a strong group of women with many campus leaders. Alpha Mu won the Dreyfuss Award (Sigma Kappa’s national philanthropy award) after its first year back on Michigan campus. 

In 1988, The Alph Mu of Sigma Kappa Corporation Board purchased the house at 725 Oxford Road, knowing that Theta Xi fraternity was planning to return to campus, and that another permanent house would have to be found. The sorority went through public hearings with the Ann Arbor Planning Commission to apply for special exception use for this property, which had formerly served as a single-family residence. The application was approved and renovations converted the house to a small residence for Alpha Mu members. Since there was no dining facility at this location, members living there walked to the Thea Xi house at 1345 Washtenaw for their meals, and women were resided at both locations.

In 1990, Alpha Mu active Jeannine Lurie won a trip to the National Convention in Indianapolis, when she won the national song contest with her original song “Sigma Kappa- Time of Your Life.”

Our lease at the Theta Xi house coming to an end, the corporation Board submitted plans to the Ann Arbor Planning Commission for an expansion to 725 Oxford Road. The board was told that they would have to go through a public hearing again, in order to “update” their special exception use. At the public hearings, a neighborhood group formed in opposition to fraternities and sororities called the Oxbridge Association. Our petition was denied. Without a kitchen and dining facility, the board decided to rent a unit at University0owned Oxford Housing, where meals could be served and 30 women could live. For the year 1992-93, women lived at both 725 Oxford Road and Oxford Housing. Rush as conducted out of the small house on Oxford Road. The Corporation Board elected to sue the city of Ann Arbor, feeling that their denial of our expansion was not justified. The suit was subsequently lost. 

In 1991, the Alpha Mu Sigma Kappa Foundation, Inc. was established as a 501 c3 corporation with that state of Michigan, to provide scholarship monies for active members in financial need, and provide items needed of an educational nature for the chapter. The Foundation awards three scholarships to Alpha Mus: The Mary Alice Sullivan scholarship (honorary), the Jean Samuelson Elder scholarship, and the June and Roger Becker memorial scholarship (in memoriam to Clair Becker Benz’s parents). At the National Convention in 1992, Alpha Mu Dr. Jean Samuelson Elder was the recipient of the Colby Award, the highest honor that can be bestowed on a Sigma Kappa sister by the sorority.

During the 1992-93 academic year, the Alpha Mu of Sigma Kappa Corporation became aware that the property at 1811 Washtenaw Avenue (which at the time was the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity) was for sale. Believing that this would make a good long-term option for the sorority, the property was purchased and the was at 725 Oxford was sold. Our present house at 1811 Washtenaw Avenue underwent extensive renovation during the summer of 1993, prior to moving in the fall of 1993. Mrs. Christine Westwood, affectionately known as Mrs. W, would become the first House Mother at 1811 Washtenaw with 72 women residing at the house.

Despite many trials concerning the house situation, the Alpha Mu Chapter was incredibly strong during these years. Every year, the chapter pledged quota during the formal rush, and provided many leaders on campus. Some examples of campus leadership are: Julie Stacey Palmer served as president of the Panhellenic Association in 1994 and was chosen as Greek Woman of the Year in 1995. Alicia Smith served as co-captain of the first Michigan women’s varsity soccer team as well as the student representative on the Board of Control for Intercollegiate Sports. Susie Clifford was president of the Order of Omega, Julie Neenan was elected president of the Michigan Student Assembly (MSA), along with Bea Gonzalez as Public Relations Chair. In 1998-99, Mary Gray served as President of Panhellenic Association, and was selected Greek Woman of the Year. Janet Adamy worked diligently on the Michigan Daily for four years and served as News Editor her senior year. Janet sent off not only her sisters, but the entire Michigan class, with her commencement address given at the graduation ceremony at Michigan stadium in May of 1999. Also in 1999, Michelle Wolbert was names NCAA Sportswoman of the Year. Michelle, who graduated with a masters degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering, was captain of the Michigan crew team. 

Dr. Elder was elected to the National Council as National Treasurer (first Sigma Kappa from Michigan chapter to ever serve on National) during the convention in 1994. Jean had previously served as President of the National Sigma Kappa Foundation. Alpha Mu Terri Jelascity Spiteri was asked to serve on the National Housing Corporation Board for Sigma Kappa. 

During the 1996 convention, the Alpha Mu corporation board received the Most Outstanding Corporation Board award from the national organization, which recognized the countless volunteer hours by so many to provide a beautiful chapter house in Ann Arbor. 

During the fall of 1996, former Alpha Mu President Carole Braden contacted the chapter, requesting to do a feature story in Seventeen magazine on rush at the chapter house. The January 1997 issue of the magazine contained a feature article and several photos of rush and was entitled “The Girls in the House.” This created much enthusiasm in the house and gave Sigma Kappa additional national publicity. In the summer of 1999, the mortgage was completely paid off on the chapter house at 1811 Washtenaw Avenue. This was a tremendous accomplishment for the sorority members and the corporate board. This achievement enables the board to focus their finances toward major improvements and renovations at the house, and has maintained the sorority on solid financial footing. As of November 1999, 1,208 women had been initiated into Alpha Mu Chapter. 

On November 6-7, 1999, the 75th Reunion Celebration for the Alpha Mu Chapter took place on campus. Jean Elder Samuelson and Clair Benz co-chaired the event. Over 200 Sisters came from all over the country as well as Canada to relive memories from earlier days at the Alpha Mu Chapter. The house was decorated with Sigma Kappa blooms and streamers as well as a large 75th Celebration banner outside. The basement served as a “Memory Room” with pictures and memorabilia items from 1924 to the present. The reunion program, along with a commemorative mug and Sigma Kappa pencils were given as favors. 

Weekend festivities included a pre-game brunch at the sorority house on Saturday morning, followed by the Michigan vs Northwestern football game where the scoreboard announced Sigma Kappa’s 75th Anniversary Celebration to 106,000 fans. A dinner followed at the Women’s City Club after the game which was hosted by Mrs. Elder, followed by a program at the chapter house by Mrs. Benz. The program concluded with a candlelight rendition of “Pass It On,” and a ceremony with Sigma Kappa Mother’s Pin which was presented to house Mother, Mrs. Christine Westwood, for her years of service. The Saturday evening program also included a favorite rush skit from the second round of rush parties, featuring Sigma Kappa through the decades. Many stayed into the late evening sharing memories and laughs. 

On Sunday, a catered brunch at the house featured a presentation by Dr. Sid Gilman, Director of Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chair of Neurology at U-M Medical School. Jean and Claire presented Dr. Gilman with a check for $3,000 from the Alpha Mu of Sigma Kappa Foundation, Inc. to help fund projects at the Alzheimer’s Research Center. The Panhellenic President of the University also presented with a plaque in celebration of Sigma Kappa Sorority’s 75th year reunion. The reunion was an exceptional way to close out the 1990’s.