![]() The fraternity manages its philanthropy through its nonprofit arm, the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation. The new member badge (pin) worn by uninitiated members is a lozenge emblazoned with the symbol of a lyre and the sorority's colors of scarlet red on the upper half of the badge and olive green on the lower half of the badge. Although Alpha Chi Omega no longer is strictly a musical sorority, they are still connected to their musical heritage through their symbol of the lyre. Alpha Chi Omega chose the lyre to be their official symbol since it was the first instrument played by the Gods on Mount Olympus. The badge (pin) worn by initiated members is in the shape of a lyre, typically featuring pearls and the fraternity's Greek letters on the crossbar. ![]() The fraternity's official symbol is a three-stringed lyre, the official flower is a red carnation, which exemplifies the fraternity's colors, and the official tree is the Holly. Īlpha Chi Omega's colors of scarlet red and olive green were chosen to commemorate the fraternity's fall founding. "Kai" was soon changed to " Chi" (Χ), a letter of the Greek alphabet. " Kai", meaning "and", was added to form "the beginning and the end". Since they thought they might also be founding the last such fraternity, " Omega" (Ω) seemed appropriate, considering it stands for the end. Symbols Īlpha Chi Omega's Founders chose " Alpha" (Α), the first letter of the Greek alphabet, because they were forming the first fraternity in the school of music. Alpha Chi Omega continues to support Easter Seals. Alpha Chi Omega was the first major organization to speak out and adopt Domestic Violence Awareness as their philanthropy. In 1992, the fraternity voted adopt a new primary philanthropy of supporting victims of domestic violence. In 1978, the fraternity created the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation to merge funds for the fraternity's philanthropic projects and educational programming into one nonprofit organization. In 1947, Alpha Chi Omega adopted Easter Seals as its philanthropy and supported other projects associated with cerebral palsy. During World War I and II Alpha Chi Omega offered its support by helping working mothers who were married to service men by providing day nurseries and helping orphaned French children. In 1911, Alpha Chi Omega began supporting the MacDowell Colony, as Marian MacDowell was an alumna of Alpha Chi Omega. In its early years it was externally considered to be a professional music society, but due to disagreement with this designation, in 1900, the sorority added literary qualifications, which led to it being considered a general (social) sorority by 1905. In 1889, a national literary fraternity offered to merge with Alpha Chi Omega however, unlike professional fraternities, Alpha Chi never considered taking members of other fraternities. Members then graduated in many other departments of the university, including the liberal arts department. Later on, this was changed and the minimum requirement became registration in one music course of any kind. ![]() Early musical requirements Īssociation with the music school was required early on, as the fraternity only allowed School of Music students. Īlpha Chi Omega joined the National Panhellenic Conference in 1903. ![]() This first constitution read: "The object of this fraternity is as follows: To attain the highest musical culture and to cultivate those principles that embody true womanhood." On February 26, 1886, the fraternity was given its formal introduction by a soiree musical. Campbell laid out the first constitution and by-laws. Campbell, a Beta Theta Pi, to form a national fraternity. Those young women were Anna Allen Smith, Olive Burnett Clark, Bertha Deniston Cunningham, Amy DuBois Rieth, Nellie Gamble Childe, Bessie Grooms Keenan, and Estelle Leonard. In the fall of 1885, Professor James Hamilton Howe, the first Dean of the Music School, invited seven young women from the school to a meeting with the purpose of forming a fraternity. History Īlpha Chi Omega was formed at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana on October 15, 1885. ![]() Īlpha Chi Omega is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference, the governing council of 26 women's fraternities. Alpha Chi OmegaĭePauw University, ( Greencastle, Indiana)ĭomestic Violence Awareness, Alpha Chi Omega FoundationĪlpha Chi Omega ( ΑΧΩ, also known as Alpha Chi or A Chi O) is a national women's fraternity founded on October 15, 1885.Īs of 2023, there are more than 140 collegiate and 170 alumnae chapters represented across the United States, and the fraternity counts more than 300,000 members initiated through its history. Not to be confused with Alpha Chi National College Honor Society or Chi Omega. ![]()
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