| Alpha Chi Omega | |
|---|---|
| ΑΧΩ | |
 | |
| Founded | October 15, 1885; 139 years ago (1885-10-15) DePauw University |
| Type | Social |
| Affiliation | NPC |
| Status | Active |
| Scope | International |
| Motto | Together let us seek the heights |
| Slogan | Real. Strong. Women. |
| Member badge |  |
| Colors | Scarlet red andOlive green[1] |
| Symbol | Goldenlyre |
| Flower | Redcarnation |
| Tree | Holly |
| Jewel | Pearl |
| Patron Greek divinity | Hera |
| Publication | The Lyre |
| Philanthropy | Domestic Violence Awareness |
| Chapters | 140+ collegiate, 170+ alumnae |
| Members | 300,000+ lifetime |
| Headquarters | 5939 Castle Creek Parkway North Drive Indianapolis,Indiana 46250 United States |
| Website | alphachiomega.org |
Alpha Chi Omega (ΑΧΩ, also known asAlpha Chi orA Chi O) is a national women's fraternity founded atDePauw University in 1885. As of 2023, it has more than 140 active collegiate and 170 active alumnae chapters in the United States and has initiated more than 300,000 members. Alpha Chi Omega is a member of theNational Panhellenic Conference.
In the fall of 1885,James Hamilton Howe, the first dean of theMusic School at DePauw University inGreencastle, Indiana, invited seven women from the school to a meeting to form a fraternity.[2][3] Those women were Anna Allen Smith, Olive Burnett Clark, Bertha Deniston Cunningham, Amy DuBois Rieth, Nellie Gamble Childe, Bessie Grooms Keenan, and Estelle Leonard.[2] Alpha Chi Omega was formed on October 15, 1885.[2][3]
Howe collaborated with James G. Campbell, aBeta Theta Pi, to establish Alpha Chi Omega as a national fraternity. Campbell laid out its first constitution and by-laws. According to this first constitution, "The object of this fraternity is...to attain the highest musical culture and to cultivate those principles that embody true womanhood."[4] On February 26, 1886, the fraternity hosted a musical soiree to introduce itself to the campus community.[4]
In its early years, Alpha Chi Omega was considered to be a professional music society and its members were music majors.[5][6] Later, the minimum membership requirement became registration in any music course.[4]
In 1889, a national literary fraternity offered to merge with Alpha Chi Omega; however, unlike typical professional fraternities, Alpha Chi never considered admitting members of other fraternities.[4] In 1900, the fraternity added literary qualifications, which led to it being considered a general (social) fraternity by 1905.[7]
Alpha Chi Omega joined theNational Panhellenic Conference in 1903.[8][9]
Alpha Chi Omega's founders choseAlpha (Α), the first letter of theGreek alphabet because they were forming the first fraternity in the school of music. Since they thought they might also be founding the last such fraternity,Omega (Ω) seemed appropriate, considering it stands for the end. "Kai" (και), meaning "and", was added to form "the beginning and the end". "Kai" was soon changed toChi (Χ), a letter of the Greek alphabet which has the same English pronunciation.[2]
Alpha Chi Omega's colors,scarlet red andolive green, were chosen to commemorate the fraternity'sfall founding.[10] Its flower is a redcarnation, which exemplifies the fraternity's colors, and its tree is theholly.[11] Its patron Greek divinity isHera.
Alpha Chi Omega chose the three-stringedlyre as its official symbol since it was the first instrument played by theGreek gods onMount Olympus.[12] The badge (pin) worn by initiated members is in the shape of a lyre, typically featuring pearls and the Greek lettersΑΧΩ on the crossbar. Although Alpha Chi Omega is no longer strictly a musical fraternity, it is still connected to its musical heritage through the symbol of the lyre, and the name of its publication isThe Lyre.
The new member badge (pin) worn by uninitiated members is alozenge emblazoned with the symbol of a lyre and the sorority's colors of scarlet red on the upper half and olive green on the lower half.[13]
Members of Alpha Chi Omega have several national programs.
In 1911, Alpha Chi Omega began supporting theMacDowell Colony, founded byMarian MacDowell, an Alpha Chi Omega alumna.[16] DuringWorld War I andWorld War II, the fraternity helped orphaned French children and provided day nurseries for working mothers married to servicemen. In 1947, Alpha Chi Omega adoptedEaster Seals as its national philanthropy and supported other projects associated withcerebral palsy.[16]
In 1992, the fraternity adopted supporting victims ofdomestic violence as its primary national philanthropy.[17][18] As of 2018, Alpha Chi Omega is partnered withMary Kay, The Allstate Foundation's Purple Purse, The One Love Foundation,RAINN, andIt's On Us.[17] The fraternity also supports Kristin's Story in cooperation withDelta Delta Delta, a nonprofit set up by the Delta Delta Delta mother of an Alpha Chi Omega member who died by suicide after a sexual assault.[19]
Undergraduate and alumnae chapters focus on increasing awareness of domestic violence and its effects and on aiding domestic violence victims through activities, service projects, and financial support. This work is done through local agencies, such asrape crisis centers,emergency shelters, and safe houses for domestic violence victims and their children, and long-term assistance centers forbattered women in the United States.[20]
In 1978, the fraternity created the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation, a nonprofit organization to oversee funds for its philanthropic projects and educational programming.[16] The foundation continues to grant funds to the fraternity's former partners, theMacDowell Colony andEaster Seals.[18] It supports members and those closely related to Alpha Chi Omegas through various grants.[21]
The fraternity has initiated more than 300,000 members to its collegiate and alumnae chapters since 1885.[22]
Alpha Chi Omega has chartered more than 194 chapters at colleges and universities and 279 alumnae chapters in the U.S.[3] Alumnae chapters allow women of post-graduate age to continue Alpha Chi Omega's mission and values. Collegiate chapters work with alumnae chapters to link sisters across the country. As of 2023, there are 140 active collegiate and 170 active alumnae chapters.[23]
Alpha Chi Omega– Professional (Music) Society
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