-About Alpha Chi Omega-
Alpha Chi Omega was founded on October 15, 1885, at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. Professor James Hamilton Howe, Dean of the Music School, invited seven young women from the school to attend a meeting for the purpose of forming a society. The first appearance of the seven founders - Anna Allen, Olive Burnett, Bertha Deniston, Amy DuBois, Nellie Gamble, Bessie Grooms and Estelle Leonard was in Meharry Hall, wearing scarlet red and olive green ribbon streamers attached to their dresses.
Alpha Chi Omega's Founders chose "Alpha," the first letter of the Greek 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" seemed appropriate. "Kai," meaning "and," was added to form the beginning and the end. "Kai" was soon changed to "Chi," a letter of the Greek alphabet.
The Delta Epsilon Chapter's Founding
The Delta Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega was founded on Southeast Missouri State University's campus on April 24, 1958
Our Flower
Alpha Chi Omega's flower is the red carnation, exemplifying the Fraternity's colors.
Our Open Motto
Alpha Chi Omega's open motto is: "Together let us seek the heights."
Our Colors
Alpha Chi Omega's colors of scarlet red and olive green were chosen to commemorate the Fraternity's autumn founding in Greencastle, Indiana.
Our Badge
While Alpha Chi Omega is no longer a musical fraternity, we do promote an appreciation of the fine arts. Our lyre shaped badge is reminiscent of our early musical founding and is symbolic in Greek Mythology.
Our badge is a Greek lyre of gold, it has crown-set pearls and three twisted strings spanned diagonally by a slightly rounded scroll of black enamel bearing the Greek letters Alpha Chi Omega in gold.
Our Stick Pin
The stick pin, which can be worn with the lyre badge, is diamond-shaped with the top half enameled in scarlet and the bottom in olive green. It features a lyre across its face.
Our Coat of Arms
The coat of arms includes a square shield, a crest, and a scroll. The shield is scarlet, cut by a bar of olive green. The first section of the shield displays an open book in gold; at the base is a sheaf of wheat, also in gold. The bar has three white stars. The crest, a lyre bird, is in its natural color.