| Alpha Omicron Pi | |
|---|---|
|
ΑΟΠ
|
|
| Founded | January 2, 1897 Barnard College, (New York, New York) |
| Type | Social |
| Scope | International |
| Mission statement | "Women Enriched through Lifelong Friendship."[1] |
| Colors | Cardinal |
| Flower | Jacqueminot Rose |
| Jewel | Ruby |
| Mascot | Panda (unofficial) |
| Publication | To Dragma |
| Philanthropy | Arthritis Research and Education |
| Chapters | 189 |
| Members | 141,000 + collegiate |
| Headquarters | Brentwood, Tennessee, USA |
| Homepage | http://www.alphaomicronpi.org/ |
Alpha Omicron Pi (ΑΟΠ, AOII) is an international women's fraternity promoting friendship for a lifetime, inspiring academic excellence and lifelong learning, and developing leadership skills through service to the Fraternity and community. ΑΟΠ was founded on January 2, 1897 at Barnard College on the campus of Columbia University in New York. Its founders were Stella George Stern Perry, Helen St. Clair Mullan, Elizabeth Heywood Wyman, and Jessie Wallace Hughan. The four founders met in the Columbia Law Library to begin their fraternity and to forever seal their friendships and the friendships of all future members. Today, Alpha Omicron Pi is an international women's fraternity, with 189 collegiate chapters and 320 alumnae chapters in Canada and the U.S.A. Its international headquarters is located in Brentwood, Tennessee and it is a member group of the National Panhellenic Conference, which is the governing council of the 26 member women's fraternities and sororities.
Like many other Greek organizations for women, Alpha Omicron Pi is a fraternity, not a sorority, although both terms are often used. The term sorority was not yet in widespread use at the time of Alpha Omicron Pi's founding, and therefore it is officially a "fraternity for women."
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Alpha Omicron Pi was founded January 2, 1897 by four women: Jessie Wallace Hughan, Helen St. Clair Mullan, Elizabeth Heywood Wyman and Stella George Stern Perry. Within one week of the founding of Alpha Omicron Pi, the four founders used their initiation Ritual for the first time, initiating Anne Richardson Hall.
National Expansion of the women's fraternity began in 1898. The resulting chapter was Pi Chapter at New Orleans' Sophie Newcomb College (part of Tulane University). Stella Stern, who was then the President of Alpha Omicron Pi, contacted a New Orleans classmate, Evelyn Reed, who expressed compatible ideas about fraternities. Evelyn's sister, Katherine Reed, became the first pledge of Pi Chapter. After being initiated by Stella, she found others to initiate.
The Founders of ΑΟΠ:
The Alpha Omicron Pi badge comprises the Greek letters, Α (Alpha), Ο (Omicron), and Π (Pi) superimposed on each other with a ruby at the Apex of the A (Alpha). Badges may be worn by initiated members only. If it is worn with another pin, it is to be placed above it and to the right. No other pin, badge, insignia, such as a fraternity pin, Greek letter indicating the name of a chapter or a symbol denoting an office, may be attached to the badge in any way, whether by a chain or by hanging it on the fastener.
Alpha Omicron Pi has only one color, cardinal. It is the color of the Fraternity flower, the ruby and the ribbon sometimes worn under the badge to welcome a new collegiate chapter.
Alpha Omicron Pi has only one jewel, the ruby. The occasional use of pearls or diamonds in special badges has no significance or special meaning.
To Dragma, translated as "the sheaf", is the name of the fraternity's magazine. The name was selected for three reasons: because it is a reminder of the common interest which unites all AOIIs; because it is a record of accomplishment, or harvest; and because it fittingly describes the purpose of such a publication, the uniting of members through communication. It is published three times per year, and has won numerous awards since its inception. Most recently, in 2008, To Dragma received the Fred F. Yoder Award for overall excellence.
A sheaf of wheat is a common symbol in AOII, found in our new member pin, the rings for the chapter president, alumnae chapter president and International president. The binding together of wheat into a sheaf in the new member pin represents individuals bound by the common bond of Alpha Omicron Pi. The wheat indicates usefulness in its harvest.
The Nineteenth Century French rose, General Jacqueminot, a deep red rose, was chosen as the flower of Alpha Omicron Pi because its color is the symbol of the central and essential virtue of the Fraternity. Its choice had no connection with any legend, poem or story. This strong red rose, with its overtones of courage and vigor, was selected for its richness of color and fragrance, combines with softness and modesty of bearing. The Jacqueminot Rose is not available at most florists, so any deep red rose which is available may be used.This rose is also significant because it has no thorns all the more welcoming for the members and new members.
While not an official symbol, the Fraternity and our chapters consider the Giant Panda to be its mascot because it is the only animal that does not have any natural enemies.
Believing in their beginnings in Greek tradition, ΑΟΠ does not have a coat of arms, but uses a Jacqueminot rose as their symbol. A coat of arms is a medieval or masonic tradition, and therefore has no roots in the Greek tradition. ΑΟΠ is the only Greek organization without a coat of arms.
The fraternity teaches its members never to use the abbreviations "AOPi" or "AOTT," but instead always to use "AOII" or "ΑΟΠ."
The fraternity awards an annual prize to the organization's outstanding chapter, the Jessie Wallace Hughan Cup.
Since 1897, Alpha Omicron Pi has had over 141,000 initiates and maintains 188 chapters, with its oldest existing chapter (Omicron) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (founded 1902). The second oldest is Zeta at University of Nebraska Lincoln (founded 1903) and third oldest is Sigma at University of California Berkeley (founded 1907), followed by Delta at Tufts University (founded 1908) and Gamma at University of Maine Orono (founded 1908). Its Alpha chapter at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York closed in 1914 when Greek Life was abolished at the school.
AOII's chapter names are unique compared to other Greek groups. Most sororities and fraternities are named sequentially, with the first chapter being Alpha, the second Beta, and so on. Breaking from this tradition, AOII does not dictate its chapter designations. Each colony of the fraternity selects its own chapter name and corresponding sub-motto. In this way, chapter designations have special meaning for the members. The first four chapters were Alpha at Barnard College of Columbia University, Pi at Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University, Nu at New York University and Omicron at the University of Tennessee. The only chapter of these four that is still active is Omicron.
Alpha Omicron Pi's official philanthropy is Arthritis Research. This cause was chosen because it is the nation's leading cause of disability. Since adopting Arthritis Research as its international philanthropy in 1967, Alpha Omicron Pi has raised over $1.5 million dollars for grants and research.
Though Arthritis Research is the international philanthropy, chapters often support other local or national causes.
AOII's original philanthropy was the Frontier Nursing Service which brought essential health services to the poor in Appalachia.
Established in 1977, the Alpha Omicron Pi Foundation was created to support the philanthropies and members of the Fraternity. The Foundation provides scholarships, educational grants and aid to sisters while providing the Fraternity with leadership grants and providing arthritis grants. The mission of the foundation is to fund programs that promote intellectual, ethical and leadership development.
The Alpha Omicron Pi Foundation offers support in the following areas:
Alpha Omicron Pi has the following values:
| Name | Chapter | Notability | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margaret Bourke-White |
Omicron Pi
|
Photographer and journalist, joined Alpha Omicron Pi while at the University of Michigan. Her works were donated to Alpha Omicron Pi upon her death in 1971, and today are displayed at the international headquarters. | [2] |
| Wendy Chamberlin |
Rho
|
Former U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan. | [3] |
| Aneta Corsaut |
Rho
|
Actress best known for her role as Helen Crump in The Andy Griffith Show and the 1958 film The Blob. | [4] |
| Ashley Crow |
Delta Delta
|
Actress | |
| Mary Dawson |
Kappa Phi
|
The current Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner of Canada. She was appointed by the minority Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper on July 9, 2007 as the Conflict of Interest Act came into force. Mary Dawson was made a Queen’s Counsel in 1978 and was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2007. | |
| Mercedes Farhat |
Gamma Omicron
|
2008 Olympic Swimmer. Second woman to swim for Libya in the Olympic Games. | |
| Janis Mackey Frayer |
Beta Tau
|
Television journalist with CTV National News | |
| Angie Goff |
Gamma Alpha
|
News Anchor and Journalist for WRC-TV | |
| Lucy Somerville Howorth |
Kappa
|
Lawyer, feminist, and politician known for her New Deal legislative efforts. | |
| Jessie Wallace Hughan |
Alpha
|
Founder and first Secretary of the War Resisters League. | [5] |
| Courtney Kupets |
Lambda Sigma
|
Olympic and World Champion Gymnast at the University of Georgia. | [6] |
| Teresa Lubbers |
Kappa Alpha
|
Indiana State Senator 1992—2009, current Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education. | [7] |
| Debbie Matenopoulos |
Rho Beta
|
Television personality and actress. | |
| Parvati Shallow |
Lambda Sigma
|
Survivor: Micronesia winner at the University of Georgia. | [8] |
| Natalie White |
Sigma Omicron
|
Survivor: Samoa winner. | [9] |
| Heather Whitestone |
Delta Epsilon
|
Miss America 1995 |