Alpha Omicron Pi

Alpha Omicron Pi
ΑΟΠ
Founded	January 2, 1897 (1897-01-02) Barnard College (New York, New York)
Type	Social
Scope	International
Mission statement	"Women Enriched through Lifelong Friendship.", "Exceed the Expectation."[1]
Colors	Cardinal
Symbol	Sheaf
Flower	Jacqueminot rose
Jewel	Ruby
Mascot	Panda
Publication	To Dragma
Philanthropy	Arthritis Research and Education
Chapters	208
Members	151,000 + collegiate
Headquarters	5390 Virginia Way 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. The philosophy which the founders guided their principles included membership to women who share their belief in lifelong friendship, service and love. Membership is offered to women regardless of ethnicity, religion or socio-economic background.^[2]

Today, Alpha Omicron Pi is an international women's fraternity, with 208 collegiate chapters and 320 alumnae chapters in Canada and the U.S.A.^[3] 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. It is the only member to the NPC to have one official color (cardinal), as all the other members have two to four official colors.

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." The fraternity promotes the values of service, scholarship, and leadership.

History

The Alpha chapter of 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 almost immediately in 1898. The resulting chapter was Pi Chapter at New Orleans' Sophie Newcomb College (part of Tulane University). Stella George Stern Perry, 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.

Symbols

Alpha Omicron Pi has only one color, cardinal (it is the only member of the National Panhellenic Conference to only have one official color).

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.

A sheaf of wheat is a common symbol in AOΠ, found in the 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, 'Général 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, combined 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.

While not an official symbol, the fraternity and its chapters consider the giant panda to be its mascot.

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.

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.

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 awards an annual prize to the organization's outstanding chapter, the Jessie Wallace Hughan Cup.^[4]

Chapters

Since 1897, Alpha Omicron Pi has initiated over 151,000 members in 204 collegiate chapters across the United States and Canada. The oldest continuously open ΑΟΠ chapter was installed at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (founded 1902). The second oldest is Zeta at University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska (founded 1903) and third oldest is Sigma at University of California in Berkeley, California (founded 1907); Theta at DePauw University (founded August 23, 1907), followed by Delta at Tufts University (founded 1908) and Gamma at University of Maine in Orono, Maine (founded 1908).

Alpha chapter at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City closed in 1914 when Greek Life was abolished at the school, however, the chapter has been recolonized and was reinstalled on May 5, 2013 at Columbia University.^[5]

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, ΑΟΠ 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. Of these four, only Alpha and Omicron remain active.

Philanthropy

Alpha Omicron Pi's official philanthropy is Arthritis Research. This cause was chosen because it is the leading cause of disability for women. It can affect women of all ages. Since adopting Arthritis Research as its international philanthropy in 1967, Alpha Omicron Pi has raised over $2 million for grants and research. Collegians are encouraged to participate in annual "Strike out Arthritis" fund-raisers. In 2011, AOII established a partnership with The Arthritis Foundation to further their philanthropic goals. AOII is the official corporate sponsor of the 2014 Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis.

Though Arthritis Research is the international philanthropy, chapters often support other local or national causes, especially those benefitting women's causes.

AOII's original philanthropy was the Frontier Nursing Service which brought essential health services to the poor in Appalachia.

The Alpha Omicron Pi Foundation

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:

• Diamond Jubilee Scholarships
• Educational and Leadership Grants
• The Ruby Fund
• Endowment Fund
• Arthritis Research

Alpha Omicron Pi's values

Alpha Omicron Pi has the following values:

• "Trusting and respecting each other;
• Building lifelong friendships;
• Contributing time, talent and financial resources;
• Promoting integrity;
• Developing leaders;
• Striving for excellence;
• Encouraging innovation and creativity;
• Using teamwork and collaboration;
• Acting philanthropically;
• Being a living example."^[1]

Notable alumnae

Jessie Wallace Hughan

See also

• List of social fraternities and sororities

References

External links

• Alpha Omicron Pi Official Homepage
• Alpha Omicron Pi - Canada
• Alpha Omicron Pi Foundation
• Arthritis Foundation