epsilon alpha chapter at the pennsylvania state university
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epsilon alpha chapter at the pennsylvania state university |
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our history
Alpha Omicron Pi 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.
The object of the Fraternity shall be to encourage a spirit of Fraternity and love among its members; to stand at all times for character, dignity, scholarship, and college loyalty; to strive for and support the best interest of the colleges and universities in which chapters are installed, and in no way to disregard, injure, or sacrifice those interests for the sake of prestige or advancement of the Fraternity or any of its chapters.
Elizabeth Heywood Wyman, Helen St. Clair Mullan, Jessie Wallace Hughan, and Stella George Stern Perry founded Alpha Omicron Pi on January 2, 1897 at Barnard College of Columbia University. They were in the class of 1898 - friendly, adventurous, frank and merry, and enthusiastically devoted to each other and to the class of '98.
Determined to make a democratic, unostentatious society, the four women, Stella George Stern, Helen St. Clair, Elizabeth Heywood, and Jessie Wallace climbed a little winding stair into the stackroom of the old Columbia Library. This little room was rarely used and stored Anglo-Saxon tomes and ancient vellum manuscripts. While the four sat in a deep window seat, pigeons outside and snow lightly falling, they pledged one another at the beginning of the year 1897.
Barnard College welcomed the new fraternity and it was not long before the first chapter, Alpha, was flourishing. The fraternity became national with the installation of Pi Chapter at Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, New Orleans, on September 8, 1898.
Over the next 100 years, AOII has added to the ranks 180 collegiate chapters and initiated over 126,000 members. Omicron Chapter (U of Tennessee), chartered on April 14, 1902 as our 4th chapter is the oldest active chapter.
AOII has thrived and continued to grow throughout the changing 20th century. Despite several wars, the Great Depression, the women’s suffrage movement and the social unrest of the 1960’s, AOII has continued to hold true to its ideals. Founder Stella Perry once wrote, “that which makes our bond is promise certain of success. Let us follow our ensign devotedly, utterly and bravely. For our purpose cannot fail.”
Elizabeth Heywood Wyman Helen St. Clair Mullan Jessie Wallace Hughan Stella George Stern Perry
- AOII Symbols
Our badge
The badge of Alpha Omicron Pi is composed of the three initial letters of the three words of the Motto, superimposed one upon the next in order, which gives the Fraternity its name. Badges may be worn by initiated members only. Lending or giving the badge to any person not a member of the Fraternity is prohibited
Our Flower
The Jacquesminot Rose 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.
Our Color & Jewel: Cardinal red & the ruby
- AOII Tradition
American College Dictionary defines traditions as "the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends and customs from generation to generation."
These are a few of the Fraternity's traditions: the Essential Tradition, Greek Heritage, Ruby "A" Badge, Draping the Badge, Wearing a Red Ribbon, Founders' Day, Convention Banquet, and Candlelighting.
