Symbols and Traditions

“To see beauty even in the common things in life,
To shed the light of love and friendship round me,
To keep my life in tune with the world that I shall make no discords in the harmony of life,
To strike on the lyre of the world only the notes of happiness, of joy, of peace,
To appreciate every little service rendered
To see and appreciate all that is noble in another, be her badge what it may
And to let my lyre send forth the chords of love, unselfishness, sincerity.
This is to be my Symphony.”
~Celia McClure, 1914
 











Alpha Chi Omega was founded on October 15, 1885, at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana by seven students in the school of music. While we are no longer a musical sorority, we show our appreciation of the fine arts and to our heritage with our badge. The lyre-shaped badge is reminiscent of our founding and is symbolic in Greek Mythology.


Our 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. Alpha Chi Omega’s colors of scarlet and olive green were chosen to commemorate the Fraternity’s autumn founding in Greencastle, Indiana. Alpha Chi Omega's flower is the red carnation, exemplifying the Fraternity's colors. Our open motto is  “Together Let Us Seek the Heights”.