Alpha Xi Delta
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox Sorority Alpha Xi Delta (Template:Lang, often referred to as A-"Zee"-D) is an American women's fraternity. It was founded in 1893 at Lombard College in Galesburg, Illinois. It has 175,000 initiated members and maintains active chapters at 130 institutions across the United States. Alpha Xi Delta is a member of National Panhellenic Conference.
History
On April 17, 1893, ten young women at Lombard College in Galesburg, Illinois founded Alpha Xi Delta sorority.<ref name="Baird's Manual Online">Template:Cite web The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.</ref><ref name=":3">Trent, Karen Pyle (ed.) Alpha Xi Delta: A 100-Year History Printed by Order of the National Council of Alpha Xi Delta, 1993.</ref> The founders ranged in age from 16 to 26.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> They were Cora Bollinger Block, Alice Bartlett Brummer, Frances Elizabeth Cheney, Elmira Lowry Cheney, Bertha Cook Evans, Elizabeth Curtis Everton, Julia Maude Foster, Lucy W. Gilmer, and Harriet McCollum.<ref name=":22">Shepard, Francis W., ed. (1927). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (11th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Publishing Company. p. 255 – via Google Books. Accessed August 31, 2023.</ref> With the help Sigma Nu fraternity's brothers at Lombard College, the sorority developed a constitution that prepared it to become a national organization; the constitution was adopted in 1902.<ref name=":1">Robson, John, ed. (1963). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 398-399.</ref>
The sorority remained a local organization until 1902 when it established chapters at Iowa Wesleyan University and University of Mount Union.<ref name="Baird's Manual Online" /><ref name=":22" /> Its three chapters held the first national convention in 1903.<ref name=":1" /> Chapters were added at Bethany College and University of South Dakota in 1903, and Wittenberg University and Syracuse University in 1904.<ref name="Baird's Manual Online" /><ref name=":22" />
Alpha Xi Delta began publishing its magazine, Alpha Xi Delta in 1904.<ref name=":6" />Template:Reference pageIn 1904, the sorority joined the National Panhellenic Conference. Alpha Xi Delta's Ella Boston Leib was NPC chairman in 1906. Lena Grandin Baldwin, an Alpha Xi Delta who served as NPC chairman from 1912 to 1915, wrote the Panhellenic Creed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The sorority was incorporated in the State of Ohio in 1907.<ref name=":1" /> Alpha Xi Delta was referred to as a sorority until 1913, when the term "women's fraternity" was adopted.<ref name=":3" /> By 1927, twenty chapters had established houses.<ref name=":22" /> When Lombard College closed in 1930, the Alpha chapter moved to Knox College, also located in Galesburg.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Reference page In 1931, the fraternity had established fifty chapters and initiated 9,500 members.<ref name=":6" />Template:Reference page
After promoting the admission of women to Georgia Tech in the 1950s, Alpha Xi Delta alumna Ella Wall Van Leer helped establish a chapter of Alpha Xi Delta on the campus in 1954.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> By 1963, the fraternity had 86 active chapters, 17 inactive chapters, and 39,007 total initiates.<ref name=":1" /> At that time, 36 of chapters owned a house.<ref name=":1" />
Symbols
The Alpha Xi Delta coat of arms is an azure shield supported by two light blue rampant griffins. At the top of the shield are three roses, followed by a gold quill in its center, and a broken sword in the lower portion. Above the shield is a knight's helmet topped by a pink rose with a leaf and a branch. Below the shield is the azure motto Template:Lang or Template:Lang.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Alpha Xi Delta's badge is a gold quill, with the raised Greek letters "Template:Lang" on the feathers.<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":6" />Template:Reference page The quill represents the open motto "The Pen is Mightier than the Sword."<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> A variety of designs were produced in the early years of the fraternity; a standard design was devised by 1911.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The fraternity's new member pin is oval shaped, with a black enamel center that features the Greek letters "Template:Lang" in gold and a gold exterior band.<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":6" />Template:Reference page
The colors of Alpha Xi Delta are light blue, dark blue, and gold.<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":6" />Template:Reference page The fraternity's flag consists of three horizonal strips; the top stripe is dark blue with ten gold start, the center stripe is light blue with the Greek letters "Template:Lang" in gold, and the bottom stripe is dark blue with a gold quill.<ref name=":6" />Template:Reference page The fraternity's flower is the pink rose, chosen to complement the white rose of Sigma Nu fraternity.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6" />Template:Reference page Its jewels are diamond and pearl.<ref name=":6" />Template:Reference page BetXi Bear has been the fraternity's official mascot since 1989.<ref name=":0" />
The fraternity celebrates Founder's Day on April 17 each year.<ref name=":1" /> Alpha Xi Delta's publication is The Quill of Alpha Xi Delta, first published in 1915.<ref name=":6" />Template:Reference page
Symphony
Alpha Xi Delta's open creed is called "The Symphony of Alpha Xi Delta" and it lists the ideals of the fraternity's members. It was written in 1924 by Helen Willis Lynn, Alice Matthews, and Almira Cheney, one of the founders.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
"These things do we earnestly desire: A clear vision of life, that with gracious and kindly hearts we may share both joy and sorrow and bring into living reality the Sisterhood of women. An appreciation of real merit and worth, steadfastness of soul, that without bitterness or defeat, we may encounter misfortune and with humility meet success. These things, O Lord, help us to instill within our hearts that we may grow in courage and graciousness and peace."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Philanthropy
In 1956, the fraternity established the Alpha Xi Delta Foundation to oversee its educational and philanthropic activities.<ref name=":1" /> Alpha Xi Delta has supported a variety of philanthropies over its history. In 2022, building on the success of the Kindly Hearts Campaign of 2021, which supported those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Alpha Xi Delta announced its new national philanthropy: the Kindly Hearts Initiative, supporting children experiencing foster care or homelessness.<ref name=":8">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":9">Template:Cite web</ref> From 2009 to 2021, its national philanthropic partner was Autism Speaks. The sorority raised more than $12 million for Autism Speaks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| Years | Charity | References |
|---|---|---|
| pre-1930 | Tuberculosis and memorial libraries | <ref name=":1" /> |
| 1930s | Sponsorship of Carcassone Community School in Gander, Kentucky | <ref name=":2">The Quill of Alpha Xi Delta. 125th anniversary edition. (2018)</ref><ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 1942–1947 | American Red Cross: supported the World War II effort by donating an ambulance, clubmobile, and portable pianos. Also help blood drives | <ref name=":5" /> |
| 1947–1952 | Adopted Noordwyk, Netherlands which was devastated by World War II | <ref name=":5" /> |
| 1949 | Rural Children Development Program: provided aid to Brown County, Indiana | <ref name=":5" /> |
| 1952 | Save the Children Federation: sponsored ten schools in Arkansas and Tennessee | <ref name=":5" /> |
| 1958 | Combatting Juvenile Delinquency: sponsored Howell House in Chicago, Illinois | <ref name=":5" /> |
| 1973–1977 | Pittman Hall, supported a hone for girls in New York | <ref name=":5" /> |
| 1978–1992 | American Lung Association: promoted respiratory health | <ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" /> |
| 1992–2009 | Choose Children | <ref name=":2" /> |
| 2009–2021 | Autism Speaks | <ref name=":2" /> |
| 2021–2022 | Kindly Hearts Campaign: supported those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic | <ref name=":2" /> |
| 2022–to date | Kindly Hearts Initiative: supporting children experiencing foster care or homelessness | <ref name=":2" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" /> |
The AmaXIng Challenge
Each college chapter participates annually in one of six events called "The AmaXing Challenge: Step It Up, Xi Man/Xi Woman, Sports FrenXi, Xi Games, Xi Karaoke, or AmaXing Gala. Funds that are raised support the Kindly Hearts Initiative.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Letters of Love
In November of each year, collegiate and alumnae members participate in an online letter-writing project to raise funds and awareness. Letters of Love supports two "key impact" organizations: FosterClub and StandUp for Kids.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Membership
Membership is Alpha Xi Delta is open to individuals who live and self-identify as woman and demonstrate academic achievement and good character.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref> The fraternity selects new members through a process of meetings, events, and interviews.<ref name=":4" />
Governance
The fraternity is governed by a National Council that is elected at a convention of the national chapter, consisting of a representative from each chapter and the national officers.<ref name=":1" /> It has a national executive secretary and staff.<ref name=":1" /> Its national headquarters is in Indianapolis, Indiana.<ref name=":7">Template:Cite web</ref>
Chapters
Template:MainAlpha Xi Delta has active chapters at 130 institutions across the United States.<ref name="Baird's Manual Online" />
Notable members
Alpha Xi Delta has initiated over 175,000 members.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Scandals and member misconduct
In October 1945, the Upsilon chapter at the University of Vermont offered membership to Crystal Malone, one of the few Black students enrolled in the university.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news </ref> Although the fraternity constitution did not have explicit racial restrictions, the National Council ordered the local chapter to withdraw its offer to Malone. They refused. The fraternity's national president, Winnafred Corwin Robinson (Mrs. Beverly Robinson), ordered the chapter closed.<ref name="BrownStory">Noted in the Vermont Quarterly Online Magazine, "Fall issue", undated and unnamed byline. Accessed 8 Mar 2021.</ref> Today, the fraternity's constitution and bylaws state that Alpha Xi Delta does not "discriminate based on religion, race, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship, or age."
In 2010, the Miami University chapter of Alpha Xi Delta was suspended until 2014 for alcohol violations stemming from its destructive formal at Cincinnati's National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2019, the sorority recolonized the chapter and no longer recognizes the members involved in the incident.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
References
External links
Template:National Panhellenic Conference Template:Fraternities and Sororities