Alpha Phi

Alpha Phi International Women's Fraternity (ΑΦ, also known as APhi) is a sorority with 172 active chapters and over 250,000 initiated members.

Alpha Phi
ΑΦ
FoundedSeptember 18, 1872 (1872-09-18)[1]
Syracuse University, (Syracuse, New York)
TypeSocial
ScopeNorth America
MottoUnion hand in hand
ColorsBordeaux, silver
SymbolIvy
FlowerLily of the Valley, Forget-me-not
MascotPhi Bear
PublicationQuarterly
PhilanthropyAlpha Phi Foundation in support of Women's Heart Health
Chapters170[2]
Members250,000+ lifetime
Headquarters1930 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, Illinois
USA
Websitealphaphi.org

Founded at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York on September 18, 1872,[3][4] it is the fourth Greek-letter organization founded for women, and the first women's fraternity founded in the northeast.

Alpha Phi is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference, the governing council of 26 women's fraternities.[5] Alpha Phi's national headquarters are located in Evanston, Illinois.

History

At the time of the founding there were only 666 women attending Syracuse; ten of them eventually formed of Alpha Phi to found an organization "on the principles of the promotion of growth in character; unity of feeling, sisterly affection, and social communion among the members."[6] Although the actual founding date is September 18, 1872, Alpha Phi has been celebrating their Founder's Day on October 10 since 1902, since many colleges and universities were not open for classes in mid-September at that time. Alpha Phi considers itself a women's fraternity because its founding date predates the invention of the word "sorority".

Four founders of Alpha Phi, reunited at a national convention in 1922: Clara Bradley Burdette, Jane Sara Higham, Louise Shepard Hancock, and Clara Sittser Williams.

Founders

Alpha Phi's founding members were:[7][8]

  • Martha Emily Foote Crow – Martha "Mattie" Foote Crow (1854 – January 1, 1924) was an educator and writer. Born in Sackets Harbor, New York,[9] she played an important role in the development of higher education for women in the United States.[10]
  • Rena A. Michaels Atchison – She served as a professor at several universities. She then served as Dean of Women's College, Northwestern University from 1886–1891.
  • Clara Bradley Baker Wheeler Burdette
  • Jane Sara Higham
  • Clara Sittser Williams
  • Florence Chidester Lukens
  • Ida Arabella Gilbert DeLamanter Houghton
  • Kate Elizabeth Hogoboom Gilbert
  • Louise Viola Shepard Hancock
  • Elizabeth Grace Hubbell Shults

Symbols

Like many other women's fraternities, Alpha Phi recognizes multiple types of symbols, with the Ivy Leaf as their primary symbol. The fraternity's official colors are bordeaux and silver. The colors were originally blue and gold; however, these colors were similar to those of the Sigma Chi fraternity so they were changed. The official flowers are the Lily of the Valley and the Forget-me-not, and the fraternity lists its ideals as "Sisterhood, Generosity, Service, Innovation, and Character."

Alpha Phi's public motto is "union hand in hand". According to Alexandra Robbins, it also has a "secret" motto, "A.O.E."[11]

Badge

The Alpha Phi badge is the Greek letter Alpha resting on the Greek letter Phi, engraved with the Greek acronym A.O.E. It can be customized in silver or gold or adorned with jewels such as diamonds, emeralds, and other precious stones. Prior to the adoption of the current badge in 1906, "each member [of Alpha Phi] went to the jeweler of her choice to have her pin designed."[1] The Alpha Phi badge is worn by initiated members, as there is a separate badge for new members before their initiation.

Other forms of badges:

  • Honor Badge – These pins are worn by international officers, and presidents of college chapters while they are serving their reign as president.
  • New member Badge – "In 1898 the Fraternity adopted a special badge to honor her newest members. The badge they selected is in the shape of an ivy leaf, set in silver pewter. An ever-growing vine, the ivy symbolizes the growth of the Alpha Phi sisterhood."[1]
  • Fifty-Year Pin – "The first fifty-year pins, silver circles with red stones, were presented at the 42nd Convention in 1958 to several alumnae who had given significant service to the fraternity for 50 years or more. These pins are replicas of the pins presented to the six living founders at the Fraternity's Fiftieth Anniversary Convention in 1922."[1]

Philanthropy

The Alpha Phi Foundation was founded in 1956. The fraternity officially adopted Cardiac Care as its philanthropic priority in 1946, which then became the Foundation's focus upon its founding in 1956. The Foundation supports programs and research that study heart disease in women – specifically its symptoms, its treatment and its prevention. The foundation raises and awards funds and grants for programs in leadership and academics, towards women's heart health, for members with financial needs, and for heritage preservation and education about philanthropy.[12]

One way the Foundation helps fund research and educational programs that support the improvement of women's heart health through its annual Heart to Heart Cardiac Care Grant, a $100,000 award towards better understanding gender differences in heart health through increasing heart disease prevention and treatment in women. The fraternity considers the first Friday of February as Red Dress Pin Day and the month of February as Cardiac Care Month where individual Alpha Phi chapters are encouraged to develop a relationship with a local cardiac care project in their community as well as to promote awareness of women's heart disease.

Collegiate chapters of Alpha Phi host a philanthropy event known as The Red Dress Gala (also called "Red Dress Ball" or "Aphiasco" by some chapters), which includes a silent auction, guest speakers, and a full dinner for sisters, alumni, and family. Traditionally, the collegiate members wear red dresses to represent their support for Women's Heart Health. This event raises funds for their Foundation and the Heart to Heart Grant. Collegiate chapters, alumnae chapters and individual members can nominate a local heart project for the Heart to Heart Cardiac Care Grant. Self-nominations are also accepted. The recipient is selected by a team of medical professionals and the Foundation board of directors.

Past recipients of the Heart to Heart Grant

Note: Texas Heart Institute has been awarded the grant twice, in 2013 and 2017.

Controversies

In 2013, Miss America 2015 Kira Kazantsev was terminated from the Theta Mu chapter at Hofstra University for abusive hazing. At the time, Kazantsev was serving the chapter as head of recruitment.[16]

In 2015, the Beta Mu chapter at the University of Alabama took down a recruitment video that was heavily criticized for its lack of diversity and the provocative way in which collegiate women were portrayed.[17]

In October 2016, the Iota Delta chapter at the University of Rhode Island charter was revoked for at least four years. On bid day, the sorority was accused of endangering the health and safety of new members and violating the university's alcohol policy.[18]

In January 2018, Harley Barber, a member of the Beta Mu chapter at the University of Alabama was terminated from the sorority and expelled from the college after posting videos on social media in which she repeatedly used the n-word and other profanities to make degrading comments about African-Americans.[19] The incident gained media coverage across the country, University President Stuart R. Bell, the University Panhellenic Association, and Linda Kahangi, executive director of Alpha Phi International Fraternity released statements.[20]

In January 2018, three members of the Iota Iota chapter at the George Washington University were removed from the organization due to a racist social media post. The incident prompted criticism from national and international news sources and the University's Student Association received petitions to remove the chapter from campus.[21]

In September 2018, a document by a former recruitment chair of the University of Michigan Alpha Phi chapter surfaced with descriptions of how the chapter's membership selection process was based on selecting for certain physical appearances and assigned numbers to these women based on the judgment of the recruitment chairs and representatives from their international headquarters. The exposé described that Alpha Phi supervisors ordered her to give the PNMs an "External Prescore" based on pictures from their social media profiles. Throughout the recruitment process, active members in the sorority were also ranked on superficial qualities and matched with "stronger" or "weaker" PNMs.[22]

In January 2019, the Alpha Phi chapter at Old Dominion University was accused of racist behavior within the members of the sorority. School officials are investigating the allegations and the chapter cannot currently hold functions of any kind at this time.[23]

Membership

Chapters
Main article: List of Alpha Phi chapters

Notable alumnae

Business

  • Nancy Austin (Beta Delta – UCLA) – Management consultant and author of The Assertive Woman[24]
  • Susan Bayh (Lambda – UC Berkeley) – attorney and professional director[25]
  • Marisol Deluna (Alpha Lambda-Alumna Initiate) – fashion designer[26]
  • Deborah Lippmann (Gamma Pi – Arizona State) – singer and celebrity manicurist with her own line, the Lippmann Collection[24]
  • Janet Murguía (Gamma Delta – Kansas) – First female president/CEO of National Council of La Raza[24]
  • Julee Rosso (Beta Beta – Michigan State) – Founder of The Silver Palate gourmet food shop and Co-author of Silver Palate Cookbook[24]
  • Alice Waters (Gamma Beta – UC Santa Barbara) – author, chef, founder of Chez Panisse, the original "California Cuisine" restaurant[24]
  • Beverly Willis (Beta Upsilon – Oregon State) – Architect, artist, author, and activist[24]
  • Andrea Wong (Zeta Phi – MIT) – American television executive, former President and chief executive officer of Lifetime Television[24]

Entertainment

Education, literature, and medicine

News media and journalism

Politics and government

Sports

  • Kelly Barnhill (Kappa Eta – Florida) – Award-winning American collegiate and professional softball player, three-time USA women's national softball team member
  • Susie Berning (Delta Delta – Oklahoma City) – American professional golfer[24]
  • Julie Clark (Gamma Beta – UC Santa Barbara) – American airline pilot and aerobatic performer[24]
  • Claire Waters Ferguson (Beta Beta – Michigan State) – First woman president of the United States Figure Skating Association[24]
  • Stacia Hookom (Beta Gamma – Colorado) – first woman on U.S. Snowboarding team, multiple national/world titles/appearances[32]
  • Edean Anderson Ihlanfeldt (Beta Upsilon – Oregon State) – golfer, champion of multiple national titles for US and Canada[32]
  • Jennifer Joines (Iota Gamma – University of the Pacific) – Silver medal winning American indoor volleyball player in the 2008 Beijing Olympics[24]
  • Janis Klecker (Epsilon – Minnesota) – American long-distance runner, two-time United States national champion in the marathon[33]
  • Marion Roper (Beta Delta – UCLA) – Bronze medal winning American diver in the 1932 Summer Olympics[24]

Religion

  • Ruth Stafford Peale (Alpha – Syracuse) – Religious leader, public speaker and author[24]
  • Catherine Maples Waynick (Epsilon Zeta – Central Michigan) – One of only eight women to be bishops in the U.S. Episcopal Church[24]

See also

References
  1. AlphaPhi.org Archived March 18, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  2. http://www.alphaphi.org/aboutus/whoweare
  3. Greek Info Pages: NPC Sororities Archived July 11, 2012, at Archive.today
  4. Alpha Phi International Blog
  5. "Our Member Organizations". National Panhellenic Conference. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  6. "Alpha Phi Bylaws 2012". Indiana University - beINvolved. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  7. "AlphaPhi.org, About us: Founders". Archived from the original on May 19, 2006. Retrieved June 15, 2006.
  8. [The Ivy Leaf, Introduction to Alpha Phi: An Official Publication of Alpha Phi Fraternity, Inc.]
  9. KM. "Martha Foote Crow Papers: an inventory of her papers at Syracuse University". Syracuse University, May 1990. http://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/print/crow_mf_prt.htm.
  10. Rossiter, Margaret W. "Doctorates for American Women, 1868–1907." History of Education Quarterly 22, no. 2 (Summer): 159-183.
  11. Robbins, Alexandra (2015). The Secret Life of Sororities. Hachette. p. 285. ISBN 978-0786888597. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  12. "Mission/ Vision". Alpha Phi Foundation. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
  13. Eventsoftheheart.org Archived July 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  14. Womenheart.org
  15. "Heart to Heart Grant Recipients - Alpha Phi Foundation". Alpha Phi Foundation. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  16. Hutchinson, Bill. "Miss America engaged in 'dirty pledging' at Hofstra University sorority: report - NY Daily News". nydailynews.com. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  17. Bromwich, Jonah (August 18, 2015). "Sorority Video Generates Charges of Discrimination". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  18. http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20161031/uri-revokes-sororitys-charter-following-alcohol-violation
  19. "Harley Barber's mom says daughter is degrading herself, OK with punishment". AL.com. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  20. Eltagouri, Marwa (January 17, 2018). "She recorded herself making racial slurs on MLK Day. Her college expelled her". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  21. "Racially insensitive photo sparks outrage at George Washington University". USA TODAY. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  22. Reporter, Elizabeth Lawrence Daily Staff. "Letter detailing Nationals-sanctioned superficial rush process causes unrest in U community". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  23. Arevalo, Geena (January 4, 2019). "Old Dominion sorority under investigation for racist allegations". WAVY. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  24. "Alpha Phi Fraternity – Famous Phis". Alpha Phi Fraternity. Archived from the original on March 18, 2007. Retrieved March 25, 2007.
  25. "Not Available" (PDF). Alphaphi.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 20, 2010. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  26. "Facets of Fashion". Alpha Phi Quarterly Summer 2016. June 30, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  27. "Katelynne Cox - Bio". www.katelynnecox.net. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  28. "Alpha Phi Fraternity Quarterly" (PDF). Alpha Phi Fraternity. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2007. Retrieved March 25, 2007.
  29. Becque, Fran (October 29, 2014). "Sorority Women Who Competed - An Alpha Phi is Miss USA 2015". Fraternity History & More. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  30. "Gabrielle Ruiz* ~ Bio". www.gabrielleruiz.net. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  31. Miss Kansas Organization (August 7, 2015). "Miss Kansas Hannah Wagner coming to Mac". McPherson Sentinel. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  32. "Famous Phis". Alpha Phi. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  33. Archived February 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
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