History
National Fraternity History
In the fall of 1885, Professor James Hamilton Howe, Dean of the Music School at DePauw University, invited seven young women from the school to attend a meeting for the purpose of forming a society. The seven young women chosen to attend this first meeting were Anna Allen, Olive Burnett, Bertha Deniston, Amy DuBois, Nellie Gamble, Bessie Grooms and Estelle Leonard. Their desire was to form an organization that would provide both close companionship and support to its members.
Their friend and associate, James G. Campbell, an undergraduate member of Beta Theta Pi who acted as librarian for the school of music offered a suggestion-that they form a fraternity. They believed that such a group would benefi t the students, the university, and the musical arts. Rumors of a new ladies' fraternity spread throughout the campus, but the group chose to be fully organized before making its first public appearance. A constitution and bylaws were drafted, the fraternity's symbols, colors, and motto were chosen, the first eight pledges were selected, and their badge was designed. All this was done before ALPHA CHI OMEGA was introduced to the DePauw University student body at a convocation held in Meharry Hall.
The young women met regularly in a small room in the music building. On October 23, 1885, one week after their initial founding, Alpha Chi Omega's Founders and their first pledges, adorned with scarlet and olive green ribbons, made their presence known. Although founded within the school of music, Alpha Chi Omega is now open to all undergraduate female students meeting our National Membership Criteria.
Beta Lambda Chapter History
The Beta Lambda chapter of Alpha Chi Omega was first colonized at The University of Arizona in 1932. As sorority membership dropped nationally in the 1960's, Beta Lambda was forced to make the difficult decision to leave campus in 1969. In 1980 Alpha Chi Omega proudly recolonized the Beta Lambda chapter at The University of Arizona. The chapter has remained on campus since that time.
Today, the chapter supports the Tucson Centers for Women and Children, a local shelter and daycare center for battered women and families. The women volunteer sevral hours each year n the center's daycare facility. The chapter's current campus philanthropy is the very popular Frisbee Fling, in which fraternity men's teams compete in Frisbee golf.
