Alpha Chi Omega was founded as Alpha Kai Omega. Our founders chose "Alpha" because they were forming the first fraternity in the school of music; therefore, it seemed fitting to use the first letter of the Greek alphabet. It was suggested that they might possibly be founding the last such fraternity, so "Omega" seemed appropriate. "Kai," meaning "and," was added to form Alpha Kai Omega, the beginning and the end. "Kai" was later changed to "Chi," a letter of the Greek alphabet, when the badge was designed.
The flower of Alpha Chi Omega is the red carnation, exemplifying the colors of our Fraternity.
Alpha Chi Omega's colors of scarlet and olive green were chosen to commemorate the autumn founding of our Fraternity.
Our badge, the lyre of Alpha Chi Omega, was chosen by our founders after much research. The design which appealed most to the founders was a replica of the harp because it seemed in keeping with their musical interests. Not quite satisfied, though, they turned to Greek mythology where they found that the first instrument played by the gods on Mt. Olympus was a lyre. The original badge was purchased by founder Bertha Deniston and is now in the Fraternity archives at headquarters.
The stick pin is diamond-shaped with the top half enameled in scarlet and the bottom in olive green. It bears the lyre across its face and is designed to be worn with the lyre badge.
