A rose by any other name....
 

I imagine this isn't a problem for organizations that have been well established for ages. Have you ever run into another GLO that shares your letters, but definitely isn't your organization? I'm not asking about experiences with perps. Have you ever run into another organization that is genuinely using (or has used) your letters, and had no idea that you existed? It could also go the other way around: did you ever find out that the letters of your org. were already in use by another organization?

For example: doing a random web search to find Alpha Sigma Kappa listings, I found the following interesting tidbits:

(1) There is an academic honor society at Seattle Pacific University called Alpha Sigma Kappa. On digging a bit further, I found that the honorary is actually called Alpha Kappa Sigma (false alarm!)

(2) Barb, you might find this one interesting: the Delta Omicron Chapter of ZTA (Lenoir Rhyne, 1962) began as a local (I assume) called Alpha Sigma Kappa Sorority.

Any body else run into coincidental naming like this?



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equeen
A Lioness has her Pride!
@>--;--
Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies

Equeen- I have never run into any other organization with our name, and if I did, I would want them to change it! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif That's one of the reasons we (and the other members of the NPHC) are incorporated.

ZetaAce

Although I am not a Delta, I do know that there were TWO organizations called Delta Sigma Theta.

One was a professional pharmacy society founded in 1915 at the College of Brooklyn?
Now I heard that the Delta sorority sued the pharmacy society for illegal usage of the name, but I do not know, but am curious of what the outcome was.

The other was a midwestern Christian fraternity founded 1925 by a merger between Phi Tau Theta Fraternity and Sigma Epsilon Theta Fraternity. The merger became official in 1941 and the name became Delta Sigma Theta until 1949 when the Delta sorority threatened lawsuit for illegal usage of their name (see pg 105 or 125 of "In Search of Sisterhood" for proof). Hence the name was changed to Sigma Theta Epsilon in 1949-present.

Thought you might like to know

at SUNY Oneonta there are a group of girls who call themselves Sigma Phi Delta. that is named after a national engineering fraternity!! I have been in a sorority there for 2 1/2 years and these girls just made up their name b/c they lost a charter for a national sorority b/c of hazing! this is not even recognized by the school, but they still have girls that pledge under false pretense!

There is a small, regional sorority, Chi Delta Theta, with the same name as an "internet fraternity", read fetish website with paddling for dirty old men.

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Steve Corbin
Lambda Chi Alpha
Theta Kappa Chapter
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech.

[This message has been edited by Corbin Dallas (edited July 25, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Corbin Dallas (edited July 25, 2000).]

Hey equeen...

It's funny that you use that title..."a rose by any other name"...because I just noticed out that we (your sorority and my own) have the same officer Sorority flower and you all even share one of our colors... http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

Odd though, that I'm sure that the meanings behind your symbols and ours are totally different! That's really what makes organzations unique: not so much the symbols, but their meanings respective to the particular organization, eh? http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Best, shela

I am a member of NPC Delta Phi Epsilon (our colours our purple and gold) and there is a foreign service fraternity by the name of Delta Phi Epsilon (whose colours are black and gold) .

I had to put my $19.13 in this....

Rain Main, you are right about the first case scenario. Being that I am from Brooklyn and my friend's father is/was a member of this pharmacy society, I know exactly what you are talking about. The second case I can not speak on because I am unaware of it.

BTW, the school's name is Brooklyn College and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, INNNCORPORATED is OFFICIALLY our name, and OUR NAME ONLY!!!!!

JAUNARY 13, 1913-Founding Date
FEBRUARY 18, 1930-Date of Incorporation

"THEE BKLYNDELTA"
1913% LEGIT AND LOVIN' IT

[This message has been edited by bklyndelta (edited July 25, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by bklyndelta (edited July 26, 2000).]

Excuse me for asking,
but do I get it right that the SPhiD sorority was founded later (1930) than the pharmaceutical society? If so, how could the sorority file a lawsuit? I mean, This local society was first to use the name or weren't they?

A friend of mine goes to a small private christian college. VERY SMALL, maybe 300 students. They have 'social clubs' not sororities and faternities. These 'social clubs' are separate in gender, however, they do have a counter part. For instance, one group of girls always does their activities with a specific group of guys. These 'social clubs' also have greek letter names. They don't really follow any type of greek sturcture as far as rituals go, they resembles greek life in a way because I think they try to structure their clubs as to how they 'think' greek life is, without making their school officials mad. They have mascots, and they have a type of 'rush' process (which I was allowed to attend), they have pledge classes, but their pledging period only lasts a week. The reason they are 'social clubs' is because the school will not allow them to have sororities or fraternities, besides, at a school that small, I doubt they could get one started. But to make a long story short, one of the male 'social clubs' is called Alpha Sigma Tau, which I know is a national sorority because they were on my campus. At my friend's school, they are just called alpha's, but that is supposedly their full name. They don't have anything to do with the national sorority, they didn't even know that the sorority existed (I happened to ask one of the guys). The had decided to pick names one day, and they just 'came up' with Alpha Sigma Tau. Anyway, I thought it was interesting.


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Mikki
Delta Zeta Alum
Kappa Mu Chapter
Sigma Alpha Iota Alum
Eta Tau Chapter

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."

--Lao Tzu

Wow, I had no idea that I'd get this kind of response! Thanks for sharing, everyone.

Also I should clarify, as far as I know of, my sorority is the only group at present (GLO or honorary) to have the name Alpha Sigma Kappa. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif Thanks for your concern, those of you who've emailed, urging to us to trademark, copyright, and/or incorporate the organization's name...already taken care of! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif



http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/cool.gif Interesting, isn't it! Actually the white rose is for all sisters, not just officers...and yah, I noticed the similarities of symbols/color between A.S.K. and Zeta when I first pledged A.S.K...had quite a chuckle over the coincidence!

I totally agree! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

locals, I think it's cool that KZPi did research on "Zeta Pi" before settling on it for sure...I'm wondering, especially with respect to the locals you mentioned above, if this "name-sharing" becomes a problem, should they ever decide to expand to other campuses.

matthewg, I would guess that even if the one organization (pharmacy) awas founded first, if the sorority filed for the name first, then they own the rights to it. bklyndelta
and other Deltas, was this the case for Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., Please clarify?

Definitely a reason to incorporate or at least trademark the name!

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equeen
A Lioness has her Pride!
@>--;--
Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies



[This message has been edited by equeen (edited July 26, 2000).]

matthewg:

Just to let you know 1930 was the YEAR OF INCORPORATION, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was FOUNDED ON JAUNARY 13, 1913. Therefore, they were not FIRST, WE WERE!!!!!

I apologize for the BOLD STATEMENT, but this has been an ongoing issue that needs and warrants clarification!

"THHE BKLYNDELTA"
1913% LEGIT AND LOVIN' IT

P.S. I'm going to edit my previous post so that others will not get the wrong impression!!!!

[This message has been edited by bklyndelta (edited July 26, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by bklyndelta (edited July 26, 2000).]

let it be told by my neo!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/tongue.gif


Epsilon Tau Always representing!

Sorry, shela made a typo...not the "officer" flower, but it is our "offical" flower as well http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif.

matthewg,

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. holds two records of incorporation. First, Alpha Chapter of DST was incorporated on February 18, 1913. Second, Grand Chapter of DST was incorporated on January 20, 1930. As DST became more complex as an organization, it was decided to incorporate the organization again to meet the growing needs of the sisterhood. So actually in 1913 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. obtained all rights and privileges granted to an incorporated entity, which includes the exclusive use of the name Delta Sigma Theta.

My Soror Bklyndelta is correct we were and are the first to use the name.

Peace and Love,
Ms Public Service
2AG86SP

[This message has been edited by Ms Public Service (edited July 27, 2000).]

thanks for clarifying the matter bklnydelta and MS Public Service!

Mgdz,

Thanks for sharing that information. I wasn't aware there was another Alpha Sigma Tau!

Actually, we are incorporated as well (as of 1982), though I think the reasons have more to do with accepting significant tax-deductible donations than for keeping our letters exclusive. Though that would be nice, I feel like my Alpha Sigma Tau is THE Alpha Sigma Tau, anyway.

I figured that's what you really meant! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif


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equeen
A Lioness has her Pride!
@>--;--
Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies

My sorority is a local sorority and we have found other sororities and fraternities that share our name.

Sororities
University of Michigan, Flint, Michigan
Vincennes University, Vincennes, Indiana
Hamilton College, Clinton, New York
Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas

Fraternity
Hope College, Holland, Michigan
Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas
Frostburg State University, Frostburg, Maryland

There is also an honorary society named Alpha Theta Chi...I guess it is big in the south.

I have also done research and found national groups who started locally as Alpha Theta Chi before affiliating.

Since we are local we think that it is neat that others share our letters. We have been in contact with a couple of the other organizations and will probably meet up with them soon. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by AOX81 (edited March 01, 2001).]

I don't want to start another "Is KA racist?" thread, but there is a Kappa Alpha Order AND a Kappa Alpha Society. I think there is also an Alpha Delta Phi fraternity and Alpha Delta Phi Literary society.

For the record, most national GLOs are incorporated. I know that many of the NPC groups are not to refer to themselves as "Alpha Beta Gamma, Incorporated" unless it's a business or legal thing. I READ THIS ON A WEBSITE, SO IT'S NOT ESOTERIC.

prdlocal - are you here?

There are two other Alpha Sigma's - one at Shippensburg U of Pennsylvania and one at the New York Institute of Technology.

Well at Illinois college there are two local greek lettered literary societies tht share names with two national fraternities. There is sigma pi literary society which shares it name with Sigma Pi fraternity. The two attempted to merge at one point in the 60s or 70s. And there is also Sigma Phi Epsilon literary society for women also known as sigphip it shares its name with Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

My chapter, Sigma Phi Epsilon used to be a local fraternity before we petitioned SigEp. We were Delta Phi Omega (mostly called DPO). After doing a websearch, I figured out there is an ethnic sorority with those letters and a local sorority at some school with them. It's kind of weird to think of because obviously theyre different... biggest difference, theyre sororities. Talk to you later.

For the record, the NPC sorority, and only true Delta Phi Epsilon http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif was founded March 17, 1917. This Delta Phi Epsilon Foreign Service Fraternity/Sorority wasn't founded until January 11, 1920. So I say we're it Siobhan http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif Besides, after looking at their website, it seems that only the Georgetown Chapter exists at this point.



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Delta Phi Epsilon, Celebrating 84 years of Dedication, Pride and Excellence!

Hellooooo there! I always thought this was an interesting topic!

I was looking at a website for a local "Phi Sigma" and their colors were blue and gold... hmmmm their rose was similar to ours and had alot of similar things... strange... lol

Does anyone know of any Beta Xi Omegas? Thats what our chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma was before!

One interesting thing... the two sororities Im in (Phi Sigs and TBS - national honorary band sorority) have the same rose!
Phi Sigs: American Beauty Rose
TBS: Long Stemmed American Beauty Red Rose http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

For all of you who need to know the difference... American Beauty's petals curl under differently when they bloom http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

<3Ali

My Fraternity's flower is also the American Beauty rose.. I think it's pretty popular, especially among sororites. (We started out as a women's fraternity, although we've been co-ed for 25+ years).

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SilverTurtle

Phi Beta Fraternity: National Professional Association for the Creative & Performing Arts

Thats cool to know that once they were Phi Sigma Sigma.... hey Laura, I just wanted to let you know I love your site! Its helped me alot... Im 'trying' to start a local christian sorority and Ive learned alot! (also found a few organizations who we might join!!!!)

http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

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Phi Sigma Sigma - Gamma Gamma
Tau Beta Sigma - Delta Omicron

I never knew that! Chi Delta Theta is actually a California based Asian Interest Sorority. The only have about 5 chapters, they have one at Cal Poly with about 15 girls.

The other National Asian interest Sorority, Kappa Delta Phi, found that when they tried to register, that there was a Fraternity already in place. So, they added a lower case alpha, but they are known as KDPhi...

Yes, Phi Sigma Sigma is really Phi Sigma Sigma Fraternity Inc. Ive noticed that most, if not all, 26 NPC groups refer to themselves as a Fraternity. I think I read that this is because sorority was used to refer to an group that has a brother GLO, and that we do not have brother orgs that we affiliate with. Does anyone else know about this?

<3 Ali


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"...A dynamic sisterhood of powerful and passionate women maintaining uncompromising principles, igniting positive change, and embracing individuality!"

Phi Sigma Sigma - Gamma Gamma Chapter
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1-9-4-6 Doohretsis!

Tau Beta Sigma - Delta Omicron Chapter
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Go Golden Chickens! I mean EAGLES!

There are only a few good things that came out of Clarion- Chris Kirkpatrick of NSync, Kurt Angle (Pre WWF!) and any PHI SIGMA SIGMA!

The local fraternity that became my chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha called themselves the CAVALIERS. They purposely picked a non-Greek letter name in order not to show preference to any existing GLO. The Cavaliers were founded in Jan. 1968 here on the campus of Univ. of West Georgia, and became the Eta Sigma Chapter of PiKA on April 29, 1972.

However, several years ago, my chapter was closed due to a period of debt, behavioral problems, etc. After the chapter was closed, several former members organized a local fraternity and reclaimed the name of the CAVALIERS for the organization. This second generation of Cavaliers again eventually became the organization that recolonized the Eta Sigma Chapter of PiKA here at UWG.

But here's the kicker, apparently sometime between 1972 and 1995 there was ANOTHER organization on the UWG campus called the Cavaliers!! From what I've heard it was basically like a big or little brother group to one of the NPHC sororities here on campus. I think it is actually a regional or maybe even national type group that supports one or all of the NPHC groups...can any NPHC members out there shed any light to this?

A funny story though...a few years ago, this Cavalier-Pike local group had a date night at an Atlanta Braves game. The president at that time was wearing a Cavaliers t-shirt. When he was at the concession stand, an older black man behind him got all excited and started talking to him. He said he had been a "Cavalier" at West Georgia and was wondering when the group went inter-racial!! The current Cavalier was totally confused because no one really knew about the other Cavalier group!! It was really too funny!!

The local fraternity that became my chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha called themselves the CAVALIERS. They purposely picked a non-Greek letter name in order not to show preference to any existing GLO. The Cavaliers were founded in Jan. 1968 here on the campus of Univ. of West Georgia, and became the Eta Sigma Chapter of PiKA on April 29, 1972.

However, several years ago, my chapter was closed due to a period of debt, behavioral problems, etc. After the chapter was closed, several former members organized a local fraternity and reclaimed the name of the CAVALIERS for the organization. This second generation of Cavaliers again eventually became the organization that recolonized the Eta Sigma Chapter of PiKA here at UWG.

But here's the kicker, apparently sometime between 1972 and 1995 there was ANOTHER organization on the UWG campus called the Cavaliers!! From what I've heard it was basically like a big or little brother group to one of the NPHC sororities here on campus. I think it is actually a regional or maybe even national type group that supports one or all of the NPHC groups...can any NPHC members out there shed any light to this?

A funny story though...a few years ago, this Cavalier-Pike local group had a date night at an Atlanta Braves game. The president at that time was wearing a Cavaliers t-shirt. When he was at the concession stand, an older black man behind him got all excited and started talking to him. He said he had been a "Cavalier" at West Georgia and was wondering when the group went inter-racial!! The current Cavalier was totally confused because no one really knew about the other Cavalier group!! It was really too funny!!