Alpha Xi Delta charters 5-woman chapter
 

The new GA Tech alumni mag has a long story about the days when Tech first admitted women (1952), with the pressure to change the state law banning women from Tech led by Tech prez Van Lee and his wife Ella - an Alpha Xi Delta alum.

In 1954, when Tech had five women, Ella Van Leer started a chapter of AZD, and all five women pledged. AZD made an exception, and chartered this five-member group, which was surely helped by having all of their meetings and socials at the Tech presidents mansion.

In 1955, Van Leer loaned the girls her new Chevy (and paid for the gas), for the chapter to attend an AZD convention in Mass.

Incidently, one of these early Techsters said her freshman class load included "calculus, chem, physics, and welding".

The second GLO arrived in 1970, and Tech now has 10 sororities.

Today, Tech is 29 percent female, and 42 percent of the President's Scholars are women.

Interesting stuff. I wonder if this is known in the AZD history archives?

That's really cool and interesting tid bit of history!

AXD should be very proud (as I'm sure they are).

Hootie ;)

I'm sure nationals knows our history, but that story is not in our 100-year history. It says the chapter was founded "under the guidance and inspiration of Dr. June Jones. ... Alpha Xi Delta became the first national sorority at Georgia Tech."

That's so great! Rock on, AXiD!!!

yay! You started. Now grow bigger and get lots of cool, cute girls during rush and multiply your membership by ten

Uh, I think they already did. Georgia Tech was chartered in the 1950s.

thank u FuzzieAlum