To add to Katey's post about our beloved Skiouros...here's an explanation given by IHQ--

The mascot of Alpha Gamma Delta is the squirrel. The name Skiouros (Skee-your-os) combines two Greek words meaning "shady" and "tail." The mascot was chosen by the Gamma chapter and this explanation of the squirrel's selection appeared in a 1915 publication:

"In the days when Gamma first made the triple colors of red, buff, and green her own, some of her energetic number sought a mascot to symbolize the characteristics of the colors and progress of Alpha Gamma Delta.

In the autumn tints, so beautifully dear to us in our song of that name, they received the suggestion, and the little squirrel, typical frequenter of autumn haunts, was chosen as the mascot...

Our little friend, we find, is also nimble and agile--he leaps from branch to branch and accomplishes much progress...to symbolize the spirit that never dies, the spirit of energetic alertness and progress."

**Too bad there aren't any squirrels here in Hawaii! I have yet to see my first real, live one!**