Frank Reed Horton's decision on other greek name??

[porsche911]

What was the other name that Frank Reed Horton was thinking about before choosing Alpha Phi Omega? I really need yal's help on this one. Thanks in advance.

- Fellow Brother

[naraht]

Originally Posted by porsche911

What was the other name that Frank Reed Horton was thinking about before choosing Alpha Phi Omega? I really need yal's help on this one. Thanks in advance.

- Fellow Brother

Well, the rumor, which I have seen in number of places, but haven't seen officially is that the original considered name was Beta Sigma Alpha (which was rejected for being too obvious/open for ridicule).

Note I *have* looked to try to find this as part of my work on the History commitee and haven't found it. I'll ask on the National history and Archives Committee mailing list.

[SexySuperstar]

Originally Posted by naraht

Well, the rumor, which I have seen in number of places, but haven't seen officially is that the original considered name was Beta Sigma Alpha (which was rejected for being too obvious/open for ridicule).

Ummm...Call me stupid but why would Beta Sigma Alpha be open for ridicule?

[emb021]

Originally Posted by SexySuperstar

Ummm...Call me stupid but why would Beta Sigma Alpha be open for ridicule?

Because it would obviously be "BSA", which is the Boy Scouts of America.

I know of atleast one chapter which formed itself as a local group with that name (in the early years this is how groups got chartered: they first had to organize as a local group to show they were viable, then were made a new chapter).

[SexySuperstar]

Thanks honey!!!

[naraht]

Taking in existing groups hasn't completely died. I know of at least one charter in the last 10 years that came from an existing group on the campus. They still went through the Petitioning process, but a lot of things got quicker...

As for groups back in the 1950s, Beta Sigma Alpha was actually fairly common for aligning groups, I've also heard of Omega Phi Alpha (this was before Omega Phi Alpha sorority), other permutations of the letters and alo B. U. S. T. A for the group at University of Texas.

Randy

[naraht]

I found the following in the November 1930 Lightbearer (before the name changed to Torch and Trefoil).

First Name Discarded
The first name suggested was Beta Sigma Alpha, but this was
discarded as being too obvious and a possible opening for ridicule.
The name Alpha Phi Omega was adopted which would carry no infor-
mation except to those concerned and would also result in prestige.


In 1930 Frank Reed Horton was editor of the Lightbearer and thus I think this can be taken as direct verification.

Randy