Letters

[AlphaSigOU]

Back in the days when I was an undergrad at OU twenty years ago, the general rule in most fraternities and sororities, unless stated otherwise by national rule, was that the coat of arms (crest) was only worn by initiates and letters by both members and pledges.

As a pledge, I was allowed to wear clothing with the three Greek letters of my fraternity, which stand for the fraternity's secret motto; though I didn't know its meaning as a pledge, nor the fraternal salutation 'In Phi' or 'Phi'.

Once I was initiated into Alpha Sigma Phi, I had a much better understanding of the aims and principles of the fraternity, and the symbolism of our coat of arms means so much more to me now. Even the words of our secret motto may be heard as common words in everyday speech, but to me and those who have taken the obligations that made us members of Alpha Sigma Phi, they impart a much deeper meaning.