two groups with the same name

[SAEalumnus]

Originally Posted by AlwaysSAI

From what I understand, Chi Omega founders chose the letters randomly. And, Alpha Chi Omega was founded as the first musical sorority in 1885 (right?). The chose Alpha & Omega because they thought they were going to be the first and last musical sorority founded. "Kai" was later added to mean "and" (First and last). Kai was later changed to Chi--making Alpha Chi Omega.

I would take such information with a grain of salt. Without knowing the ritual of both organizations, it is impossible to know for sure whether any similarities exist, and if so, whether by coincidence or design. Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Sigma Phi Epsilon have similar names, but that's not necessarily an indication of any connection between the two.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by SAEalumnus

I would take such information with a grain of salt.

That is, however, the official public story given by Alpha Chi Omega for their name. Whether there's more to the story, only Alpha Chi Omega's sisters know, and I'm sure none of us expect them to tell.

Originally Posted by LucyKKG

I don't know about Chi Omega, though. Probably just a coincidence.

Like Kappa Alpha (Society or Order) and Kappa Alpha Theta? Or Kappa Alpha Psi? Or Alpha Kappa Alpha? Or Pi Kappa Alpha?

Sigma Phi and Sigma Phi Epsilon?

Delta Phi and Delta Phi Epsilon? Or Alpha Delta Phi?

Kappa Sigma and Phi Kappa Sigma?

Sigma Kappa and Phi Sigma Kappa?

Phi Mu, Phi Mu Delta and Phi Mu Alpha?

There are lots of these coincidences. I wouldn't read too much into them.

[NutBrnHair]

I can pretty much guarantee that 4 teenage girls in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 1895 had not heard of Alpha Chi Omega.

[OleMissGlitter]

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

I can pretty much guarantee that 4 teenage girls in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 1895 had not heard of Alpha Chi Omega.

I'm going to second that (granted I'm not a Chi Omega) considering that the first chapters of ACW were no where near Fayetteville, AR!
1885--Alpha, DePauw
1887--Beta, Albion
1890--Gamma, Northwestern
1891--Delta, Allegheny
1895--Epsilon, Southern California
1895--Zeta, New England Conservatory of Music

[TSteven]

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

That is, however, the official public story given by Alpha Chi Omega for their name. Whether there's more to the story, only Alpha Chi Omega's sisters know, and I'm sure none of us expect them to tell.

Like Kappa Alpha (Society or Order) and Kappa Alpha Theta? Or Kappa Alpha Psi? Or Alpha Kappa Alpha? Or Pi Kappa Alpha?

Sigma Phi and Sigma Phi Epsilon?

Delta Phi and Delta Phi Epsilon? Or Alpha Delta Phi?

Kappa Sigma and Phi Kappa Sigma?

Sigma Kappa and Phi Sigma Kappa?

Phi Mu, Phi Mu Delta and Phi Mu Alpha?

There are lots of these coincidences. I wouldn't read too much into them.

Ditto. And some of my favorite coincidences...

Zeta Phi Beta
Zeta Beta Tau
Zeta Tau Alpha

(If there was only a Zeta Alpha Phi, the circle would be complete.)

and...

Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Sigma
Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Theta

[DEVODUDE]

Originally Posted by TSteven

Ditto. And some of my favorite coincidences...

Zeta Phi Beta
Zeta Beta Tau
Zeta Tau Alpha

(If there was only a Zeta Alpha Phi, the circle would be complete.)

and...

Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Sigma
Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Theta

And don't forget these as well......
- Alpha Delta Phi (ADPhi)
- Alpha Epsilon Phi (AEPhi)
- Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi)
- Alpha Delta Pi (ADPi)
- Alpha Omicron Pi (AOPi)

Also, I just found out that there is a local fraternity @ SUNY-Geneseo called Zeta Beta Xi (ZBXi) that has the same colors and similar crest as ZBT.

[Sister Havana]

And...
Alpha Phi
Alpha Phi Omega
Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Tau Omega

I guarantee there was no connection between these four when they were founded.

[DEVODUDE]

Originally Posted by DEVODUDE

And don't forget these as well......
- Alpha Delta Phi (ADPhi)
- Alpha Epsilon Phi (AEPhi)
- Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi)
- Alpha Delta Pi (ADPi)
- Alpha Omicron Pi (AOPi)

Also, I just found out that there is a local fraternity @ SUNY-Geneseo called Zeta Beta Xi (ZBXi) that has the same colors and similar crest as ZBT.

Plus.....
- Alpha Gamma Rho
- Alpha Gamma Delta
- Alpha Xi Delta
- Alpha Phi Delta
- Alpha Detla Gamma
- Phi Alpha Delta (Pre-Law)

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by DEVODUDE

Also, I just found out that there is a local fraternity @ SUNY-Geneseo called Zeta Beta Xi (ZBXi) that has the same colors and similar crest as ZBT.

Zeta Beta Xi at SUNY Geneseo began as a chapter of ZBT, but they went local shortly after chartering.

[DEVODUDE]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

Zeta Beta Xi at SUNY Geneseo began as a chapter of ZBT, but they went local shortly after chartering.

They began as an "Interest Group," before they decided to convert to a local Fraternity. It never gained colony or chapter recognition status, according to the Northeast Expansion Committee.

[MsDGP007]

First of all, let me begin by saying I love my sisterhood with all my heart. But it is pretty murky territory when it comes to fraternal insignia. My own sorority is only one letter different from Delta Gamma in name and our colors are not the same but similar (ours are pink, sky blue and white...theirs are pink, blue and bronze). Not to mention our actual colors are the same (in interpretation...if not by name exactly) as Gamma Phi Delta, Beta Phi Omega, and others I can't think of off the top of my head. Then our mascot, the White Bengal Tiger is the mascot for at least 4 other multicultural organizations (Lambda Psi Delta, Delta Xi Phi, Lambda Fe Uson, and Delta Sigma Chi...that I know of).

Our sorority was founded in 1998; the internet was around...but not every fraternity or sorority was online back then. The NPHC/IFC/NPC groups sure...but not the non-affiliated ones. Even so, it's hard to figure out exactly what was in our founder's minds....I mean we, of course, are taught the meaning behind our insignia. But they had to come up with everything by themselves -- (and I'm not saying they were not original) and they were also going on a lot of precedent. Sometimes, you have to realize there is no reason to re-invent the wheel. If they did a pick-and-choose type-thing...I do not know. But ultimately, it all comes together into something unique.

When I pledged back in 2001, I did not do all this research into other organization's insignia; I was too busy trying to learn and master my own!

I don't know -- personally I've never encountered any beef about my sorority's insignia (LOL...maybe that may change now! ). And I'm definitely not condoning copy-cats...don't get me wrong there! I guess I'm just saying that colors and symbolism....even the letters themselves are not all there is to a sisterhood or brotherhood. It's petty to think otherwise; that's all I'm really try to say.