Fraternity and Sorority Arms, Seals, Flags and other Insignia

[Gusteau]

I think a great example of the heraldry norm =/= fraternal significance can be found in this 1930 article L.G. Balfour wrote regarding the Delta Chi CoA (found here: http://www.deltachi.org/quarterly/su...all_03.pdf.pdf). Balfour talks a lot about heraldry, and its all actually great information, but his discussion of our CoA, while interesting, has almost nothing to do with the Ritual significance of the arms. Of course non-members couldn't compare, but it's a decent article regardless.

Also, I commented in another thread that the open meaning of our CoA (that is, the marriage of two families) was so comprehensive that I was surprised to learn there could be any more to it!

[MysticCat]

Thanks for posting that article, Gusteau, and thanks to you and porcupile for all the information you've provided.

I'm wondering if Vito can tell us more about Psi U's practice of arms for each chapter.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

They can be, but not necessarily. As noted above, some coats of arms have "open" meanings and secret meanings. I mean, there are some coats of arms that have been posted that I know (at least some) of the symbolism of, even though the members who posted them didn't give an explanation. There are parts of those coats of arms that the GLOs in question have been open about. I haven't said anything yet to wait and see if a member offers some explanation.

Psi U would fall under that. The details of our CoA and the indivual CoAs on posted on our website. From what I understand the 2 Brothers who designed it tried as much as possible to follow the rules of heraldry. If people want I will discuss the meaning behind my CoA

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I'm wondering if Vito can tell us more about Psi U's practice of arms for each chapter.

No. Seriously, I actually don't know much. From my understanding it is a practice that used to be done by many organizations, but only a hand full still do. I think it might be because of the age of the Fraternity and some of our traditions. Psi U has always had a rather loose central organization compared to many fraternities. From what I understand different chapters ever had different colors before we adopted Garnet and Gold. My belief is the practice of individual CoAs is throwback to those days when chapters were more or less different organizations with the same badge. It allows the chapters to have a way to identify themselves, while still harking to the symbolism of the whole fraternity.