Once and for all...

[AXO Alum]

Yes, the Smithsonian is another oldie but goodie... it is told in various forms, but most prominent is this one:

Our badge was voted the prettiest badge, and is on display in the Smithsonian with the other badges.

Okay - false, sort of. I did go personally to the Smithsonian to check it out. I talked with several employees, but one had been working there for 10 years (and this was back in 1998, so you figure he'd been there since 1988) -- and he told me that there was no display of fraternity or sorority badges. He said it may have been a rotating display way back when, but not in the last 10 years since he had been there. He also said that it was highly unlikely that the Smithsonian would do a "prettiest badge" contest -- kinda like asking people to vote on which First Lady had the prettiest dress on display. I can agree with him on that -- what would be the point of having a vote when most people couldn't care less about what someone's badge looks like.

So -- I give the Smithsonian rumor a big 10 for the myth department. If it were on display, it was done as a one-time deal, and no voting was taking place.

Oh, and for the record, AXO is not the only group to carry this myth. I did a google search for "prettiest badge" and another NPC group had the same thing listed.

The thought of a "prettiest badge" contest just cracks me up -- I mean what do you do....set up a lemonade stand on the side of the road "LEMONADE 25cents - VOTE FOR PRETTIEST BADGE" -- LOL!!

Any other rumors you need checked into, just lemme know!!

LITB - AXO Alum