ΩΦΑ
Epsilon Chapter at Tennessee Technological University
About Us
Chapter History
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During the fall quarter of 1972, the brothers of Tau Epsilon chapter of Alpha Phi Omega formulated the idea of starting a women's service organization in a way comparable to their own. This proposed program was discussed by the entire active chapter and a committee was set up to organize an orientation session for all those women who would be interested in starting such an organization on Tech's campus. This orientation was held on October 15, 1972 in room 370 of the University Center.
A screening session of all interested women was held on October 29, 1972. Forty-three girls out of forty-four bids were accepted, and thus these women were installed as Alpha Phi Omega sponsored affiliates on November 5, 1972.
The Alpha Phi Omega national convention failed to elect the sponsor affiliated program as a national organization. Therefore, the brothers of Tau Epsilon gave the women their choice of being sponsor affiliates on a local level or petition either Gamma Sigma Sigma or Omega Phi Alpha National Service Sororities. On January 21, 1973, the sponsor affiliates voted in favor of petitioning Omega Phi Alpha. On February 4, the sponsor affiliates were given a final test and tribunal.
On February 6, 1973, the Tech colony was recognized by the national organization of Omega Phi Alpha. On February 11, 1973, thirty-one sponsor affiliates were installed as colony members or Omega Phi Alpha in the Multi-Purpose Room of the University Center.
As the months passes, the colony carried out many service and fundraising projects and special events. After their 3 month colonization period, the colony members of Epsilon Chapter of Omega Phi Alpha were installed on May 24, 1973 in the Multi-Purpose Room of the University Center.
Symbols & Tradition
Chapter Symbol: Turtle
Coat of Arms:
Colors:
Dark blue, gold, light blue
Flower:
Yellow Rose
National Mascot:
Ophia(Raggedy Ann)
National symbols:
Chevron and bee
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National History
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Interest for starting a women's service organization began in 1953 when a group of men in Zeta Kappa chapter of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity decided they needed another organization to help them with projects on campus and in the city of Bowling Green, Ohio. These men met with the deans of various departments of the university to decide whether there should be another service fraternity at Bowling Green State University. A meeting was held to see if any interest existed, and many women attended. Realizing a change was needed for more varied projects, plans were made to organize a women's service sorority.
Since the objectives of the two organizations were the same - service, leadership, and friendship - a similar name was chose: Omega Phi Alpha. Membership was open to university women who had been Girl Scouts or Camp Fire Girls. This rule changed in 1958.
At first, many people were interested in the sorority's activities. In 1958, Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti wrote to Bowling Green State University about how to form an Omega Phi Alpha chapter. Information was sent to the campus, and the university took their first pledge class the following fall.
Communication began between the two groups about the possibility of becoming a national organization, but the concept did not yet materialize. In late 1962, a group of women at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut communicated with the group in Ypsilanti about becoming an Omega Phi Alpha chapter. The Bridgeport and Ypsilanti groups continued communication, with the women in Ypsilanti acting as big sister to the women in Bridgeport. The new group was designated the Beta chapter of Omega Phi Alpha. The Ypsilanti group called itself Alpha chapter.
At Bowling Green, the lack of common ground in the requested projects and background of the members led to a great decline in the chapter. But in September 1964, a few remaining members decided to reorganize. In order to maintain active membership, they decided to pledge any interested women in good standing with the university. The response was tremendous. The fall 1963 pledge class had 105 women. Sixty-seven gained active status. Officers from the prior group remained in office to give the new members an opportunity to beome acquainted with the organization.
In spring 1966, Bowling Green State University's dean of women notified the chapter that a letter was received from the Omega Phi Alpha chapter in Ypsilanti. The letter said the Michigan chapter had combined with the Connecticut chapter and were now a national sorority. They wanted Bowling Green to affiliate with them. Bowling Green's chapter president immediately contacted the chapter's legal advisor and discovered that the other chapters were not legally registered as a national sorority. As a result, Omega Phi Alpha in Bowling Green petitioned to become a national sorority and was registered first. Bowling Green asked the other chapters to affiliate.
Thirteen months of hard work and organization began for a national convention. A national organizing convention was scheduled for Bowling Green on June 1967. At the convention, the three groups discussed ideas and found the compromises that led to the formation of Omega Phi Alpha National Service Sorority. They decided that the Bowling Green group would become Alpha chapter, since it had been in existence the longest and had first filed the proper papers to register the Omega Phi Alpha name nationally. Bridgeport retained the name Beta chapter. Ypsilanti became Gamma chapter. The consolidation of the three groups was finalized on June 15, 1967 when Omega Phi Alpha became a nationally chartered organization, and the dream of many years became a reality.