Lambda Chi Alpha (ΛΧΑ)
Founded	November 2, 1909 (1909-11-02) (age 98) Boston University
Type	Social Fraternity
Scope	International
Motto	Vir Quisque Vir Every Man a Man. Χαλεπα Τα Καλα Naught Without Labor. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... For the similarly named institution in Chestnut Hill, see Boston College. ... Per Crucem Crescens Crescent through the Cross.
Colors	████ Purple ████ Green This article is about the color. ... For other uses, see Green (disambiguation). ... ████ Gold Gold is a shade of the color yellow closest to that of gold metal. ...
Symbol	Cross and Crescent
Flower	White Rose
Publication	The Cross and Crescent The Paedagogus For other uses, see Rose (disambiguation). ...
Philanthropy	North American Food Drive
Chapters	~300
Members	~10,000 [1] currently 250,000+ [2] lifetime
Phone	(317) 872-8000
Headquarters	8741 Founders Rd. Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Homepage	http://www.lambdachi.org

Lambda Chi Alpha (ΛΧΑ), headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is one of the largest men's general fraternities in North America having initiated more than 235,000 members^[1] and held chapters at more than 190 universities^[2]. It was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a student at Boston University, on November 2, 1909. The youngest of the fifteen largest social fraternities, Lambda Chi Alpha has initiated the fourth highest number of men ever. Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... Indianapolis redirects here. ... The terms fraternity and sorority (from the Latin words and , meaning brother and sister respectively) may be used to describe many social and charitable organizations, for example the Lions Club, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Rotary International, Optimist International, or the Shriners. ... North American redirects here. ... Warren Albert Cole was the founder of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, which is one of the largest social fraternities in the United States. ... For the similarly named institution in Chestnut Hill, see Boston College. ... is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

It was the first fraternity to abolish pledging and remains a leader in the fight against hazing, alcohol abuse, and other challenges facing today's college students. Initiation rites are formalized, ceremonial rites of passage as an individual moves from stage to stage within a social career or formally acquires such status. ... Hazing is an often ritualistic test and a task, which may constitute harassment, abuse or humiliation with requirements to perform random, often meaningless tasks, sometimes as a way of initiation into a social group. ... This article needs cleanup. ...

Lambda Chi Alpha seeks to promote higher education by providing opportunities for academic achievement, leadership, and lifelong friendships. Its open mottos are Vir Quisque Vir (Latin) Every Man a Man; Per Crucem Crescens (Latin) Crescent through the Cross; and Χαλεπα Τα Καλα (Greek) Naught Without Labor. Its members are often referred to as Lambda Chis. For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ...

Creed

The Creed of Lambda Chi Alpha

We believe in Lambda Chi Alpha, and its traditions, principles and ideals. The crescent is our symbol; pure, high,and ever growing, and the cross is our guide; denoting service, sacrifice, and even suffering and humiliation before the world, bravely endured if need be, in following that ideal.

May we have faith in Lambda Chi Alpha and passion for its welfare. May we have hope for the future of Lambda Chi Alpha and strength to fight for its teachings. May we have pure hearts, that we may approach the ideal of perfect brotherly love.

History

Founding

Lambda Chi Alpha began as the dream of one man, Warren Albert Cole. Cole was a young man of pleasing personality, ordinary means, limited experience, and no unusual talents except a dogged determination to found an international college fraternity. After many failed attempts at starting a fraternity: "The Lodge," "Tombs," and "Lambda Pi," Cole met with his first cousin and a more distant relative on November 2, 1909. This date was later selected as the first formal step in Lambda Chi Alpha, but in later years, Cole said that the date had little significance. Lambda Chi Alpha, or "Loyal Collegiate Associates," as it was known was born. is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Cole boldly approached many local groups at colleges and universities throughout the Northeast in hopes of finding others willing to join his new fraternity. Before the acquisition of Lambda Chi Alpha's first functioning chapter, Cole had corresponded with or visited 117 institutions.^[3]

Expansion

Early in 1912, Cole, wrote to a student at Massachusetts Agricultural College (MAC) in Amherst, now the University of Massachusetts, asking the names of the Greek-letter fraternities on campus and the names of at least two "good, non-fraternity men." Herbert E. Cole responded with the names of six Greek-letter groups and two names, including that of Lewis Drury. Warren Cole wrote to Drury asking if he was interested in forming a Greek-letter society. Apparently Drury was quite interested, as he had his Agronomy professor write a letter of recommendation to Warren Cole. 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... This page is about the university system across Massachusetts. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Hampshire County Settled 1703 Incorporated 1775 Government  - Type Representative town meeting Area  - Town  27. ... This page is about the university system across Massachusetts. ... Agronomy is the science of utilizing plants for food, fuel, feed, and fiber. ...

The MAC petition was duly submitted and quickly approved—after all, it was Cole's first success in attracting a group after more than one hundred futile efforts. Lambda Chi Alpha's first established chapter, Gamma Zeta, was born.^[4]

During the spring of 1912, Albert Cross, a student in the department of civil engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, received a letter from Warren Cole indicating that he had received Cross' name from a mutual acquaintance and that he would like to form a chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha at Pennsylvania. This article is about the private Ivy League university in Philadelphia. ...

Cross liked Cole's idea and began talking with some of his friends. One of these friends was John E. "Jack" Mason, whom Cross had met in a French class that summer. Mason, who had hardly been interested in existing fraternities at Penn, suggested to another friend, Raymond Ferris, that they "take a shot at" establishing a chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha.

Thus, with colossal nerve, Cross, Mason, Ferris, and five other men dared to launch a fraternity chapter on a campus with an abundance of long-established national fraternities. But with determination, Epsilon Zeta began.

Following the addition of Zeta Zeta at Penn State, the infant fraternity now felt confident in contacting established local groups. Cole made the acquaintance of members of Sigma Phi Delta at Brown and won its affiliation. A "picked delegation" at MIT proved successful. By the beginning of 1913, Delta Kappa at Maine was admitted as the seventh chapter.^[5] The Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (commonly known as Penn State) is a state-related land-grant university in Pennsylvania, with over 80,000 students at 24 campuses throughout the state. ... Brown University is a private university located in Providence, Rhode Island. ... “MIT” redirects here. ... UMO redirects here, but this abbreviation is also used informally to mean the Mozilla Add-ons website, formerly Mozilla Update Should not be confused with Université du Maine, in Le Mans, France The University of Maine, established in 1865, is the flagship university of the University of Maine System. ...

In 1927 Lambda Chi Alpha became an international fraternity with the founding of Epsilon-Epsilon Zeta at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.^[6] Today the Fraternity is represented by three more Canadian chapters in addition to Epsilon-Epsilon: Epsilon-Rho Zeta at the University of Alberta (Edmonton, Alberta); Iota-Iota Zeta at McGill University (Montreal, Quebec); and Delta-Eta Zeta at the University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario).^[7]

Theta Kappa Nu

Theta Kappa Nu Fraternity was formed by the union of 11 well-established local fraternities on June 9, 1924 in Springfield, Missouri. The pinnacle of the Springfield Grand Chapter was the signing of the League and Covenant-the instrument that embodied the ideals of the various groups and would bind them together to form one organization. Those present at the founding meeting were asked to come forward and sign the document. Each delegate realized that the signature meant the end of his local fraternity. In silence each delegate present came forward, removed the badge of the local from over his heart, placed it on the table, and signed the League and Covenant. Theta Kappa Nu was born. Theta Kappa Nu (ΘΚΝ) Fraternity was founded on June 9, 1924, at Springfield, MO. Delegates from eleven local fraternities from nine different states united to form the new fraternity. ... is the 160th day of the year (161st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the rap album, see 1924 (album). ... Springfield is a city in Christian and Greene Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. ...

With the help of the National Interfraternity Conference in identifying local groups and Theta Kappa Nu's policy of granting charters quickly to organizations with good academic standards, the young national fraternity grew quickly, and boasted 2,500 initiates in 40 chapters by the close of 1926. This record expansion remains unequaled in the fraternity world.^[8]

As the Great Depression was drawing to a close, many fraternities were struggling in terms of membership and finances. Theta Kappa Nu began seeing its chapters shut down for the first time in the early 1930s, and was forced to reduce fees in 1933 and again in 1935 to maintain its membership. Meanwhile, Lambda Chi Alpha had lost one third of its membership. In 1938 a merger committee was formed.^[9] For other uses, see The Great Depression (disambiguation). ...

In 1939, Lambda Chi Alpha merged with the Theta Kappa Nu Fraternity. The ceremony was held at the Howard College, now Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, chapter of Theta Kappa Nu, where the documents were signed. The merger increased the number of chapters from 77 to 105^[10] (or 78 to 106)^[11] and the number of members from 20,000 to 27,000. At the time, this was the largest merger in fraternity history.^[12] All Theta Kappa Nu chapters became Lambda Chi Alpha chapters and were given chapter designations that began with either Theta, Kappa or Nu.^[13] Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Birds-Eye View of the Campus Samford University is a private, coeducational, Baptist-affiliated university located in Homewood, Alabama, (a suburb of Birmingham). ... Birds-Eye View of the Campus Samford University is a private, coeducational, Baptist-affiliated university located in Homewood, Alabama, (a suburb of Birmingham). ... Nickname: Location in Jefferson County in the state of Alabama Coordinates: , Country State Counties Jefferson, Shelby Incorporated December 19, 1871 Government  - Type Mayor - Council  - Mayor Bernard Kincaid (Current) Larry Langford (Mayor-Elect) Area  - City 151. ... The phrase mergers and acquisitions or M&A refers to the aspect of corporate finance strategy and management dealing with the merging and acquiring of different companies as well as assets. ... Look up Θ, θ in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Kappa (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Nu. ...

Associate Membership and Fraternity Education

Perhaps the most fundamental change which was made at this Assembly was the complete elimination of pledgeship, and the adoption of fraternity education to replace pledge education. ... We feel in fact that this action is one of the most significant changes by any fraternity in the past fifty years. — George W. Spasyk following the 1972 General Assembly

Associate Membership

When Lambda Chi Alpha ended its pledging program in 1972, it was the first fraternity to do so.^[14] The Associate Member program was created to take its place. An Associate Member (AM) of Lambda Chi Alpha is entitled to all of the rights and privileges of a fully initiated member. Accordingly, he also bears the same responsibilities as a brother. An AM is prohibited from few things before he is initiated: he may not run for the office of Ritualist (High Phi); he may not serve as the Official Delegate to the General Assembly, and he may not vote on his own initiation or the disassociation of an initiated member. Unlike most pledge programs, however, AMs do not have separate meetings or officers. Indeed, there is no Associate Member Class as the entire concept of the AM program is designed to encourage chapter, rather than class, unity. That principle also implies that there is no separate dress code or work responsibilities for AMs. An AM may wear the letters and regalia of the fraternity.

Fraternity Education

Beginning in August of 1969, the concept of "fraternity education" replaced "pledge education."^[15] The fraternity education program is designed to include all members of the chapter equally. The program of fraternity education should be designed to integrate the new member into the chapter as a whole, develop a standard of treatment that treats associate members and initiates completely equally, and should continue throughout a member's undergraduate years and throughout a member's life.^[16]

Hazing

Lambda Chi Alpha's first stance against hazing was in 1928 at a North-American Interfraternity Conference meeting when the fraternity condemned the practice. Today Lambda Chi Alpha prohibits hazing of any form, on or off campus, by any of its members. The fraternity's definition of hazing is broadly defined as "any action taken or situation created intentionally to produce physical discomfort or mental discomfort by embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule.”^[17] Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the founding members of the Greek Anti-Hazing Hotline, 1-888-NOT-HAZE (1-888-668-4293).^[18] The line is available to those who think they, or someone they know, have been or may become victims of hazing. The North-American Interfraternity Conference (or NIC), (formerly known as the National Interfraternity Conference) is an association of collegiate mens fraternities that was formally organized in 1910, although it began on November 27, 1909. ...

True Brother Initiative

The True Brother Initiative, penned by the Gamma Sigma chapter at Southern Methodist University and unveiled at the 2007 Stead Leadership Seminar, is a reorganization of the concept of fraternity education. The Initiative is a conceptual framework, modeled after the U.S. Army's Army Values program, that organizes both associate member and initiated brother education throughout their undergraduate years and as alumni. True Brother is an attempt to return to the basic values of our founders focusing on Seven Core Values, the acronym LDRSHIP: The United States Army is the largest, and by some standards oldest, established branch of the armed forces of the United States and is one of seven uniformed services. ...

• Loyalty:Bear true faith and allegiance to Lambda Chi Alpha, your chapter, and your brothers.
• Duty:Fulfill all your obligations from associate member and ritual oaths.
• Respect:Treat people as they should be treated.
• Service and Stewardship:Put the welfare of Lambda Chi Alpha, your chapter, and your brothers before your own. Know that as a brother you hold something of value in trust for others.
• Honor:Live all our values and be an honorable man.
• Integrity:Do what is right all of the time — walk the walk.
• Personal Courage:Demonstrate the courage of your convictions.

Using an eight week curriculum Associate Members focuses on demanding, but not demeaning, development. The eight week program is meant to ensure that all new members are ready to experience both Pre-Initiation and the Initiation Ritual. (UTC):This page is about loyalty as faithfulness to a cause. ... Duty is a term loosely appliedDuty to any action (or course of action) whichDutyDuty is regarded as morally incumbent, apart from personal likes and dislikes or any external compulsion. ... Respect It also could be applied to taking care of oneself, others or the environment. ... Look up stewardship in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Honor (or honor) comprises the reputation, self-perception or moral identity of an individual or of a group. ... This article is about the ethical concept. ... For other uses, see Courage (disambiguation). ...

The True Brother journey is designed to support the successful development of young men, understanding the significant developmental tasks of this period of life, maximizing the positive influence of peers and mentors, and moving our brothers towards an increased capacity for self-reflection and self-awareness, empathy, altruism, and intimacy.

This program sets up goals of leadership, stewardship, learning and service, and explicates a range of core values associated with being a true brother, which when pursued, leads toward a better tomorrow for Lambda Chi Alpha.

Symbols

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Brotherhood Badge

"The badge is a pearl-set crescent with horns turned toward the left, and enclosing a monogram of the Greek letters, 'Lambda, Chi, and Alpha.' The center of the crescent bears the Greek letters, 'Delta Pi,' in gold on black enamel. A variety of jewels may be selected for the Lambda. It should never be used as mere decoration, such as on stationery, programs, or publications. It is an evidence of membership for an individual and should be used only for that purpose except as specifically authorized in the laws of the Fraternity, for example, when presented, usually in the medium or miniature size, to one’s mother, wife, sister, or fiancée.^[19]

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Associate Member Pin

"The associate member pin has had a most interesting history because it embodies the official badge of Theta Kappa Nu as well as the original pin of Lambda Chi Alpha. The original Lambda Chi Alpha pin was a gothic arch which formed the letters Lambda, Chi, and Alpha; with the union, this was superimposed upon the triangles composing the official badge of Theta Kappa Nu. Thus, all meaning of that fraternity’s symbolism was added to the Lambda Chi Alpha emblem."^[20]

North American Food Drive

“On November 6, 1993, Lambda Chi Alpha began a philanthropy project that has collected more than 27 million pounds of food for the needy across North America. Called the North American Food Drive, this annual event has become the largest single-day philanthropic project sponsored by a collegiate organization. Its success is so impressive that Lambda Chi Alpha became the first fraternity to receive the Summit Award from the American Society of Association Executives in 1995, an award presented annually to associations and companies nationwide as part of its Associations Advance America Awards Program.”^[21] Lambda Chi Alpha won its second Advance America award in 2005.^[22] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) is a non-profit professional organization for executive directors and executive vice presidents of professional societies both in the United States and abroad. ...

The Food Drive began as the "Pantry Raid" at Millsaps College in the early 1980's. Though the "Pantry Raid" was not the only food drive in Lambda Chi Alpha at the time, the general fraternity used it as a model for a fraternity wide philanthropy. The fraternity chose "Brothers Feeding Others" as it's theme and began promoting a one day food drive. Though the initial goal for the first food drive was 100,000 pounds, it was far surpassed. 256,416 pounds of food were collected and donated to needy food banks. The philanthropy has continued to expand and grow yearly. The fraternity collected over 1 million pounds for the first time in 1997 and had it's first 2 million pound year in 1999. In 2005 over 3 million pounds of food were collected. Millsaps College is a private liberal arts college in Jackson, Mississippi, supported by the United Methodist Church. ...

“The North American Food Drive touches the lives of more and more community members each year. With an increased effort in helping those who are less fortunate, brothers continue to uphold the ideals of the Fraternity for all to see by making a difference for the needy in your community.”^[23]

Notable members

See also: List of notable members of Lambda Chi Alpha.

The following is a list of the most notable members of the international Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, arranged by category. ...

Chapters

Chapter locations

Main article: List of chapters of Lambda Chi Alpha

Chapters of Lambda Chi Alpha represent the fraternity in all of the forty-eight contiguous United States. Four of Canada's ten Provinces also are home to several chapters and/or colonies. . ... The continental United States refers (except sometimes in U.S. federal law and regulations) to the largest part of the U.S. that is delimited by a continuous border. ...

Chapter naming

Most Fraternities and sororities in the U.S. name their chapters using the Greek alphabet. The order usually follows one of two patterns: one which names chapters alphabetically nationally, e.g., Alpha-Beta chapter; the other by state, e.g., Indiana-Alpha chapter. Lambda Chi Alpha is unique in its naming scheme. The order in which they are named is not alphabetical, but, rather, a variation on the Greek alphabet. Chapters of Lambda Chi Alpha are known as "Zetas". Thus, a member of Alpha-Beta chapter would say he was a member of Alpha-Beta Zeta. The terms fraternity and sorority (from the Latin words and , meaning brother and sister respectively) may be used to describe many social and charitable organizations, for example the Lions Club, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Rotary International, Optimist International, or the Shriners. ... This page contains special characters. ... This article needs cleanup. ... A naming scheme is a plan for naming objects. ...

At the fraternity's inception, the founder Warren Cole assigned Greek letters to petitioning groups that had not yet been chartered. Predictably, not all of these groups were chartered. As a result, the first seven chapters were designated: Α, Γ, Ε, Ζ, Ι, Λ, and Β, in that order. John E. Mason created a twenty-four word mnemonic device with words representing each Greek letter once — the first seven words were in the order that the chapters were already named. Look up Petition in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Alternate use, see charter airline or bare-boat charter. ... A mnemonic (AmE [] or BrE []) is a memory aid. ...

A good energetic Zeta is Lambda's boast; ‘Strength from Delta Pi’, our motto, to each through union; excellent character only, knowing no retreating steps.

Therefore, the chapters are named in the order: Α, Γ, Ε, Ζ, Ι, Λ, Β, Σ, Φ, Δ, Π, Ο, Μ, Τ, Η, Θ, Υ, Ξ, Χ, Ω, Κ, Ν, Ρ, Ψ. After the twenty-fourth chapter, the sequence was continued with a prefix (Α-Α, Α-Γ, Α-Ε, ... Γ-Α, Γ-Γ, Γ-Ε, ... Ε-A, etc.)

When Theta Kappa Nu merged with Lambda Chi Alpha in 1939, a scheme was adopted to name the new chapters, and the original scheme was modified, as well. The former Theta Kappa Nu chapters were all given chapter designations prefixed with Θ, Κ, or Ν. The second letter of their chapter name was assigned in the order mentioned above and applied to the chapters in order of their precedence in Theta Kappa Nu. On twenty-one campuses, chapters of both Lambda Chi Alpha and Theta Kappa Nu existed. In those cases, the chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha kept its original designation, and the letter which would have been assigned to the chapter of Theta Kappa Nu was permanently retired. Theta Kappa Nu (ΘΚΝ) Fraternity was founded on June 9, 1924, at Springfield, MO. Delegates from eleven local fraternities from nine different states united to form the new fraternity. ...

A singular exception, the chapter at Georgia Tech, Β-Κ Zeta, was named in recognition of its existence as a chapter of the national fraternity Beta Kappa, whose other existing chapters merged with Theta Chi in 1942.^[24] Theta Chi (ΘΧ) is an international college fraternity for men. ...

Headquarters Locations

• 1909: Swansea, MA
• 1920: 261 Pierce St, Kingston, PA 18704
• 1920: 160 S Main St, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
• 1920: 30-40 N Pennsylvania St, Indianapolis, IN 46205
• 1923: 136 E Market St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
• 1930: 55 Monument Cir, Indianapolis, IN 46204
• 1940: 2029 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
• 1954: 3434 N Washington Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46205
• 1974: 8741 Founders Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46268

Notes and references

External links

• Lambda Chi Alpha International Fraternity — official home page.
• Cross & Crescent — fraternity magazine.
• General Assembly Resolutions of Lambda Chi Alpha — a listing of resolutions adopted between the thirty-ninth and forty-fifth General Assemblies.
• Famous Lambda Chi Alpha brothers at Lambda Chi Alpha's George Washington University chapter web site.
• Famous Lambda Chi Alpha brothers at Notable Names Database.
• The Political Graveyard:Lambda Chi Alpha — a partial listing of U.S. politicians who were Lambda Chis.
• From Congress to Campus - an article on former Senator Trible with a sidebar of former Lambda Chis who served as U.S. Senators.