Founded in 1872 by ten forward thinking women at Syracuse University, Alpha Phi is now one of the oldest and largest women’s fraternities in North America with over 150 chapters internationally. The Iota Lambda chapter at UConn was founded in March of 2008 and has continued to uphold the ideals of Alpha Phi International since.
Creed
I believe in my Fraternity.
I believe in the friendships formed in the springtime of my youth.
I believe in its high ideals which lift me up beyond myself.
I believe in its earnest drive for good scholarship, moral character, and genuine culture.
I believe in it as a shrine of international sisterhood wherein
I may find love and loyalty, sympathy and understanding inspiration and opportunity.
I believe in it as a creator of good citizenship,
helping me to do my work well,
to live in harmony with others, and
to serve my country and to trust in God.
I believe in my Fraternity.
I believe in Alpha Phi.
– Annette Holt Hitchcock, Pi 1912
The Fraternity Crest
The Fraternity Crest is the Alpha Phi coat-of-arms, adopted by Convention delegates in 1922. The shield is Bordeaux with a scroll and ivy leaf above it. Inscribed on the scroll is the public motto, Union hand in hand. A bar of silver crosses the shield from left to right; the upper half of the shield contains a Roman lamp in silver and the lower half, Ursa Major.
Fraternity Colors
Alpha Phi’s original colors were blue and gold. In 1879, noting that a fraternity had colors too similar to hers, Alpha Phi adopted the more distinctive colors of silver and Bordeaux.
Fraternity Flowers
The flowers of Alpha Phi are the fragrant lily of the valley and the blue and gold forget-me-not.
Fraternity Symbol
The symbol of Alpha Phi is the ivy leaf with the new member badge taking its form.
Fraternity Constellation
The Fraternity constellation is Ursa Major, the Great Bear. This symbol can be seen on the Alpha Phi crest and is displayed on the ceiling of the Alpha Phi Executive Office in Evanston, Illinois.
Alpha Phi Bear
The mascot of Alpha Phi, the “Phi Bear,” is named after Ursa Major, the Great Bear, and was adopted in 1974.
For more information about Alpha Phi International, check out www.alphaphi.org