Alpha Chi Omega

Alpha Chi Omega
ΑΧΩ
Abbreviation:	A-Chi-O
Org Founded:	1885 at DePauw
CU Chapter:	Theta Psi
Chapter Established:	1989
Motto:	"Together let us seek the heights"
Symbol(s):	Golden Lyre
House:	None
Recognition:	Panhel
Contact:	thetapsipresident@gmail.com

Alpha Chi Omega (A-Chi-O, chi as in ky, not chee) is one of the officially recognized campus sororities.

The lyre, Alpha Chi Omega's symbol

Alpha Chi Omega is a national women's organization that enriches the lives of its members through lifetime opportunities for friendship, leadership, learning, and service. AXO was officially established on October 15, 1885 at Depauw University in Greencastle, Indiana by seven young women studying in the School of Music. The symbol, the golden lyre, commemorates and honors the sorority's musical history, and represents its goal to always find harmony in life. Its colors, scarlet red and olive green, were chosen to epitomize AXO's fall founding, and its flower, the red carnation, exemplifies these colors. Sisters of Alpha Chi live by the motto, "Together let us seek the heights," and are constantly striving to learn, achieve, grow, and give back to the community. Today, there are over 130 active chapters of Alpha Chi Omega, over 200,000 initiated sisters, and over 200 alumnae chapters.

The Theta Psi Chapter at Columbia University has been seeking the heights since April 1, 1989 and has fostered a tight-knit community of Real. Strong. Women. on campus for nearly 25 years.

Service & Philanthropy

Domestic Violence and Awareness and Support (DVAS)

Nationwide, Alpha Chi Omega’s philanthropic project is Domestic Violence Awareness and Support (DVAS). AXO’s work against domestic violence is founded on two main concepts: fighting against unhealthy relationships and building healthy relationships. The Columbia Theta Psi chapter’s goal is to help educate the campus community on the issue of Domestic Violence, especially in regards to how it affects college students. Every October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the chapter holds events across campus during their “Divas for DVAS week.” The week includes an informative panel on Domestic Violence — featuring students, survivors, and educators — a self-defense class, and other events to raise awareness. One in three women are survivors of Domestic Violence, making the cause incredibly relevant to the lives of collegiate women.

Sanctuary for Families

In addition to AXO’s work with DVAS, the chapter also volunteers locally with Sanctuary for Families, a Harlem-based shelter dedicated exclusively to serving domestic violence survivors, sex trafficking survivors, and their children. Each year, Sanctuary helps thousands of survivors and their children build safe lives by offering a range of high quality services to meet their complex needs. These services include clinical, legal, shelter, children’s and economic empowerment services. Sanctuary also works to end domestic violence and its far-reaching impact through outreach, education, and advocacy. AXO sisters raise money for Sanctuary, hold donation drives for toiletries and other items the shelter may need, and also volunteer directly at Sanctuary’s shelter near campus.

The Rachel B. Swett Foundation

In June 2010, AXO’s Theta Psi chapter suffered a tragic loss when one of their sisters, Rachel B. Swett, passed away in a skiing accident while studying abroad in New Zealand. Rachel was compassionate, hard-working, adventurous, and a devoted Alpha Chi Omega sister. In order to honor her memory and keep her spirit alive, the chapter has established a scholarship fund in Rachel’s name. The Rachel B. Swett Endowment Fund is a nonprofit program under the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation, and will grant merit-based educational assistance scholarship allowance to both undergraduates and alumnae of Alpha Chi Omega in need. Rachel was passionate about studying abroad and traveling the world, so the sisters of AXO hope to fund this scholarship to make these opportunities possible for other sisters. Through fundraising events such as Sweat for Swett fitness classes, direct sponsorship, and generous donations, the AXO sisterhood hopes to raise the initial seed money for the endowment by 2015.