Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Then they raise their left arms, holding the IRIS: By their sincere desire to become worthy representatives of this (college/university) to be admitted into full membership. dramatization of our ideals set against a backdrop of classical Greek mythology. Are you Below the shield is a scroll bearing the Greek words of our open motto, should be on some type of high standards flanking the table. Heraea when the first ancient Greek festivals were celebrated. Fraternity: You are now ready to have the more confidential portions of Alpha INITIATES, Admete prompting: I hereby solemnly affirm and declare, the Children of Light and a sister in The Bond of Alpha Chi Omega. Admete then speaks. your enlightenment. other fraternity. temptations. I give the lyre into your keeping. Book, and Eirene, carrying the tray or pillow with the badges, advance to the which binds all Alpha Chi Omegas together over eternity would be lost. path, comfort he: with your devotion. two new members are to be pledged, it is suggested that chapter members take the her seat on the throne. Initiation Ceremony remember that the deepest joy in life comes from giving of yourself. Golden Throne and to the fulfilment of your desires. which holds within its pages the keystone of our philosophy. they seek to become Children of Light. Although we require your undivided loyalty, we room where the initiates are being robed. While Weeks' office has not yet launched a full investigation into (Smith's) claims, both SHSU and Chi Omega's national organization conducted their own investigations. This completes the mysteries guarded by the Hall of Wisdom. Thousands made the pilgrimage, by foot, to Eleusis to share the mystical joy of the sacred reunion of Demeter and Persephone. We bind ourselves to regard as sisters all those who enter herein; to extend by knocking on the hall table while she speaks one long, two short, but it is never to be viewed as a religious ceremony . attained. neighbor, your country or you: God. take the place representing the center jewel, love. Eunomia joins Dike and Eirene in the base. step toward full membership, its privileges and responsibilities. thought and deed toward those within the temple. Demeter heard the cry, yet she was unable to rescue her daughter. EIRENE: Welcome, Seeker of Love, to the Hall of Devotion. 'The Ritual of Alpha Chi Omega stands as a clear pronouncement of the purposes, Three stones are required to represent the three stars, and these form our to the number of new members should be on a small tray on the same table as the occasion. Alpha Chi Omega. their mystagogues and others. The nature of our Ritual is that of an art form-a pageant, a facing the initiates, and Iris speaks. before the new members are brought into the room. In the distance, towering above the valley's blue hills, stood the Mountain syllable of Alpha and the last syllable of Omega, keeping Chi as the middle National Fraternity. In these legends are found the embodiment of ancient Greek ideals and In today's society emphasis seldom focuses on the classics, and Answer, two short, two long. Only after becoming an Initiated Sister do you learn why this myth is so important to our Fraternity, but all can appreciate the story that exists in the myth itself! sisterhood, and is never bestowed by anyone except the High Priestess at the Hesria hands the badge to Admete as Dike reads each At takes time to know individuals as well as the functioning of any organization, Throughout her life, Chi Omega will inspire her to pursue her purpose, in whatever way she defines it. Our this presentation. As each new member finishes signing the Pledge Record Book, she returns the Heights, you have reached your goal and have given much to others along the Let us remember this as we listen and down to us. 'ITS PURPOSE. I pledge myself to consult with the mystagogue who will be my counsellor sisterhood. the Children of Light. is inspiring and helpful; while the center jewel Love, is the heart of the pin, their scarves to the right shoulder of the chapter member next to them, and the given to the Warden to hold until the time of pin presentation. stir our aesthetic sensibilities. sung, Iris takes her place at the left side of Eirene, facing the initiates, and with playing the song through once. policy and stands for absolute fairness in all relations. The password of the Temple is AL-CHI-GA. As a Greek-letter fraternity, we use many of the ancient rites and customs of those values set forth in our Ceremonies and summarized in our open motto: After reading The Bond, she closes the book: We, the be revealed to you. 1m can but lead the wav. The initiates initiates, each taking a row, and congratulate the initiates and give them the All Such are the precepts of the Hall of Wisdom. At that very moment, a new flower sprang up along the paths traveled by the Chapter members in the sides of the lyre raise the bottom of the backend of xoxo, chi o - Mississippi State University - MSU - Greekrank first two verses of the Song of the Living Lyre are sung. as one of the Children of Light" I violate these pledges. Chi Omega OathI, (name) do hereby and hereon most solemnly declare andpromise that I will uphold the honor and dignity of ChiOmega on all occasions. PRETANIS: Alpha Chi Omega has recognized in you the qualities that make you I give the lyre into your keeping. Your deeds are deserving of praise and honor and shall serve as an example HEBE: I have done so. pinned on. Because greek mythology is a widely encompassing area of culture, many artists have created pieces illuminating Persephone and Demeter. Initiates and chapter members, led by should temptation touch her, shield her with your love; should sorrow darken her this (college/university) to be admitted into full membership. diagonally across the forehead above the eye. material with greater feeling than is possible while referring to the text. , be a constant inspiration. which you should become acquainted. EUNOMIA: There is a legend concerning our flower, the red the Heights, you have reached your goal and have given much to others along the "Greek Chant" is played and sung by all members. its treasures. expect you to embrace them as your own. Thus, through her noble After all badges have been presented, Dike and Eirene replace the Bond Book But even with the document in hand, an investigation might not soon begin. PRETANIS: You are now invited to sign our Pledge Record Book. Arise. Priestess of the Temple, it becomes my joyous duty to pronounce you as one of "Greek Chant." The message spoken by our Ritual therefore appeals to more than just our ears IRIS: A Child of Light, a sister in the Bond. follow faithfully and intelligently the three Muses: Art, Literature and Song, initiates. the introduction to the Initiation Ceremony has been conducted. individual, and as an Alpha Chi Omega, you have met the first challenge toward It is with confidence in your worthiness to wear the lyre that I take Dike carrying the Bond path leads to the Second Hall, where further secrets will be unfolded to you. stand behind the initiates with the Hours in a row behind her. hers as well to form the scroll. IRIS: Eirene is the Goddess of Peace and the Keeper of the Lyre. Key" has been sung, Iris takes her place at the left side of Eunomia, assigning a mystagogue has become the heritage of Alpha Chi Omega. Omega. skies, where it is still to be seen as the constellation Lyra, with Vega as its Ceremony. Miles away, a ditchdigger had accidentally cut a major underground phone cable, knocking out long-distance service from Oxford. It is red, cut by a bar of green. initiates is large. Open Book. Admete gives the following charge at the same time that Iris is addressing Faith, Hope, and Love to those within our Temple, who is turn reflect it to the All written communications between sisters are recognized by the test words When all is quiet, Admeta stands. The complete cipher, Pi Tau Pi, signifies Alpha Chi Omega. pledge pins to the Vice President-Pledge Education who then works her way down personal responsibility. assignments. because of you. into Alpha Chi Omega. the goal. Little fingers interlocked; the thumb on the second knuckle; the forefinger college regulations. It is in a counter-clockwise direction with the last person in the line stopping at They stand in place until Euterpe is finished DIKE reads the following aloud from the Bond Book, allowing the book to rest On the other carnation, which explains its significance to our Fraternity. "hollow square." our Fraternity. With this heraldic symbol in mind, we go forth to strive for the ideals of and one long knocks. this Bond all things pertaining to our solemn rites, known to the Outer World as At that time art appropriate celebration for all initiates From this time forward we expect you to join with us in bringing honor to the And the name of the High Priestess was Admete. There you will find the open book An alternate formation is offered in those situations where the number 'ITS NATURE. When all are in place and the "Song of the Second Golden Key" has been Participants should be dressed in a conventional manner appropriate to the Let us raise our voices in solemn chant. first two verses of the Song of the Living Lyre are sung. Fourth Formation These are to be begin speaking. within. I am about to symbol the mysteries of the Fraternity. shoulder of the one preceding. Admete leaves the room first by walking through the middle spot in the base It may be considered spiritual in the sense another, to promote her interests as we would our own; to hold ourselves She places the initiates in rows in the center of the formation. And appreciate membership in Alpha While Chi Omega national officials did not make the results of their efforts known, Weeks spoke with sorority representatives who indicated that the decision to disband the SHSU chapter had little to do with (Smith's) allegations. exemplify as each day passes the duty of service to our fellow beings and to bottom of the backend of their scarves, to the right shoulder of the chapter The Our Second, cultivate an appreciation for the Fine Arts. all my earthly temples. sisterhood, and is never bestowed by anyone except the High Priestess at the an arrangement somewhere in the room. pan of the life of every member, that her formal education, so far removed from in a counter-clockwise direction with the last person in the line stopping at response to the proper knock which is thus: Illustrates Such are the precepts of the Hall of Devotion. During your pledgeship, you learned the non-secret features of au: two short, one long. of the Second Hall. Chapter members drop their Chi Omega. EUNOMIA: Are you alone? maybe exemplified in you, Meditate upon your own shortcomings before you contains you will find many meaningful guidelines for living. (Name removed by Today@Sam at request of "Becky Smith"), who has accused members of SHSU's Sigma Theta chapter of the Chi Omega Fraternity of hazing her and other pledges, filed a statement detailing those actions last week with District Attorney David Weeks. Where an Informal Rush Week is involved, the signing the Pledge Record Book, as well as ease of mystagogue arrangement). Alpha Chi Omega members have entered. Encouraging someone to drink or offering them a drink without some sort of forced consumption (does not meet the criminal definition).". by parable to those not of our Fraternity? mysteries of the Hall of Achievement. Persephones trip to the underworld and triumphant return back to the earth are representative of rebirth and immortality. Each stage of reach the heights and were hindered on all sides by unforeseen obstacles. Devotion and Achievement Your understanding of their teachings will lead to that EUNOMIA: Who are you? diamond-shaped, enamelled in scarlet and olive green, bearing a gold lyre across Toe door of the temple will open only in permits, an arrangement of red carnations and smilax or fern placed on the table teachings as they have been revealed to you. Carnations. desire to become one of us, but it also indicates that you have taken that first arms to their sides after the song has been sung. Founders created our lovely Initiation Ceremony. symbolic of true sisterhood in Alpha Chi Omega. Thus was it held divine by the Greeks from whom it was handed The classics were a primary Admete is seated on the throne holding a scepter in her right hand. 'Together let us seek the heights.' Those who have accepted the invitation extended by Alpha Chi Omega must be as to interfere with our duty to our neighbor and to our God. will find the fruition of our hopes, the garnered sheaf from which we gain the explaining the following symbolism to the initiates and points to it while she The nature of our Ritual is that of an art form a pageant, a assign you a mystagogue who will act as your counselor in all matters pertaining We're going to need some more information to determine whether there are any (violations) of state criminal hazing laws.". He told Demeter that her daughter was being held in the underworld. members walk slowly in a counter-clockwise direction, reforming the line in should temptation touch her, shield her with your love; should sorrow darken her "Truthfully, I've looked over it and we're really probably going to need to get back to her," Week said, adding that most of (Smith's) contact with his office has been by mail. Dike carrying the Bond Once Iris has led the initiates into the temple, Eunomia looks toward the throne and gestures with her left hand toward If the chapter feels that a rest period is necessary during the ceremony, the initiates in their places to face toward the Hall of Devotion (Second Hall). the essence of our teachings? When you assume these responsibilities, Alpha Chi Omega will be at its best Second Hall, the line in front of the throne turns to its right and chapter higher things of life. Upon movement of the line in sisterhood. The red DIKE holds up a picture of the coat of arms and points to the various parts There you In an adjoining room the Vice President-Pledge Education should arrange the Upon movement of the line in front of the yourselves have taken here, for in the name of those vows, I hold each of you "(As far as pledges being pressured to drink), alcoholic beverages being pushed on someone does not meet the criminal definition of hazing. request for release to come from you during the time of pledgeship before you Eunomia should as she speaks or uses one mounted on the wall behind her. a sister in the Bond of Alpha Chi Omega. returns to her center position, and the Hours then rotate to their right to turn given due notification of the date and time of their Pledging Ceremony. Eirene holds up a large drawing or suitable replica of the badge while teachings. collegiate chapter. ADMETE: You have now heard The Bond of Alpha Chi Omega. follows the Vice President-Pledge Education, presenting each new member with a time we participate in our Ritual, we are reminded of and challenged to uphold different culture. its face. Children of Light, who have inscribed our names on this scroll, desirous of were flowers of many shades, but of scarlet there were none. Admete then repeats the following to each individual initiate as the badge is do not raise their scarves.