Our Story
Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity (AOII) was founded on January 2, 1897 at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City. The ideals of sincerity, service, and friendship provide the foundation for AOII. As one of our founders Stella George Stern Perry explained,
"We cared so profoundly for one another that we unconsciously desired a society based upon original feeling... We felt that as love never faileth, a future on that foundation was assured."
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AOII joined the University of Mississippi in 1958 and has grown to be an important part of campus and the Oxford community.
With more than 200,000 initiated members from more than 150 collegiate chapters, the values on which AOII was founded help lead us in the decisions we make and the behaviors we exhibit in our daily lives. We are inspired to promote the values of simplicity, integrity, tolerance, generosity, personal dignity, and love. Our lives are to be living symbols of these values that we hold in common. They enable us to go with character and confidence into the world around us, with assurance in knowing AOII is ours, offering friendships and opportunities throughout our lifetime.
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AOII is guided by The Object of the Fraternity and our Culture Principles.
Object of
The Fraternity
Shall be to encourage a spirit of fraternity and love among its members; to stand at all times for character, dignity, scholarship, and college loyalty; to strive for and support the best interests of the colleges and universities in which chapters are installed; and in no way to disregard, injure or sacrifice those interests for the sake of the prestige or advancement of the Fraternity or any of its chapters.
Our Culture Principles
AOII believes in a fraternal culture based on our values, and our Culture Principles were developed to provide our membership with a compass to help all members achieve the meaning of Fraternity in our Ritual. Our Culture Principles are: Accountability and Ownership, Collaboration, Engagement, Innovation, and Open and Honest Communication.
Color
Cardinal Red
Our color, determined by our founders, is our Fraternity’s only primary color. Cardinal is the purest color of red and symbolizes the deep bond within our Fraternity.
Symbol
Infinity Rose
Our logo symbolize our four founders, Stella, Helen, Jessie and Bess, who chose to value character, dignity, scholarship, and college loyalty.
Flower
Jacqueminot Rose
This thornless flower represents the endless love we have for our sisters and reminds us to be kind always.
Mascot
Panda
AOII donates hundreds of pandas every year to children attending annual Juvenile Arthritis (JA) Conferences and camps. Fraternity’s only primary color.
Tagline
Inspire
Ambition
One of our goals is to not only inspire our sisters to be ambitious whether that be through service or scholarship, but also to inspire our community to take action and serve alongside us while we work make the world better.
Jewel
Ruby
Alpha Omicron Pi has only one jewel, The ruby finalizes the clarity of color that is reflected in our symbols. “One motto, one badge, one bond, and singleness of heart.”
