Alpha Delta Chi () is an American Christian sorority founded at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1925.
History Alpha Delta Chi started at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1925. Its ten founders wanted to create a way for women to participate in Greek life without compromising their Christian values. The sorority was originally named Areta, which is Greek for "virtue".
The ten Alpha Delta Chi founders were:
Alma Becker Willard Crowder Clawson Amy Culp Theta Slingerland Dean Evelyn Kepple Kay Marion Wright Madden Alice Slingerland McEachern Ruth Umsted Ohly Dorothea Harvey Schultz Dora Marie Showalter-Goertz The focus of Alpha Delta Chi was for its members to grow spiritually, reach their full potential scholastically, and develop socially by forming Christian friendships. The sorority is Christian, but nondenominational.
A second chapter, Beta, was established on February 4, 1929, by two members who were attending graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley. The sorority held its first annual convention in Berkeley, California, in April 1939. During the meeting, the sorority voted to become a national organization, forming The National Association of Areta and its National Executive and advisory board.
At the June 1943 annual meeting, the sorority's name was changed to Alpha Delta Chi. It was incorporated in the State of California in 1946. In 1992, its first chapter was chartered outside of California at Murray State University.
By 2019, Alpha Delta Chi has chartered 26 chapters. As of 2024, it has four active chapters, a National Alumnae Association (ADX NAA), and local alumnae chapters.
Symbols Alpha Delta Chi's colors are flame red and blue. Its flowers are the gladiolus and the delphinium. Its mascot is the lamb and its jewel is the pearl. Its motto is "As in a Mirror". Its Bible verse is 2 Corinthians 3:18. The sorority's online newsletter is The Arête. Its nickname is A-D-Chi.
Activities Sorority members participate in Bible study, hold retreats, and volunteer in the community.
Membership Potential members must be churchgoing Christians of any denomination. Members must agree to forgo smoking, illegal drugs, underage drinking, and premarital sex.
Chapters Following is a list of Alpha Delta Chi chapters, with active chapters noted in bold and inactive chapters in italics.
NameCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatusAlpha1925–19xx?, 2005–2023University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CaliforniaInactiveBeta – 1964; 1987University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CaliforniaInactiveGamma19xx?–19xx?California State University, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CaliforniaInactiveDelta1945–19xx?, 1974–19xx?, 1996–202x ?San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CaliforniaInactiveEpsilon1949–19xx?, 2005–2024 ?University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CaliforniaInactiveZeta1963–1969, 1974–1995, 2010–202x ?California State University, Long BeachLong Beach, CaliforniaInactiveEta1976–201x?California State University, NorthridgeNorthridge, Los Angeles, CaliforniaInactiveTheta1989–202x ?California State University, FresnoFresno, CaliforniaInactiveIota1991–199x?, 2005–201x?University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara County, CaliforniaInactiveKappa1992–19xx?, 2008–201x?Murray State UniversityMurray, KentuckyInactiveLambdaUnassignedMu1993–202x?California Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CaliforniaInactiveNu1993–20xx?University of California, DavisDavis, CaliforniaInactiveXi1994–200x?Illinois State UniversityNormal, IllinoisInactiveOmicron1994–199x?University of California, IrvineIrvine, CaliforniaInactivePi1997–202x ?University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, ColoradoInactiveRho2000–200x?University of CincinnatiCincinnati, OhioInactiveSigma2003–2024Georgia TechAtlanta, GeorgiaInactiveTau2004University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AlabamaActiveUpsilon2004–20xx?University of ArkansasFayetteville, ArkansasInactivePhi2004–200x?Azusa Pacific UniversityAzusa, CaliforniaInactiveChi2004–202x ?Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboro, GeorgiaInactivePsiUniversity of North AlabamaFlorence, AlabamaActiveOmega2010–2021Colorado State UniversityFort Collins, ColoradoInactiveAlpha Alpha2013–20xx?Seton Hall UniversitySouth Orange, New JerseyInactiveAlpha Beta2015-202x ?University of DenverDenver, ColoradoInactiveAlpha Gamma2019–202x ?Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, GeorgiaInactive
Controversies In 1964, the University of California, Berkeley banned the sorority, saying that its requirement for members to be Christian was against the university's new anti-discrimination policy. On other campuses, the sorority was not allowed to be a member of the Panhellenic Council because its Christian requirement is considered to be discrimination. The UC Berkeley chapter was allowed to return and join the Panhellenic Council in 1987.
In 2012, the sorority was involved in Alpha Delta Chi v. Reed, a lawsuit against the University of California, San Diego which had determined that the Christian sorority would have to accept an atheist leader. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States who declined to review the case.
See also List of social sororities and women's fraternities
References
External links Alpha Delta Chi national website