BETA PSI CHAPTER
Alpha Phi at San Jose State was founded on March 6th, 1948. Beta Psi is home to a group of sisters who are diverse in many ways: where they come from, career paths, and hobbies/interests. However, we are all bonded together by Alpha Phi's values, traditions, and genuine sisterhood. Alpha Phi considers itself a women's fraternity because it was founded in 1872, before the term "sorority" was coined.
Chapter - local group of a national or international fraternity or sorority.
OUR SYMBOLS
GREEK LETTERS
Using the Greek alphabet, Alpha is the first letter and Phi is the twenty-first letter. In the Greek language, Phi is pronounced “fee” instead of “fie” when it follows a vowel.
IVY LEAF
The ever-growing ivy leaf symbolizes the growth of the Alpha Phi sisterhood, fidelity, and eternal friendship. Ivy is incorporated into Alpha Phi’s crest and new member pins.
ALPHA PHI CREST
The Fraternity Crest, adopted in 1922, features the Alpha Phi coat-of-arms. It consists of a Bordeaux shield with a scroll and ivy leaf above it, inscribed with the motto "Union Hand in Hand." A silver bar crosses the shield, with a silver Roman lamp in the upper half and Ursa Major in the lower half.
FORGET-ME-NOT
URSA MAJOR
LILY OF THE VALLEY
One of the flowers of Alpha Phi is the fragrant lily of the valley.
The other flower of Alpha Phi is the blue and gold forget-me-not.
The Fraternity constellation is Ursa Major, the Great Bear, known for its main seven stars, the Big Dipper, which are on the lower left-hand corner of Alpha Phi’s crest.
FRATERNITY COLORS
Silver and Bordeaux are Alpha Phi’s rich and distinctive colors.
ALPHA PHI BADGE
The official badge of Alpha Phi is an unjeweled monogram of gold showing the symbol of Alpha superimposed upon the symbol of Phi.
HONOR BADGES
Special honor badges are worn by international officers and Educational Leadership Consultants. They are also worn by presidents of collegiate chapters as they serve.
