Our Ivy In expansion:
Its the Ivy that binds...
Its the Ivy that binds...
THE ALUMNAE AND THE SORORITY.
There is no agency by which alumni are kept in touch with their Alma Mater so effectively as through their Greek-letter organizations. Even if we could not furnish proof for the assertion, the very nature of such affiliations makes this. reasonable. assumption. Pledged to be a brother or sister to all present' and future members, a tie is formed which binds' to Alma Mater; and, moreover, recollections of the days wherein intimate relationships were formed and fostered make the scene of such activities ever a place of hallowed association, Not only. is this assumption theoretically true, but concrete instances also can be given. to illustrate this point-that college fraternity tend to foster in their members a love for Alma Mater which endues. NELLIE M. QUANDER) '12, (1916) "HURecord, Vol. 10, No. 3," The Howard University Record: Vol. 10 : Iss. 3 , Article 1., Available at: https://dh.howard.edu/hurecord/vol10/iss3/1
Skee-Phi & The ivy tie.
First Joint D9 Service Project
The Alpha Kappa Alpha girls and a number of the other girls of the college department, clad in white and bearing the Ivy chain headed the march and were followed by the Alpha Phi Alpha boys who bore their large fraternity banner.
Miss Lavinia Norman, President of the sorority delivered the welcome address, speaking of the aims and ideals of the organization and of the hopes that each member holds for the future development of the school and the spirit existing around it.
"HU Journal, Volume 6 Issue 1" (1908). Volume 06. 1. http://dh.howard.edu/huj_v6/1 pg. 6
AKA helped to pave the way for all D9 sororities & fraternities by this custom & others at hbcus by showcasing culture, refinement, tradition & investment into the university.
It was one of the programs that helped the faculty understand the importance of fraternities & sororities when other students stated fraternities were useless in March of 1908.
By May of 1909, the campus welcomed both the women of AKA and finally the men of APA in the ceremony sealing the vision of tradition and alumni re-investment seen in other ivy leagues universities.
Dean Miller delivered an address. After complimenting the sorority and their spirit aud enthusiasm, he proceeded to speak of the importance of Howard as it now stands and the absolute necessity* of its expanding till it will stand on a level with the greatest institutions in the land.
Dean Moore of the Teachers’ College spoke of the value of fraternal organization in universities in creating the enthusiasm and spirit that goes to bind the love aud interest of the alumni and - serves to make an institution great in the eyes of the world. He then spoke of the sovereignty' of man and said that the chief function of an institution is to make men strong physically, mentally and morally. He spoke of the absolute importance of college spirit and force of harmonious co-operation in any institution. He urged the students to strive after the highest culture: manhood and womanhood, and the spirit for service.
Miss Sadie Merriweather of the junior class delivered a beautiful ivy oration enlarging upon the significant symbolizations of the plant and likening them unto the ideals of the society. The procession then moved to the south end of Miner Hall where the ivy was planted. Miss Ethel 0 . Hedgemon of the senior class and ex-president of the society planted the ivy and presented the trowel with a few brief remarks in which she exhorted the girls to always strive to be true college women and live up to the ideals that they set.
Miss Mary Clifford of the sophomores class responded. In support of the years of this ceremony, Howard was able to record that Rankin Memorial Chapel and the Carnegie Library received their cover of ivy from a sprig planted on Ivy Day.