Alpha Delta Chi

Alpha Delta Chi
ΑΔΧ
Founded	1925; 101 years ago (1925) University of California, Los Angeles
Type	Social
Affiliation	Independent
Status	Active
Emphasis	Christian
Scope	National
Motto	"As in a Mirror"
Colors	Flame Red and   Blue
Flower	Gladiolus, Delphinium
Jewel	Pearl
Mascot	Lamb
Publication	The Arête
Chapters	3 active
Nickname	A-D-Chi
Headquarters	2730 Dwight Way Berkeley, California United States
Website	www.alphadeltachi.org

Alpha Delta Chi (ΑΔΧ) is an American Christian sorority founded at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1925. Its brother fraternity is Alpha Gamma Omega.

Alpha Delta Chi started at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1925.^[1][2] Its ten founders wanted to create a way for women to participate in Greek life without compromising their Christian values.^[3] The sorority was originally named Areta, which is Greek for "virtue".^[3]

The ten Alpha Delta Chi founders were:^[3]

• 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.^[4][2] The sorority is Christian, but nondenominational.^[1][5]

A second chapter, Beta, was established on February 4, 1929, by two members who were attending graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley.^[3] The sorority held its first annual convention in Berkeley, California, in April 1939.^[3] During the meeting, the sorority voted to become a national organization, forming The National Association of Areta and its National Executive and advisory board.^[3]

At the June 1943 annual meeting, the sorority's name was changed to Alpha Delta Chi.^[3] It was incorporated in the State of California in 1946.^[3] In 1992, its first chapter was chartered outside of California at Murray State University.^[1]

By 2019, Alpha Delta Chi has chartered 26 chapters.^[1] As of 2024, it has four active chapters, a National Alumnae Association (ADX NAA), and local alumnae chapters.^[6][1][7]

Alpha Delta Chi's colors are flame red and blue.^[8][3] Its flowers are the gladiolus and the delphinium.^[3][8] Its mascot is the lamb and its jewel is the pearl.^[8][5] Its motto is "As in a Mirror".^[3][8] Its Bible verse is 2 Corinthians 3:18.^[2][5] The sorority's online newsletter is The Arête.^[9] Its nickname is A-D-Chi.^[10][3]

Sorority members participate in Bible study, hold retreats, and volunteer in the community.^[11][12]

Potential members must be churchgoing Christians of any denomination.^[11][5][12] Members must agree to forgo smoking, illegal drugs, and premarital sex.^[11] Drinking alcohol is allowed in moderation, so as not to reflect badly on Christians.^[12] A committee works with members who break these rules.^[12]

Following is a list of Alpha Delta Chi chapters, with active chapters noted in bold and inactive chapters in italics.^[1][6]

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.^[13] 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.^[5] The UC Berkeley chapter was allowed to return and join the Panhellenic Council in 1987.^[13]

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.^[17] The case was appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States who declined to review the case.^[17]

• List of social sororities and women's fraternities

• Alpha Delta Chi national website