General Fraternity
Lambda
Chi Alpha (ΛΧΑ), headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana , is a member of the
North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) and one of the largest
men's general fraternities in North America having chapters at more than 300
universities. Lambda Chi Alpha was founded on November 2, 1909, by Warren
Albert Cole, at Boston University. The youngest of the fifteen largest social
fraternities, Lambda Chi Alpha has initiated the third highest number of men
ever. Lambda
Chi was the first fraternity to abolish pledging and remains a leader in the
fight against hazing, alcohol abuse, and other challenges facing today's
college students. Lambda Chi Alpha seeks to promote higher education by
providing opportunities for academic achievement, leadership, and lifelong
friendships. It's open mottos are Vir Quisque Vir (Latin) Every Man a
Man; Per Crucem Crescens (Latin) Crescent through the Cross;
and Χαλεπα Τα Καλα (Greek) Naught Without Labor, which all appear on their Coat of Arms. Additionally, Lambda Chi Alpha's Coat of Arms in unique, as it is the only Fraternity Coat of Arms with the active badge of the Fraternity on it.
Following it's founding, Lambda Chi Alpha expanded across the Northeast and
beyond. In 1913, John "Jack" E. Mason, rewrote the ritual of
Lambda Chi Alpha to what it is today. In 1927 Lambda Chi Alpha became an
international fraternity with the founding of Epsilon-Epsilon Zeta at the
University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada. When the Great Depression hit,
many fraternities membership numbers dropped. Lambda Chi Alpha was no
execption. In 1939, Lambda Chi Alpha merged with Theta Kappa Nu
Fraternity. The merger increased the number of chapters from 77 to 105 and
the number of members from 20,000 to 27,000. At the time, this was the largest
merger in fraternity history.
Beginning in August 1969, the concept of "fraternity education"
replaced "pledge education." The fraternity education program is
designed to include all members of the chapter equally. The program of
fraternity education should be designed to integrate the new member into the
chapter as a whole, develop a standard of treatment that treats associate
members and initiates completely equally, and should continue throughout a
member's undergraduate years and throughout a member's life. When Lambda
Chi Alpha ended its pledging program in 1972, it was the first fraternity to do
so.The Associate Member program was created to take its place. An Associate
Member (AM) of Lambda Chi Alpha is entitled to all of the rights and privileges
of a fully initiated member. Accordingly, he also bears the same
responsibilities as a brother. AMs do not have separate meetings or officers.
Indeed, there is no Associate Member Class as the entire concept of the AM
program is designed to encourage chapter, rather than class, unity. That
principle also implies that there is no separate dress code or work responsibilities
for AMs. An AM may wear the letters and regalia of the fraternity.
Lambda Chi Alpha's first stance against hazing was in 1928 at a North-American
Interfraternity Conference meeting when the fraternity condemned the practice.
Today Lambda Chi Alpha prohibits hazing of any form, on or off campus, by any
of its members. The fraternity's definition of hazing is broadly defined as
"any action taken or situation created intentionally to produce physical
discomfort or mental discomfort by embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule." Lambda
Chi Alpha is one of the founding members of the Greek Anti-Hazing Hotline,
1-888-NOT-HAZE (1-888-668-4293). The line is available to those who think they,
or someone they know, have been or may become victims of hazing.