Delta Gamma

Delta Omicron Chapter at Morehead State University

Chapter History

In 1969 and 1970, Delta Gamma heard from 92 different schools who were interested in Delta Gamma expanding to their campus. Many of these, including Morehead State, were former state teachers' colleges that had become full universities.

In April 1969, Delta Gamma received a letter from the president of Alpha Sigma Rho, the first sorority founded at Morehead. This group, founded in 1962, was originally known as the CAPA Tridents. The objectives of this organization were to promote good character, pleasant appearance, strong personality, and academic potential.

Alpha Sigma Rho was the top group on campus. Each year they sponsored the CAPA Carnival (later known as the Delta Gamma Carnival), where each fraternity and sorority set up a booth to earn money for philanthropic causes. The women served as foster parents to a Vietnamese child, sponsored a local Girl Scout troop, and presented an annual $200.00 scholarship to a worthy freshman through a CAPA Trident Alumni Scholarship Fund. Members participated in many campus organizations and activities (seven members of the Homecoming Court, and the first runner-ups to Miss Kentucky and Miss Morehead State were Delta Gamma colony pledges).

Several girls in the group traveled to Columbus in June 1969 to meet with the members of Council who were in Columbus for Leadership School. They were promised that a team of two would visit during the fall and meet the group. In November, the Student Life Committee approved the request of Alpha Sigma Rho to petition Delta Gamma.

Since Morehead State had not been approved by Convention as a possible expansion site, it was necessary to take an area vote of collegiate and alumnae chapters within a 250-mile radius of Morehead. On January 18, 1970, Betty Davis Philley, Gamma Alpha, a Morehead, KY alumna, was notified by phone that the votes were affirmative and Delta Gamma would be adding another group in Kentucky. It was on George Washington's birthday, February 22, 1970, that Delta Beta-University of Kentucky collegians conducted the pledging service for the new Morehead colony members.

The installation weekend started on Friday night, May 8, with an inspiration get-together in the living room of the Home Economics Building. Gamma Alpha-Tennessee members participated in the inspiration and initiation ceremonies. Initiation was held at 1:00 in the Combs Building on Saturday (May 9) for 31 collegiate members, 6 alumnae, and 5 patronesses. The respected and dedicated Alpha Sigma Rho sponsor, Nell Fair Mahancy, was initiated as a patroness. A banquet followed in the Red Room of the Adron Doran University Center with the theme "A Time for Us".

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