Omega Upsilon
Encyclopedia
Omega Upsilon, also known as “OU”, is a local sorority founded at Mount Olive College
on November 18, 1958. The sorority is the only Greek-letter social sorority at the College.
decided to form a fraternity
in order to increase and bolster the social life of the College. Despite opposition from the College’s president, Revered W. Burkette Raper, the fraternity
was approved by the Student Council and came to be known as Delta Pi Delta.
Empowered by the actions of these men, a group of women at Mount Olive College
also sought to create a sorority for social purposes. Just a week after Delta Pi Delta was approved by the Student Council, a group of twelve women also filed a petition to form a sorority called Omega Upsilon. The petition was approved on November 18, 1958.
Following this approval by the Student Council, Dr. Raper and the Board of Trustees enacted a moratorium
, thus prohibiting the formation of any future fraternities and sororities at the College. Omega Upsilon remains the only social sorority at Mount Olive College
today.
In 1965 Omega Upsilon secured its first private residence, making it the first female organization at Mount Olive College
to have independent housing. This house was sold in 1977 and a new house was purchased in 1978, which the sorority still occupies today. In 1986 after Mount Olive College
became a four-year institution, Omega Upsilon likewise became a four-year sorority.
Omega Upsilon currently boasts 80 members and has an endowment of well over half-million dollars. In recent years the sorority has been in discussions with several national sororities about a possible merger.
. Like Delta Pi Delta, it holds formal rush every fall and has a less formalized process in the spring. It does allow its members to join any of the College’s eating club
s, except Terpsichorean Society, an all-female eating club
.
Omega Upsilon is involved in a number of philanthropies and charities. Its largest philanthropy is Ronald McDonald House. Its Annual “Rock-A-Thon” raises thousands of dollars each year for Ronald McDonald House.
The sorority has also been heavily involved in a community service project called "Reading for Joy," which involves members traveling to area nursing home
s and reading to the elderly.
Mount Olive College
Mount Olive College is a private liberal arts college located in Mount Olive, North Carolina. Founded in 1951, the college is supported by the Original Free Will Baptist Convention of North Carolina...
on November 18, 1958. The sorority is the only Greek-letter social sorority at the College.
Purpose
The purpose of Omega Upsilon is: “To uphold the cherished principles of Peace, Truth, and Sisterhood and to create a lifelong bond, thus allowing women continued success through friendship and loyalty to one another.”The Founding of Omega Upsilon
In 1958, a group of male students at Mount Olive CollegeMount Olive College
Mount Olive College is a private liberal arts college located in Mount Olive, North Carolina. Founded in 1951, the college is supported by the Original Free Will Baptist Convention of North Carolina...
decided to form a fraternity
Fraternity
A fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
in order to increase and bolster the social life of the College. Despite opposition from the College’s president, Revered W. Burkette Raper, the fraternity
Fraternity
A fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
was approved by the Student Council and came to be known as Delta Pi Delta.
Empowered by the actions of these men, a group of women at Mount Olive College
Mount Olive College
Mount Olive College is a private liberal arts college located in Mount Olive, North Carolina. Founded in 1951, the college is supported by the Original Free Will Baptist Convention of North Carolina...
also sought to create a sorority for social purposes. Just a week after Delta Pi Delta was approved by the Student Council, a group of twelve women also filed a petition to form a sorority called Omega Upsilon. The petition was approved on November 18, 1958.
Following this approval by the Student Council, Dr. Raper and the Board of Trustees enacted a moratorium
Moratorium (law)
A moratorium is a delay or suspension of an activity or a law. In a legal context, it may refer to the temporary suspension of a law to allow a legal challenge to be carried out....
, thus prohibiting the formation of any future fraternities and sororities at the College. Omega Upsilon remains the only social sorority at Mount Olive College
Mount Olive College
Mount Olive College is a private liberal arts college located in Mount Olive, North Carolina. Founded in 1951, the college is supported by the Original Free Will Baptist Convention of North Carolina...
today.
In 1965 Omega Upsilon secured its first private residence, making it the first female organization at Mount Olive College
Mount Olive College
Mount Olive College is a private liberal arts college located in Mount Olive, North Carolina. Founded in 1951, the college is supported by the Original Free Will Baptist Convention of North Carolina...
to have independent housing. This house was sold in 1977 and a new house was purchased in 1978, which the sorority still occupies today. In 1986 after Mount Olive College
Mount Olive College
Mount Olive College is a private liberal arts college located in Mount Olive, North Carolina. Founded in 1951, the college is supported by the Original Free Will Baptist Convention of North Carolina...
became a four-year institution, Omega Upsilon likewise became a four-year sorority.
Omega Upsilon currently boasts 80 members and has an endowment of well over half-million dollars. In recent years the sorority has been in discussions with several national sororities about a possible merger.
Founding Members
- Melissa Carruthers
- Janice Mills
- Mary Elizabeth McClinton
- Barbara Smith
- Elaine Cooper-Nelson
- Sandra Kerr
- Catherine Williams
- Sophia Jacobs
- Janine Copeland
- Phyllis Mayweather
- Alice Corbin
- Leah Pillcoat
Omega Upsilon Today
Today, Omega Upsilon is the only social sorority at Mount Olive CollegeMount Olive College
Mount Olive College is a private liberal arts college located in Mount Olive, North Carolina. Founded in 1951, the college is supported by the Original Free Will Baptist Convention of North Carolina...
. Like Delta Pi Delta, it holds formal rush every fall and has a less formalized process in the spring. It does allow its members to join any of the College’s eating club
Eating club
An eating club is a social club found in American universities. Eating clubs date to the late 19th and early 20th centuries and are intended to allow college students to enjoy meals and pleasant discourse. Some clubs are referred to as bicker clubs because of the bickering process over which...
s, except Terpsichorean Society, an all-female eating club
Eating club
An eating club is a social club found in American universities. Eating clubs date to the late 19th and early 20th centuries and are intended to allow college students to enjoy meals and pleasant discourse. Some clubs are referred to as bicker clubs because of the bickering process over which...
.
Omega Upsilon is involved in a number of philanthropies and charities. Its largest philanthropy is Ronald McDonald House. Its Annual “Rock-A-Thon” raises thousands of dollars each year for Ronald McDonald House.
The sorority has also been heavily involved in a community service project called "Reading for Joy," which involves members traveling to area nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
s and reading to the elderly.