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Olivia Burris
UWRT
Malcom Campbell
November 6, 2014
Alpha Delta Pi
Part 1: Observations
On May 16, 1851 at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, Georgia, the first Secret
Society for women was formed. Six amazing women led by Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald
formed what was then known as the Adelphean Society, from the Greek word sister, for
the mental, moral, social, and domestic improvement of its members. According to the
history of Alpha Delta Pi, the five other women who helped Eugenia Fitzgerald were
listed in her diary as: Ella Pierce, daughter of a bishop; Octavia Andrew, daughter of a
bishop; Bettie Williams of South Carolina; Sophronia Woodruff; and Mary A Evans,
daughter of a useful and beloved pastor of Macon Mulberry Street Methodist Church for
several years. In 1905 the Adelphean Society changed its name to Alpha Delta Phi and
eight years later the Convention body decided to change the name of the society to Alpha
Delta Pi. The principals of scholarship, leadership, sisterhood, and service now guide
over 235,000 women in more than 150 active collegiate chapters and over 150 alumnae
associations of Alpha Delta Pi. Recently, I have been lucky enough to be apart of this
wonderful sisterhood here at UNC Charlotte.
After observing the Zeta Gamma Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi at the University of
North Carolina at Charlotte I have noticed quite a few things. Every Sunday at 7 pm
every girl in Alpha Delta Pi at attends chapter, in the Epic building on campus. Chapter

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is where every girl in Alpha Delta Pi at UNCC meets formally to discuss the business that
is occurring around the time. The room is very large, a lecture style classroom, with
enough seats for all 175 members. All members of the Zeta Gamma Chapter are required
to wear pin attire when attending chapter. Pin attire is dressed to your best, no denim
material, and you cannot look like you just rolled out of bed. Whenever you walk into
chapter, the lights are dim and the room is silent; on the screen is a PowerPoint
presentation for the meeting. All of the older sisters are seated in every other seat,
alphabetical order, waiting for the Alphas (new members) to fill the seats in between
them, also in alphabetical order. Once seated, the meeting opens up with prayer and the
chapter then recites the 15th Psalm as a whole; then the president of the chapter begins the
business. The PowerPoint presentation guides the meeting with each member of the
executive board creating their own slide. The President, Executive Vice President,
Membership Education Vice President, Recruitment Vice President, Director of Social
Enrichment, Panhellenic Delegate, Finance Chair, Standards and Ethics Chair, and the
Advisory Board make up the Executive Board. Each person that holds one of these
positions is responsible for delivering all information related to their position to the rest
of the chapter. Topics discussed during chapter include philanthropy events, social
functions, Panhellenic news, standards we should be following, dues we have to pay to
the chapter, and how to represent Alpha Delta Pi in a classy way. Throughout chapter
only the Executive members are allowed to speak unless a sister raises her hand for
permission to speak and says sister president, and sisters before she begins. In order to
maintain structure throughout the meeting the chapter elects a guard. The guard is
responsible for keeping everyone who is not supposed to be speaking quiet, even if it

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involves yelling, shut up throughout the whole room. The atmosphere during chapter is
very formal, but there is also a warm-welcoming feeling that is present. The girls of
Alpha Delta Pi here at UNCC are very friendly, and everyone is comfortable around each
other because they have such a strong sisterhood. When the business of chapter is
finished, the guard is responsible for leading the alphas out of the room and the entire
room is silent.
While the sisters of Alpha Delta Pi associate very formally during chapter,
interactions outside of chapter are very relaxed. I have recently observed the sisters at the
most looked forward to event of the year called Mallard Ball. Mallard Ball is a very
exciting night for all of the sisters of Alpha Delta Pi. Every year, all of the sisters dress in
camouflage and hunter orange and their dates wear the same thing. Mallard Ball is held at
a different location every year, this year it was at Hodges Farm. At 7:30 pm all of the
members of who joined in Fall 2014 or Fall 2013 meet in Parking Lot 6 with their dates
where they get on a bus that takes you to the venue. After they arrived at the farm,
everyone ran to the barn, ready to start the fun. Most of the sisters were drunk, but there
was no alcohol served there. This year, it was very cold out but there was a barn that it
took place in, so it was not as cold. Inside the barn, it was covered in hay and a band
played country music the whole night. Girls danced with their dates the entire time and
enjoyed being able to spend time with their sisters. Nothing here was conducted formally
and everyone was able to be relaxed and be themselves around each other.

Part 2: Interpretation

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Spoken language is used a lot throughout the Zeta Gamma Chapter of Alpha
Delta Pi. It is the primary use of communication. Spoken language is used to
communicate between all the members of the chapter. During chapter, spoken language is
used to give the members all the necessary information. Speaking to each other is the way
sisters communicate with each other and get to know each other. Throughout the
recruitment process, before joining Alpha Delta Pi, spoken language was the only thing
used to get to know the sisters of ADPi, and it was how we based our judgment on them.
Without spoken language, the there would be no purpose of Alpha Delta Pi.
Written language is also commonly used in this sorority. During chapter there is a
PowerPoint that guides the meeting and helps keep us on track. The purpose of it is to
have a visual we can look at so that we can focus on what we need to talk about. Also,
there is a Facebook wall that all members are apart of. This wall is used to give last
minute dates or to keep us updated on what it going on. The Facebook wall is very
beneficial and is a good tool for communication.
The purpose of Alpha Delta Pi is much more than it seems. Alpha Delta Pi is
committed to sisterhood, values and ethics, high academic standards, and social
responsibility. ADPi uses a diamond to represent the sorority; sisterhood, social,
scholarship, and service represent the four points of the diamond. These points are the
foundation of ADPi and are the most important aspects of the sorority. Being apart of
ADPi can bring the feeling of being apart of something bigger than yourself. In the creed
it says that if you live by the guidelines, you can achieve a more rich and useful life.
The beliefs of Alpha Delta Pi are presented in the creed. After interviewing the
president of ADPi, I learned more in depth beliefs and values of Alpha Delta Pi. Some of

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those beliefs are that the principals established by the founders in 1851 are enduring
attributes exemplifying the highest ideas of Christian womanhood, living by the motto
We Live for Each Other will enrich your life with true friendships and by unselfish
service to mankind, and that the privilege of membership in Alpha Delta Pi brings the
responsibility to do the best in whatever you undertake.
The women in Alpha Delta Pi here at UNC Charlotte take sisterhood very
seriously. It is important to them that everyone realizes that the bond between sisters is
stronger than that of just friends. Now, there are definitely cliques throughout the chapter,
but that is inevitable. Everyone does their best to get along with each other and in tough
times, the sisters put their differences aside to come together and help those in need.
Alpha Delta Pi not only fits into the community here on campus but also off
campus. ADPis national philanthropy is the Ronald McDonald House, which is where
families who have sick children in the hospital and cannot afford a hotel every night, can
stay for free. ADPi holds fundraisers throughout the year to raise money for the Ronald
McDonald house such as the annual Boot Scootin BBQ. Part of the proceeds raised from
the BBQ go to the Ronald McDonald house to fund bills, furnish the house, have food
available, and so much more. Also, in the spring, the hold an annual Pop Tabs War,
where all sororities and fraternities collect as many pop tabs, from the top of soda cans, as
possible. These pop tabs are then all collected by Alpha Delta Pi and used towards
chemotherapy treatments for children who cannot afford it; 1000 pop tabs is equivalent to
one chemotherapy treatment.
Overall, Alpha Delta Pi here at UNC Charlotte seems to be a highly
looked upon sorority. The girls are very classy and do not disclose any business discussed

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amongst each other, which is where they get there nickname Shady-Pi. The sisters of
ADPi are very genuine and I am honored to be a part of this sorority.