Delta Phi Omega

Deltas group picture from Gustavian 2009.

Nicknamed the Deltas, the sorority Delta Phi Omega was founded at Gustavus in 1926, as Nu Delta Tau, and founded nationally in 1998. The colors of the Deltas used to be red, for sacrifice, white, for purity and blue, for loyalty but, when it changed its name the colors changed to maroon and gold. The events that the Deltas are involved in are: The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Benefit, March of Dimes, Special Olympics, Greeks Giving Back, Angel Tree Gifting, Relay for Life, Clothing Drive, Trick-or-Canning, Rake-the-Town, Kids Against Hunger, Adopt-a-Highway, Toys for Tots and visiting local nursing homes. The Deltas have a group prayer which goes as follows “We praise thee, O God for our Tri-Hi-Y girls and counselors, for their desire to be of service in this world we seek to build. May our love for thee awaken in us, an overflow of love for all thy creatures; may our love for spirit of adventure lead us only on the trails once blazed by thee. For this give us thy help. Amen”

Deltas group picture from Gustavian 1930.

Before the Deltas became the Deltas Phi Omega, they were the Delta Phi Tri-Hi-Y Club of the Harvey YMCA. In order to become a Delta, the women had to become a member of the Harvey YMCA as well. The Tri-Hi-Y pin was a triangle with those three words in the corners (Tri-Hi-Y). Inside the triangle, there was a torch enclosed in a circle. The triangle represented the mind, spirit, and body. The circle represented the completeness of a Christian life. The final component, the torch, represented the mission expressed in the Tri-Hi-Y purpose. The purpose was to create, maintain, and extend throughout the home, community, and school.