Alpha Sigma Alpha

 " Not Sisters By Birth, but we Knew from the Start, God Put us together to be sisters by Heart"

On Campus

Our Sorority is well known for Homecoming accomplishments as well as Greek Week. We are nationally recognized for having six consecutive homecoming queens, including our current national president, Cindy Kelly.Currently we have held the title for Greek Goddess Candidates for the last seven years. We have won Greek Sing 7 out of the last 8 years, as well as 4 out of the past 6 years in Lip Sync. Along with the sorority, our sisters are active in athletics for Concord as well as other organizations such as choir, SGA, Gamma Beta Phi Society, Phi Alpha Delta Law Organization, and much more. Overall we have a strong sisterhood and have formed bonds with our sisters that have made our college life more than just memorable, but everlasting. The experience Alpha Sigma Alpha as given us has enabled us to truly shape our futures.

Our Symbols

Our National and Local symbols are the Lady bug and the Raggedy Ann. Our Lounge and Hallway is decorated with both! It is customary when you join for your big sister to give you your first ladybug and your first Raggedy Ann. When you Graduate a member of Beta Pi, you may paint a ladybug in our Hallway in your Honor to be kept there forever.

The Ladybug

 Raggedy Ann

 Aims

“The aim of this sorority shall…have for its four-fold objective the intellectual, physical, social and spiritual development of its members.”

Mission

“Alpha Sigma Alpha is a women’s organization that exists to promote high ideals and standards for its members throughout their lives by emphasizing balance among the four aims of intellectual, physical, spiritual and social development. Alpha Sigma Alpha provides structure and guidance through:

• Sisterhood, which is a strong bond of unconditional friendship based on common values and
• Heritage, which is expressed through creed, ritual and history,
• Opportunities for leadership and involvement in chapter, campus and community.”

Core Values

• Relationships
• Integrity
• Balance
• Learning
• Generosity
• Growth
• Responsibility
• Enjoyment

Insignia

Colors

The primary colors of Alpha Sigma Alpha are crimson and pearl white, supplemented by the secondary colors palm green and gold.

Crimson, indicating loyalty, is a primary color of Alpha Sigma Alpha. It is represented through our exemplar St. Valentine and our jewel the ruby.

Pearl White, representing fellowship and a perfect blending of all colors, is also a primary color of Alpha Sigma Alpha. It is represented through our exemplar Christ and our second jewel, the pearl.

Palm Green, a supplementary color, signifying hope, immortality, and victory, is represented through our exemplar Hermes and symbol, the palm.

Gold, a supplementary color, signifying wisdom, wealth, and social achievement, is represented through our exemplar King Asa and our symbol, the crown.

Jewels

The pearl represents the beauty that comes with growth and belongs distinctly to the new member.
The ruby, its color claimed for an indistinguishable flame in ancient Hindu legend, belongs distinctly to the initiated member.

Motto

Alpha Sigma Alpha has four mottoes. All have their initials the letters Alpha Sigma Alpha. The open motto is (Greek letters first) “Aspire, Seek, Attain.”

Flowers

The fall flower is the aster and the spring flower is the narcissus.

Celebrations

Founders’ Day is celebrated November 15 of every year and all members of Alpha Sigma Alpha are asked to wear green and gold ribbons underneath their membership badges to represent our enduring sisterhood since 1901 and the social aspect of the sorority.

The Christmas celebration centers around “Christ as an exemplar” and Alpha Sigma Alpha’s service to others. Members are asked to wear crimson and green ribbons underneath their badges to represent loyalty and immortality.

St. Valentine’s Day is celebrated February 14 and members are asked to wear crimson and gold ribbons underneath their membership badges to represent loyalty and the social aspect of the occasion.

Hermes’ Day, May 25, marks the beginning and end of the Alpha Sigma Alpha year. Members are asked to wear green and pearl white ribbons underneath their membership badges on this day, representing victory and fellowship.

Philanthropies 

• Special Olympics - Annually our Chapter Volunteers at the Special Olympics, as well as contributing funds.
• S.June Smith Center- An inclusive facility in Lancaster PA which provides a learning environment for developmentally delayed children. In the Spring we hold a Womanless beauty pageant on campus to raise money for the center. This event is a huge success on campus, and has been held annually for over ten years.Throughout the year we also make birthday cards as well as other handmade educational tools to send to the facility.
• Trick or Treat for canned goods- On Halloween Our chapter dresses up and goes trick or treating for canned goods in our neighbor of Athens, to fill our local food bank
• Feed the Children- We volunteer at Heaven Sent Ministries in the soup kitchen serving food and whatever services needed.
• Angel Tree / Toys for Tots- Around the holidays we make it our mission to give a special Christmas to needy children.
• River Clean Up- One day a year our girls roll up their sleeves and get to work on the new river.

About Concord University

• Student Enrollment: Fall 2007 - 2,735 headcount
  
• Geographic Distribution: 27 states, District of Columbia and 22 nations
  
• Average Class Size: 19 - Most students are from smaller high schools in small towns or rural areas. Many come to Concord with a high school friend who is enrolling.
  
•  Most Popular Majors: Accounting, Advertising & Graphic Design, Athletic Training, Biology, Business Administration, Computer Science, Pre-law, Management, Pre-med Psychology, Recreation & Tourism Management, Social Work, Sociology and Teacher Education.
  
• Athletics :Concord offers 15 Men’s and Women’s NCAA Division II athletic programs. Concord is a member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic  Conference. MEN-Football, Cross Country, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Indoor track, Tennis, Golf, Outdoor Track; WOMEN-Volleyball, Soccer, Tennis, Softball, Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor track, Basketball, Cheerleading

Since 1872, Concord University has established a distinguished legacy of a quality education for many generations of families.

"All our past acclaims our future," wrote the English poet Algernon Charles Swinburne, who was born in 1837, the same year as Mercer County, the home of Concord University, was formed in old Virginia.

In the 1840's, to attract settlers, Colonel Henderson French established a land company in Mercer County. The early settlers felt the need for a church, and, in 1858, Colonel French gave land for this purpose. Captain William Holroyd, a licensed Methodist preacher, helped build the church, and French asked Holroyd's wife, Sarah, to name it. On the day of dedication, she said: "This church is where all denominations shall worship together in harmony, sweet fellowship and concord, and it shall be n amed 'Concord Church.'
The settlement also was called "Concord Church." A post office was established after the Civil War, and the University got its name when, on February 28, 1872, the West Virginia Legislature passed "an Act to locate a Branch State Normal School, in Concord Church, in the County of Mercer."

But land and a building were needed, and no State funds were appropriated. Five families-The Fannings, Frenches, Holroyds, Martins, and Vermillions-principally were responsible for meeting the challenge and getting the school established. Classes started on May 10, 1875, with 70 students. Captain James Harvey French was the first principal, and he served until his death in 1891.

Eventually, State appropriations for a new brick building were secured; the building was completed in 1887 on the site of the present Athens Middle School, and an additional appropriation in 1895 enabled it to be considerably enlarged.

In 1896, due to confusion with another West Virginia post office in Hampshire County called "Concord," the name of the town was changed to "Athens," an obvious choice of the old Greek city for a community that was a center of learning. But the school kept "Concord" as its name.

A tragic fire destroyed the handsome school building in November of 1910. The campus was moved to its present site, and a new building was completed in 1912 (Old Main) that currently is known as Marsh Hall.

Although firmly established, the essential character of the institution changed little during its first half century. It was small, rural, and isolated. Much instruction was only at the secondary level, and the two-year "standard normal" diplomas exceeded baccalaureate degrees through 1936. Until 1922, the only building on the present campus was "Old Main."

During the administration of Dr. C.C. Rossey (1918-1924), residence halls for women (the former McComas Hall) and men (Holroyd), and a gymnasium were built. Also, the academic program was upgraded considerably.

Since 1929, except for the ill-fated "merger" with Bluefield State College (1973-1976), Concord has experienced outstanding growth in enrollment, physical plant, curriculum and the quality of its faculty.

The administration of Dr. J. Frank Marsh (1929-1945) brought the University full national accreditation in 1931; also the institution changed its name twice, from "Concord State Normal School" to "Concord State Teachers College" in 1931, to "Concord College" in 1943, and to Concord University in 2004. The "standard normal" program was abolished in 1936. Marsh also greatly expanded the physical plant: an addition to the gymnasium; a President's House and five faculty homes; a swimming pool; additional residence halls for women (Sarvay) and men (White); a library (named for Marsh); and, a home management demonstration house.

The new President's House (1932) was built on State property (probably illegally!) with borrowed funds; Marsh personally paid monthly rent for most of the thirteen years he and his family occupied the home until the debt was satisfied. The president's wife, Florence, enjoyed entertaining, and hardly a week passed without a dinner, a formal reception or a small party for faculty and students, State Officials, guest lecturers and artists and friends. During the 1930's, overnight guests included Lowell Thomas, Amelia Earhart, Will Durant, Carl Sandburg and Metropolitan Opera stars Susanne Fisher and Muriel Dickson. During her bachelor son's presidency (1959-1973), Mrs. Marsh once again was hostess and presided over numerous social functions in the official residence. At the end of her son's presidency, still active at age 79, she had served for 30 years as Concord's "first lady."

During WWII, the University experienced campus-wide change of demographics as young men went off to war, to leave a student population composed mainly of young ladies, until 1943. That year, the University housed the U.S. Army Air Corp's 15th College Training Detachment. The program, which lasted throughout the war, brought classes of young soldiers in to train them as Army Pilots. They received both military and college credit training during their time here. The cadets, even after they left Athens, left their impression on the townspeople. In 1993, a special reunion was held of all known 15th C.T.D. Cadets. This extraordinary group of gentlemen composes an honored part of Concord's Alumni Association even today.

During Virgil Stewart's administration (1945-1959), the University experienced postwar growth in enrollment and physical plant. The Science Hall was built, a small temporary music building was erected, housing units for married students constructed, and a new athletic field developed.

Dr. Joseph F. Marsh Jr. son of the former president, served as president from 1959 to 1973. Additions to the campus during his administration were: the College Center (Student Center); new residence halls (Wilson, Wooddell and Twin Towers); additional married student housing; additions to the administration building; The Alexander Fine Arts Center; Witherspoon Park (faculty housing); The Leslie R. and Ruby Webb Carter Center (health and physical education); Callaghan Stadium; and the Maintenance Building. Also, the younger Marsh continued the expansion of the curriculum, emphasized quality and recruited a cosmopolitan faculty.

In 1973, the West Virginia Board of Regents had a bill introduced in the Legislature to merge Concord and Bluefield State colleges, which caused an uproar. All constituencies of Concord opposed the proposal. Although the bill failed even to get out of committee and died, the Regents pressed the matter after the Legislature adjourned and proceeded with an "administrative" merger. Since Marsh opposed the merger, he was fired and became president of a college in Pennsylvania. Dr. Billy L. Coffindaffer was appointed president of both Concord and Bluefield State, but after only two years of turmoil the Regents concluded (as Marsh had testified before the Senate Education Committee) that the arrangement would not work, announced that a return to separate administrations would take place in 1976, and appointed Dr. James Rowley as acting president during the interim.

With the administrative merger abolished, Concord enthusiastically welcomed Dr. Meredith N. Freeman as its new president in 1976. During his nine-year tenure, most of the wounds were healed, and once again enrollment increased and new academic programs were established. The physical plant was expanded with a major addition to the J. Frank Marsh Library and the development of Anderson Field.

Concord's current president, Dr. Jerry L. Beasley, assumed office on July 1, 1985, upon the retirement of Dr. Freeman. Beasley, originally from Hinton in Summers County, is a southern West Virginian who has chosen to remain and work in the Mountain State. During his tenure here the University’s enrollment has continued to grow, and Concord developed the largest endowment of any West Virginia public college. In the late 1980's and early 1990's, the Physical Plant at Concord saw several major changes. McComas Hall (Women's residence hall), the College Theatre, and the Old Gym were torn down. However, the Administration and Science buildings enjoyed a several million-dollar renovation that modernized the buildings.

During Dr. Beasley's administration, Concord has received national notice for its progressive efforts. These include the student volunteer organization HAPIN; the Summer Academy and Teacher's Institute, enriching learning in West Virginia secondary schools; the Concord Quest for Scholars; and the Bonner Scholars Program. Concord is the only state-assisted college chosen to participate in the entire Bonner Scholars program. There are now over 80 Bonner Scholars at work in West Virginia and beyond, learning what it means to lead by serving. Beasley’s administration also established a "Beckley Center" for Concord and developed a master's program in Teacher Education. Master's programs are also being developed for Social Work and Business Administration.

The first light of Concord was a flickering candle, but the flame did not die. Today, the light burns brightly. In the future, the light of Concord University will shine more widely and strongly. (Adapted from an earlier piece by J.F.M.)

 *All information on Concord University was taken from their website at www.concord.edu