Kentucky Alpha

The Crest
The crest, or coat of arms, is a lozenge blazoned with the Brownlee family crest. An eagle is displayed in the middle, on top of which is the seal of Monmouth College (where Pi Phi was founded). The blazing sun, with the Latin word LUX in the center, is on the eagle's chest. In the eagle's right talon is the monogram IC, and the left talon holds the arrow of Pi Beta Phi.

 

The lozenge signifies that the arms represent a women's organization; the eagle, by holding the IC in one talon and Pi Beta Phi arrow in the other, signifies the absolute identity between I.C. Sorosis and Pi Beta Phi Fraternity. The coat of arms was adopted as the official fraternity crest at the 1912 Evanston Convention.

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The Flower: The Wine Carnation
Adopted at the 1890 convention, the wine carnation became the official flower of Pi Phi.

 

"The roots of the flower are the Founders, for from them the whole plant grew ... the stem represents the Grand Council. It gives to us what was received from the roots. It gives us height and strength ... the leaves of our flower are the alumnae. They stand nearest the stem and assist it in its work. They are in communication with the world and breathe in for us the best of the world's ideals ... the petals are red for the girls are loyal. As it is the rich, wine color that makes the flower attractive, it, too, is the warm fervent loyalty of its members making Pi Beta Phi beautiful in the eyes of everyone... the pistil is the spirit, and the stamens are ideals of Pi Beta Phi. The petals stand closely united around these to defend and protect them."