It all began on April 5, 1895, at the University of Arkansas when four women, with the help of a local dentist, established the secrets and symbolism creating the Chi Omega sisterhood. In the last 125 years, Chi Omega has become the largest women's fraternal organization in the world with over 375,000 initiates, 181 collegiate chapters, and 246 alumnae chapters.

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Tau chapter had similar beginnings to that of Psi at the University of Arkansas. Women had been on the University of Mississippi campus since 1882, but there were few opportunities for women to congregate outside of class. A group of young women formed a secret society, a club about which we know very little. This club petitioned to Chi Omega for approval to form a chapter. in 1899, their petition was approved, and The University of Mississippi's Tau chapter of Chi Omega was founded. From the start, Tau chapter sought out ways to grow and develop.

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Our Tau chapter abruptly came to an end in 1911, when the state legislature passed a law forbidding any Greek letter fraternity on any campus in Mississippi. Tau sisters continued to get together during this ban, but not in the name of Chi Omega. For many years following that law, prominent fraternity men and women sought to have the law repealed. Finally, in the spring of 1926 the law was repealed and fraternities were readmitted to all Mississippi campuses.

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As soon as the law changed, Old Tau, as it was known, organized form and petitioned to Chi Omega for re-establishment of the chapter. On April 1, 1926, Chi Omega reinstated Tau with 16 members. Our chapter currently has 410 members from all over the United States. Not only are we one of the oldest Chi Omega chapters in the nation, we are also one of the largest.

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Chi Omega provides its members with unique opportunities in leadership, scholarship, service, and lifelong friendship - while striving to provide each Sister with commitment to personal integrity, excellence in academic and intellectual pursuits, intergenerational participation, community service, leadership opportunities and social enrichment.

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Visit Chi Omega's national website and learn more about our organization as a whole!