MovieChat Forums > Going Greek (2001) Discussion > Lambda Chi Alpha

Lambda Chi Alpha

posted 19 years ago by frosty510
36 replies | jump to latest

I was watching this movie on cable the other night and noticed some symbols from my old college fraternity in one scene. The pledges are walking by a door carrying some car bumpers and stuff while another guy is in the room with his girl friend. The door has an orange poster board with some stuff written on it. Two things drawn on the poster are the symbols of the Cross & Crescent and the greek letters Delta Pi. I was wondering if anyone affiliated with the movie production was greek, because those are genuine symbols. The fraternity also sings a song that is almost identical to a song that some Lambda Chi Alpha chapters sing (Raiders of the Night, I think). My chapter never sang it, but I've heard it from other. Anyway, that was just an interesting observation for me.

[–] rkillen1 19 years ago

I am a Lambda Chi (Texas-San Antonio '97) and I just saw this movie last night. I noticed the Crusicrescent, but not the Delta Pi. I also noticed the Greek letters (I X O) are pretty close to ours.

Note also the crossed swords on the wall behind their coat of arms. Abundant use of the color green. Pledge pins look nothing like AM pins, however.

I am going to send this question to HQ staff in Indianapolis, to see if they are aware of any connection between this movie and our fraternity.

[–] jellywiz69 19 years ago

I am a Lambda Chi from Ferris State University in Michigan and i also noticed the same things that you noticed and i am pretty sure that "Sully" that particular guy is a Lambda Chi. But i am not 100% sure.

[–] matthew-arnold 18 years ago

I agree it is really interesting, But I have a feeling that nationals will want to stay as far away from this movie as they can.
ZAX
Epsilon Upsilon Zeta
1359

[–] zetaphi708 19 years ago

Yes, on the DVD, go to chapter 12 and about one minute 45 seconds into that chapter you can see the poster with the Cross & the Crescent and the Delta Pi. The Delta Pi is to the bottom left of the poster and is kind of merged together in one symbol, but yeah, it is the Delta Pi. I would like to write to the director and find who on the production staff is/was a brother of our fraternity. Kinda kewl....

In ZAX,
Zeta Phi 708

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] Sniff009 19 years ago

I really wish I knew because this is before I joined Lambda Chi. My Bro, Delta Nu 095 is in the scene after Chris Owen gets dumped spaghetti on his head. he is a white dude wearing a black shirt. I was in it to, but did not get my face seen clearly.

I do recall though that some of the Kappa Psis were actual brothers of Kappa Alpha Order.

[–] jimmyp-1 19 years ago

I am also a Lambda Chi and noticed those things too. I imagine there are aspects of many other fraternities as well. I thought this movie was hilarious.

Has anyone noticed that the dorky cousin is now in an Applebee's commercial: "What am I a bank?"

[–] rolson-6 19 years ago

Movie was alright, but it was cool to see that stuff in the movie

in zax
Delta Pi 354

[–] pittstateboi 19 years ago

I agree... It was a good movie, interesting to see our symbols being used.......

[–] DJExcen 19 years ago

Y'all are droppin' more greek letters than a Ph.D. Physics Student at his thesis recitation.

[–] blinkman037 19 years ago

Yeah, this movie circulated through our fraternity house just because of that. There are a few more symbols, like the SAE lion and their coat of arms is almost exactly the same as Pi Kappa Phi's.

Zeta Rho Zeta 2262
Florida State

[–] makisupa69 19 years ago

The use of bricks during Hell Week is also a SAE tradition. That and the lions were the only SAE references I noted.

SAE '97
Boston University

[–] moonshiner03 18 years ago

well i'm an AGR at arkansas state university... yea well that's all i got. i just wanted to throw that out there

[–] julioabenitez 18 years ago

The use of bricks is also a Tau Kappa Epsilon tradition.

TKE #180
SUNY New Paltz

[–] Movie_Puck 18 years ago

My fraternity brothers and I watched this movie multiple times as well. I wanted to state the cheer is one word off from Phi Sigma Kappa's actual chant. They say Riders instead of Raiders. But I also picked up on the lions of SAE and a few other things. So I myself am wondering if the producer or anyone is greek.

Phi Sigma Kappa
Xi Deuteron - U. of Tennessee

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] haqh0re 18 years ago

They gold lions were SAE, but alot of that *beep* was from Kappa Sig. The "My Brothers Keeper" and the Riders of the night might be used across frats but it goes:

We're the men of Kappa Sigma, riders of the night. we're dirty sons of bitches and we'd rather *beep* than fight. Rolly pollie finger the holie cover your nuts then spew. were the men of Kappa Sigma who the *beep* are you!

[–] Shervingtony 18 years ago

Raiders of the Night is sung by a lot of Frats. Kappa Sigma is one too.

[–] doodle_410 18 years ago

so does Sigma Phi Epsilon

[–] bsmith20 18 years ago

Ive seen the movie about 10 times over the past few years but i didnt notice the Delta Pi and C&C until one of my brothers pointed them out to me. What was the other stuff written on that same piece of poster board, i couldnt make it out.

In ZAX,
Brad Smith
Phi Kappa Zeta 291

[–] h_legan 18 years ago

I would agree that pretty much everyone on the production staff had to be greek. I'm a Kappa Sig, and I noticed some stuff in there, and I'm sure that there were a lot of other actual fraternity tidbits used in the film.

And also note: I used the word fraternity. So anyone who posts on this board that doesn't understand, it is a fraternity. Not a "frat". Frat is one of the most derragatory words in the dictionary, in my opinion, and to me, calling someone a frat-boy or other derivatives of the same, is no less than a racial slur. Please, have some respect, because fraternity brothers have something that no one else (aside from maybe combat veterans), could ever truly understand.

[–] Del_Zero 17 years ago

"Please, have some respect, because fraternity brothers have something that no one else (aside from maybe combat veterans), could ever truly understand."

That's an interesting comparison.

[–] nomad20 17 years ago

It is an interesting comparison. We may not always like each other, but we are brothers. I can go to a brother from a different chapter, someone who I've never met, and we instantly have that connection and bond. I would do anything for them that I would do for my flesh and blood brother, and would hope and expect them to do the same for me.

ZAX,
DC Small
Iota Sigma Zeta 893

[–] asdepok 18 years ago

I am Greek you a**holes and i think that all frats are a disgrace and are not worthy of using greek letters!for god's sake you guys can not even pronounce them right!if you are so into it why don't you apply as a president a greek student who can tell y'all people a little about our history?!as far as the movie is concerned i have to say that i had a lot of fun and i was kinda proud due to the title! cheers my -wannabe greek- friends!!!!!!!!

[–] h_legan 18 years ago

Just so you know my fraternity was founded by a Greek named Manuel Chrysoloras in the year 1400 a.d. He was, in my opinion, one of the most important people in the world to western culture during the birth of the Renaissance, and his book, the Erotemata, is partially responsible for the revival of the study of ancient Greek literature and philosophy in the western world. That's why we use greek letters for our organization, because he used the same letters to found the original organization over six hundred years ago.

[–] GTLubinsky 18 years ago

I'm going to call bulls**t. The first greek letter society was founded in 1750 as the "Flat Hat Club" and it later took on the name Phi Beta Kappa. Yes, I know that Phi Beta Kappa is a different type of Fraternity.

The oldest existing "social" greek letter society to be founded was the Kappa Alpha Order in Schenectady, NY at Union College in 1825.

Now, seeing as you claim Manuel Chrysolaras to be the founder of your Fraternity... you must be a Kappa Sig. As a Kappa Sig, you should also know that your first chapter was at University of Virginia in 1869.

I'm a Sigma Chi. The values of our Fraternity were derived from Judeo-Christian values and the teachings of Jesus Christ. You claiming Chrysolaras to be your founder is like me claiming Jesus to be the Founder of my Fraternity. So if you want to play that game, we were founded before you... about 1400 years before you. (And when saying a year is 'Anno Domini' you put it before the year, ie. AD 1400, because it's Latin. BC goes after, ie. 44 BC, because it is English for 'Before Christ.')

To the Gentleman who is opposed to our use of greek letters. Not all organizations disgrace greek letters. I'm sure that there are members of my Fraternity that don't uphold our values as well as they should, but you shouldn't make generalizations about Fraternities and Sororities based on the slanted view of the press.

If you want to talk greek history, send me a PM. I took a course in Ancient Greek literature. I've also studied Xenophanes, Democritus, Protagoras, Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato. Not all by choice, considering I'm doing graduate work in medicine, but I had to do it nonetheless.

[–] Sniff009 18 years ago

Greetings:

Here is some more insight to your thoughts from what I remember from the shoot. Below is the link to my personal webpage that shows some of my year. I swear that I need to update the thing once again

http://www.geocities.com/sniff009/Movie_Filmed_at_UCR.html

We did not realize it at the time, but my buddy Andrew and I would become members of Lambda Chi Alpha in 2002.

We heard rumors that some of our brothers helped out with the movie, but we were not really sure.

Yours in ZAX,

Richard (Sniff009)
Delta Nu - 098 - UC Riverside Chapter
UC Riverside '05

[–] marlonbrandodiet 17 years ago

no one likes ramda guy

"its better to be king for a day than a schmuck for a lifetime"

[–] gatorsfl 17 years ago

Kappa Alpha Order was founded in 1865... I think Kappa Alpha Society is what you mean, not the same in the least bit except in name, but that KA folded...

[–] brokenwings-1 17 years ago

I, like GTLubinsky, am a Sigma Chi

[–] lithiumdeuteride 17 years ago

You're all Iota Delta Iota Omicron Taus. The so-called "Greek" houses (though they have nothing in common with Greece) allow disillusioned people to feel like they're a part of something larger than themselves (and to drink lots of beer). It's a convenient way to ensure that you're surrounded by people with very similar opinions and social backgrounds. Yes, it's the bond of a lifetime! You'll never feel alone with your <insert Greek letters> brothers to watch out for you

The only reason I can think of that a university would tolerate their presence is because it draws more students, and universities are, after all, money-making organizations.

[–] ps69pher 17 years ago

actually, i'm in a fraternity and our chapter rarely ever throws parties(maybe one a semester) and we do that just to keep morale high. its great to celebrate but we came together because we wanted to be a group that didn't get trashed every single weekend. we are there to help others, and make friends doing it.

[–] elewis616 16 years ago

Lithium, your assumptions and cliches are based entirely on movies like this. You have no idea what it means to be Greek. Do many of us enjoy large amounts of beer? Yes. Do many, many more non- Greeks drink just as much and more? You bet your ass. Please tell me how I am disillusioned... Is it because I have a group of over 70 men, each of whom I can tell you much of their life story and call my best friends, who I would do anything for and they would do anything for me? Is it because we happen to have a house where we can hang out together, live, and perhaps, drink some beer (is that a crime?)

Or does it have something to do with the community service we do together, like participating in food drives, playing basketball and tutoring less priviledged kids every Wednesday, participating in charity walks, and raising tens of thousands of dollars a semester for ALS?

And don't even get me started on "being of similar opinions and social backgrounds." My chapter has everything from country boy rednecks to preps to skaters and even a guy some would call emo. We are ethnically diverse. Our opinions definitely differ greatly. And don't even say a word about "rich boys" and our daddy's trust funds. Out of 74 brothers in my chapter I know of 3 whose parents pay their fraternity dues. Many of those are completely financially independent in every way. We are not a bunch of rich suburban prep/jocks living off their dad's money.

And no, I will never feel alone, knowing there's over 270,000 men in this country who will gladly lend a helping hand to me if I need it. Three times in the last year I have had older men (one of them almost 80) come up to me in random places and shake my hand and start up a conversation becuase I was wearing my letters, and they were my brothers.

Do I care that you're not Greek? Not at all. Do I think I'm better than you because I'm Greek? No. (And yes, I'm actually Greek.) I do, however, feel bad for you, because you are a bitter, ill-informed, stereotyping douchebag. Good day.

[–] flame_alchemist1989 16 years ago

Guys any one trying to get non greeks to understand greek life would be like geting a atheist to accept christ. I love greek life and so do most of you I can feel the pride in these posts that you all share for your respecive Fraternitys. I am ironically enough siting here wearing my letters as i type this and look forward to arriving back on campus to see some brothers who live to far away to drive to. To anyone who would cast slander against us well in 20 years when u may be a lonly shell of a person we will have our brothers to fall back on.

About the movie i enoyed it and was glad they used things from multiple fraternitys instead of just picking on Lambda Chi or any one else. I am a Chopper and proud of it by the way but some of my best friends are ATO's thats all i got guys
In ZAX
kappa Alpha 1289

[–] 16 years ago

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