Antedating of "JAP"

Douglas G. Wilson douglas at NB.NET
Mon Dec 29 03:34:41 UTC 2008


Apparently originally pronounced "jay-ay-pee" (speculatively "J. A. P."
= "just a plain [sorority]"), JAP was founded in 1903 (says the book),
and the name apparently was "Hellenized" to iota alpha pi around 1913.
The sorority apparently disbanded in 1971.

Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iota_alpha_pi

(the Sanua book is available via Google Books)

The pronunciation "jap" for this "JAP" would have been much less natural
in 1903 or 1913 than in later times. And I don't know that iota alpha pi
was called either "jap" or "jay-ay-pee" in later times.

Maybe somebody knows an alumna? The secret of the name might be revealed!

-- Doug Wilson

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