While the details of our crest remain a secret, we would like to share some
information on the inscription in hopes of possibly getting some assistance
on what it means. The inscription "novouev ayeiv" has been translated
as "friends forever." However we have been told that this is not
what it means! Here is information on some research we have done, but none
of it is conclusive! If you are an alum or someone who can help us solve this
mystery, please email us at ago@geneseo.edu.
From our Beta Chapter at SUNY Oneonta: "I was told by a Greek-speaking BC brother that he thought the inscription was actually backward or something and was actually the name of a boat, which coincides with our nautical theme. Not sure how accurate this information is."
From Mary Tsikalakis Bistrovich '93: "I am Greek (nationality) and I have
tried to figure out the meaning of novouev ayeiv, which does not really mean
"friends forever" BTW. Also, we Geneseo Agos do not even pronounce it or spell
it correctly in English. I think someone along the line just took the Greek
letters and translated it into whatever English letters looked most like the
Greek! We spell it novouev ayeiv and say it 'new voy youv ayev'. It's supposed
to be pronounced 'ponoumen agein'. I have posted it to Greek-speaking bulletin
boards but no one seems to know what it is. They think it's some kind of ancient
Greek. Each word by itself can translate into something—ponoumen can
mean 'we pain' or 'hurt', and agein, means a 'saint', but put together
it doesn't make much sense."
SUNY Oneonta in response: "Agony, Pain, Hurt ... Saint ... In order to
be deemed a saint, one has to experience agony and represent selflessness.
Perhaps this is an idea or moral that our founding sisters tried to incorporate
into the idea of the Agonian Sorority? As a service organization, the goal
was to be selfless?"
