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Pi Kappa Phi
ΠΚΦ
FoundedDecember 10, 1904; 120 years ago (1904-12-10)
College of Charleston
TypeSocial
AffiliationNIC
StatusActive
ScopeNational
MottoΟΥΔΕΝ ΔΙΑΣΠΑΣΕΙ ΗΜΑΣ
"Nothing shall ever tear us asunder"
Member badge
Colors  Auxiliary Blue,   White, and   Gold
SymbolBell, Star, and Lamp
Flag
FlowerRed Rose
JewelDiamond
PublicationThe Star and Lamp
PhilanthropyThe Ability Experience
Chapters187 active
Colonies19[1]
Members12,523 (as of 2017) active
132,526 (as of 2017) lifetime
Headquarters3701 Arco Corporate Drive, Suite #500
Charlotte, North Carolina 28273
United States
Websitewww.pikapp.org
[2]

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ), commonly known as Pi Kapp(s), is an American Greek Letter secret and social fraternity. It was founded by Andrew Alexander Kroeg Jr., Lawrence Harry Mixson, and Simon Fogarty Jr. on December 10, 1904 at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. The fraternity has 187 active chapters (168 chartered chapters and 19 associate chapters),[2][1] and more than 113,000 initiated members.[2][3]

Pi Kappa Phi's mission statement is "To create an uncommon and lifelong brotherhood that develops leaders and encourages service to others for the betterment of our communities." The fraternity's vision statement is "A future where every Pi Kappa Phi embraces his role as a leader, puts service before self and improves the world around him."[4]

Pi Kappa Phi operates in four entities: Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi Foundation, The Ability Experience, and Pi Kappa Phi Properties. Pi Kappa Phi operates its own philanthropy, The Ability Experience (formerly known as Push America), which works with individual chapters to serve people with disabilities.[5] Among the most notable members are Senator Lindsey Graham, former Wisconsin Governor and founder of Earth Day Gaylord Nelson, baseball hall of famer Joe Sewell, social media entrepreneur and actor Jimmy Tatro, politician George Wallace Jr., and several former governors of the states of Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

History

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Nu Phi

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The College of Charleston

Pi Kappa Phi was founded in 1904 by Andrew Alexander Kroeg Jr., a 19-year-old senior at the college; Simon Fogarty Jr., a 17-year-old junior; and Lawrence Harry Mixson, a 16-year-old sophomore. All three of the men were from Charleston.[6]

In 1904, the College of Charleston was a small, municipal college. The all-male college was the first municipal college in the country, and the thirteenth oldest educational institution in the United States.[7] The school had a campus literary society called the Chrestomathics, which held activities such as debates. The college's monthly magazine was staffed by the officers of the Chrestomathics, forming the equivalent of a modern-day student government.

The three men set a goal to obtain officer positions within the Chrestomathic Literary Society. At that time, the organization was dominated by the three chapters of national fraternities on campus. All fraternity men were sworn to vote for their candidates, making it virtually impossible for any non-fraternity men to win election.[8]

Kroeg, Mixson, Fogarty, and a group of their friends, all non-fraternity men, began forming an opposition party. Several meetings were held at Mixson's home on Wentworth Street leading to the formation of Nu Phi, which stood for "non-fraternity." The group of 15 men developed an opposing slate and began campaigning. Nu Phi adopted the outline of a hand as its secret symbol. A sketched hand on a classroom chalkboard signified an upcoming meeting. Inside the hand was written the meeting time and the host's last name.[8]

The Nu Phi group assigned a member to kidnap those who might vote for the fraternity ticket on election day. However, the Nu Phi ticket lost the elections. Later, it was revealed that several disloyal members cast their votes for the opposing fraternity slate. Kroeg, determined to see his friends have a chance at winning elections, decided that the only way to gain the influence of the fraternity men on campus was to begin his own fraternity.[8]

Founding

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Andrew Alexander Kroeg Jr.

On December 10, 1904, a meeting of the loyal Nu Phis was held at Fogarty's home at 90 Broad Street to establish a new fraternity. There were seven men in attendance at the meeting: Kroeg, Fogarty, Mixson, Anthony Pelzer Wagener, Thomas F. Mosimann, Theodore ("Teddy") Barnwell Kelley, and James Fogarty (Simon's younger brother). All of the original members were students at the college and had grown up together in Charleston.[8]

Wagener, who was a student of Greek and Latin, recommended the letters Pi Kappa Phi and their secret meaning as the official new name of the group. Simon proposed the design of the fraternity's pin, a black enamel diamond with the Greek letters ΠΚΦ engraved in gold with a star and lamp as additional elements. Kroeg was selected as the new chapter's first president, which was termed "Archon", from the Greek term. He then began work on a constitution for chapter. The group quickly set out to recruit new members to its ranks.[8]

On December 10, 1905, the first anniversary of the fraternity's founding, Mixson's mother cooked the men a special dinner in her home to celebrate a successful first year as a fraternity. The fraternity celebrate that date as "Founders Day" with a dinner or a similar ceremony. In 1906 Mixson and Wagener wrote the fraternity's initiation ritual as the "highest ideals of Christian manhood".[8]

Expansion

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That same year, the group was offered a charter from another U.S. fraternity. Instead, they chose to expand and create more Pi Kappa Phi chapters. A second chapter Beta chapter, was formed at Presbyterian College on March 9, 1907. Due to a state law banning fraternities at state supported schools, Presbyterian College and the College of Charleston were the only two South Carolina schools where fraternities were allowed. A third chapter was formed at the University of California, Berkeley, Gamma chapter, which was the first chapter of the Fraternity to obtain a house.[6]

Kroeg developed "Articles of Incorporation" and the name Pi Kappa Phi became legally registered in the state of South Carolina on December 23, 1907.[6]

The interest in Pi Kappa Phi within South Carolina was growing despite laws and policies banning fraternities. In 1909, Delta chapter at Furman University formed and operated in secret until state laws changed, allowing fraternal organizations. In 1910, a charter was granted to Sigma chapter at the University of South Carolina and the chapter was operated as the Sigma Club due to the laws banning fraternities.[8]

In modern times, the fraternity is largely considered to be a "southern fraternity," as many of its more notable alumni and chapters are located in the southern states, however the fraternity is expanding and has a growing presence in the northeast, at schools such as Sacred Heart University, the University of Connecticut, the University of New Hampshire, and the University of Maine.

The Star and Lamp

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The Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Journal was begun in 1909, with Henry Wagener as editor. In 1911, the name was changed to The Star and Lamp.[8][6]

Local chapter misconduct

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In 2024, three members of the chapter at the University of Alabama were arrested after multiple reports of hazing came out against the fraternity. Among the allegations, students alleged they were "forced to their hands and knees as part of the fraternity’s 'Rules Night,'" and "While on their hands and knees, pledges were yelled at, stepped on, pushed, had items thrown at them, and had beer poured on them." Furthermore, additional video has shown they were forced to "perform forced calisthenics, including wall sits and push-ups."[9]

In 2024, the chapter at the University of Arizona was kicked off campus for several violations. A thorough investigation found the chapter guilty of hazing, alcohol violations (including furnishing alcohol to minors), conduct endangering others, and other state or federal law violations.[10]

In 2022, the chapter at Clemson University was suspended for four years mainly due to hazing. It was reported that pledges acted as servants to members of the fraternity and were often berated and humiliated for various reasons.[11]

On February 11, 2022, members of the Beta Chapter of the fraternity at Presbyterian College were involved in what the school's president called "racist, misogynistic, and hateful behaviors" before a women's lacrosse game vs. Howard University, a HBCU, at the college. After a three month independent investigation, several students were expelled and the fraternity was permanently removed from campus.[12]

In 2021, the chapter at Virginia Tech was removed from campus and lost its national charter after it was determined they were guilty of hazing and causing upwards of $18,000 worth of damage to their on-campus fraternity house.[13]

In 2020, the fraternity at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was put on interim suspension after holding large parties linked to outbreaks of COVID-19 cases.[14] The fraternity at the University of Pittsburgh was also suspended, along with several others, for violating the university’s health and safety guidelines related to COVID-19.[15] Nine students from the fraternity at SUNY Plattsburgh were suspended for violating campus rules and local laws related to alcohol, nuisance, hazing, and endangerment, and the fraternity was issued a cease and desist order that ended its status as an officially recognized student organization.[16]

In 2020, the University of Kansas chapter was shut down after university officials investigated repeated incidents of hazing and illicit drug use. The chapter was expelled from the university for 5 years, ending in the spring of 2026.[17] Similarly, the Iota Psi chapter at Boise State University was suspended for five years following "repeated violations," according to the school.[18]

In 2019, the University of Texas at Austin chapter was shut down after university officials investigated submitted complaints of hazing.[19] This was the second chapter to be shut down at UT, the fraternity having only been re-colonized there about 12 years prior; the first chapter was shut down in 2000 for similar reasons.

In 2019, several members of the fraternity at Texas State University brutally attacked a fellow student they mistakenly assumed was a member of their rival fraternity on campus Phi Kappa Psi, leaving him with a fractured skull and a traumatic brain injury. As a result, the fraternity was placed on suspension, some members faced criminal charges, and the attacked student filed a lawsuit against the fraternity.[20]

In 2017, the chapter at Central Michigan University was suspended indefinitely by the university for failure to adhere to previous sanctions.[21]

In July 2017, the Alpha chapter at the College of Charleston was suspended by the college following a probe investigating allegations of drug and alcohol use, hazing, and the alleged beating of a student. The fraternity is forbidden from recolonizing the campus until Fall 2019.[22]

In November 2017, a Florida State University (FSU) student named Andrew Coffey was found unresponsive the morning after an unaffiliated off campus house party. Coffey, a Pi Kappa Phi fraternity pledge, was given medical treatment in an attempt to resuscitate, but died soon thereafter. After his death, FSU suspended all 58 fraternities and sororities on campus, and banned alcohol from student events.[23][24]

In 2016, the fraternity at the University of South Florida (USF) was suspended after a 16 year old girl was raped while she was unconscious in the fraternity's house. The girl was visiting the campus and decided to attend the fraternity's house party. A fraternity member confessed to the rape and was arrested.[25] A few months prior to the rape incident at USF, another rape allegation involving the fraternity at Purdue University was reported to the campus police department[26]

In 2016, the fraternity at the Miami University was suspended for multiple hazing and alcohol violations.[27]

In 2016, four fraternity members at Radford University were arrested for hazing.[28]

In 2015, the chapter at Pennsylvania State University was shut down for hazing pledges, alcohol abuse, and disorderly conduct.[29] It was re-colonized in the spring of 2018.

In Spring 2015, the fraternity at the Elon University was kicked off the campus until 2017 for hazing and hosting an unapproved event.[30]

After the death of University of Missouri freshman Jack Lipp at a Pi Kappa Phi fraternity rush party in December 2014, his parents settled for $5 million with the property owner and future developers of the site. The lawsuit, initially filed for negligence in repairing a broken railing, alleged that the property owner was aware of the insecure railing before Lipp's fatal fall. Despite complaints about the balcony's safety, repairs were not scheduled as the property was slated for demolition. The incident occurred during an out-of-control rush party at Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, leading to Lipp's death.[31]

An alleged pledge notebook of Pi Kappa Phi's North Carolina State University chapter was found in Raleigh. It contained numerous racist statements and comments about raping women and girls. The national organization placed the chapter on an interim suspension. NCSU suspended all social events at the chapter that involved alcohol.[32][33]

A student pledging the California State University, Northridge chapter of Pi Kappa Phi died in the summer of 2014 during a mandatory 18-mile hike in what his family alleges was a hazing ritual.[34] Nineteen-year-old Armando Villa died during the trip to the Angeles National Forest. Villa's family reported that other boys on the hike said they were "left barefoot with very little water to share between the boys, and no cellphones, and to find their way out of the forest."[35] In September 2014, the University announced that the national and local chapters of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity voted to withdraw permanently from the university.[36] The fraternity is being sued by Villa's family.

In December 2013, two Pi Kappa Phi members were arrested and charged with harassment at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. The fraternity members were retaliating against a former pledge who reported to school officials physical and verbal abuse he experienced while he was seeking to join the fraternity.[37]

In September 2013, the Gamma Gamma chapter at Troy University allegedly took a group of pledges out to the local woods, tied them to trees, and subsequently hazed them. They were discovered early that morning by police on the side of the road. As a result, the chapter was suspended and six students faced disciplinary action from the university.[38] The chapter has since been reinstated.

In 2012, the fraternity at the University of North Florida was suspended after asking a pledge to vandalize the campus and offering him marijuana.[39]

In 2010, the fraternity at the University of Georgia (UGA) was suspended after a father of a pledge wrote an anonymous letter to UGA's Greek Life Office detailing the abusive hazing rituals his son endured in order to be fully welcomed into the fraternity.[40]

In 2000, the California State University, Chico chapter was dissolved and later permanently banned after the alcohol-related hazing death of freshman student Adrian Heideman.[41] In response to Heideman's death the national chapter created an alcohol-awareness video for distribution to all members, "The Choice Is Yours."[42]

Notable members

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Main article: List of Pi Kappa Phi members

Chapters

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The Omicron chapter at the University of Alabama
Main article: List of Pi Kappa Phi chapters

As of 2013 Pi Kappa Phi reports having over 113,000 members.[2] Pi Kappa Phi has granted 231 charters, with an average chapter size of 55. There are 168 active chartered chapters plus 19 associate chapters (colonies).[2][1]

See also

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References

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  • Sheetz, George; Leake, Howard; Buffington, Perry; Timmes, Mark; Owen, Durward; de Palma, Leonard (2004). "The Brotherhood: History of Pi Kappa Phi (1904-2004)". Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Erickson, Evan; Sullivan, TJ (2002). "The White Diamond of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity: A Guide to Brotherhood". Charlotte, North Carolina: Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  1. ^ a b c "Chapter Locator". Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. Retrieved 18 February 2013.; as revised/updated by: "Expansion Calendar". Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Basic Information: By the numbers". Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Pi Kapp Facts". Archived from the original on 20 August 2009.
  4. ^ "Our Mission & Vision". Pi Kappa Phi. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  5. ^ "Journey of hope". Push America. Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. III - 103–105. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  7. ^ "A Brief History of the College - College of Charleston". www.cofc.edu. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "The Non-fraternity (section)". Pi Kappa Phi. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  9. ^ "University of Alabama students charged after pledge was shoved and stepped on during alleged hazing incidents". NBC News. 18 October 2024.
  10. ^ "University of Arizona issues loss of recognition to chapter of Pi Kappa Phi". 15 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Clemson University fraternity suspended for 4 years after hazing investigation".
  12. ^ "Fraternity removed, students expelled after racist incident at Presbyterian College". WYFF 4. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  13. ^ Settle, Rohsaan. "Statement on Pi Kappa Phi Loss of Recognition - July 2021" (PDF). Virginia Tech. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  14. ^ Jones, Robert. "Increased enforcement of COVID-19 safety guidelines". Illinois Massmail Archive. University of Illinois. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  15. ^ Felton, Julia (25 August 2020). "Pitt suspends 9 Greek chapters over health and safety guideline violations". TribLIVE.com. Trib Total Media, LLC. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  16. ^ Enyedi, Alexander (4 September 2020). "Message from President Enyedi on Pi Kappa Phi". SUNY Plattsburgh. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  17. ^ "KU expels Pi Kappa Phi fraternity chapter over hazing, drug use". 13 November 2020.
  18. ^ "Boise State suspends Pi Kappa Phi for 5 years after 'repeated violations'". 9 March 2020.
  19. ^ "UT's Pi Kappa Phi fraternity shut down following hazing allegations".
  20. ^ "Texas State student's lawsuit says fraternity members attacked him, causing brain injury". CNN. 17 December 2019.
  21. ^ Sheffield, Paige (November 11, 2017). "Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity suspended indefinitely". Central Michigan Life. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  22. ^ Yee, Gregory (3 August 2017). "Five College of Charleston fraternities shut down within a year, Pi Kappa Phi shutters doors after misconduct investigation". The Post and Courier. Evening Post Industries. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  23. ^ Dobson, Byron (November 6, 2017). "Florida State University bans Greek life after student death". USA Today. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  24. ^ Lee, Kurtis (November 15, 2017). "So what's behind the recent fraternity hazing incidents on college campuses nationwide?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  25. ^ Edwards, Stassa (5 October 2016). "USF Suspends Pi Kappa Phi Chapter During Investigation Into Rape of 16-Year-Old Girl". jezebel.com. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  26. ^ "Rape reported at Purdue University fraternity". jconline.com. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  27. ^ "Miami U suspends 2 fraternities for hazing". cincinnati.com. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  28. ^ O'Meara, Eamon (5 May 2016). "Four Radford University fraternity brothers arrested on hazing charges". wdbj7.com. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  29. ^ "Another Penn State fraternity suspended after hazing investigation". pennlive.com. 3 April 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  30. ^ "Elon shuts down fraternity through 2017". wxii12.com. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  31. ^ Weinberg, Tessa (2017-04-14). "Parents of MU student who fell from balcony reach settlement of $5 million". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  32. ^ "NC State, Pi Kappa Phi decry 'unacceptable and offensive' book". 20 March 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  33. ^ Hellerstein, Erica. "Fraternity Suspended Over Notebook Detailing Rape And Lynching". ThinkProgress. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  34. ^ "Family sues after fraternity pledge's death on hazing hike". CBS News. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  35. ^ "Family of CSUN Student Who Died on Fraternity Trip Wants Justice: "They Left Him There to Die"". NBC LA."Cal State Northridge fraternity pledge dies after alleged 'hazing' hike". Los Angeles Times.
  36. ^ Owens, Caitlin; Vives, Ruben (September 5, 2014) "Cal State Northridge fraternity shuts after pledge's death" Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-csun-fraternity-closing-pledge-death-20140905-story.html
  37. ^ "Knoxville News Sentinel". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  38. ^ "Troy University investigating hazing incident that left student tied to tree, pelted with eggs and dirt". 23 September 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  39. ^ "UNF suspends Pi Kappa Phi fraternity for hazing". News4Jax. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  40. ^ @EricaTecho, Erica Techo (28 August 2014). "The other side of the paddle: One sorority member talks hazing, racism in Greek life". redandblack.com. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  41. ^ "Anatomy of a Lawsuit: Heideman versus Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity" (PDF). FRMT News. Spring 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2016.
  42. ^ Pi Kappa Phi (1 September 2010). "The Choice Is Yours". Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved 23 March 2018 – via YouTube.
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