Pi Delta Psi

Pi Delta Psi
ΠΔΨ
Founded February 20, 1994 (1994-02-20)
SUNY Binghamton
Type Cultural interest
Emphasis Asian American cultural awareness
Scope National
Mission statement Academic Achievement, Cultural Awareness, Righteousness, Friendship/Loyalty
Motto "Excellence Through Brotherhood"
Colors      Red      White      Black
Publication The Dragon
Philanthropy Big Brothers, Big Sisters
Chapters 25 Active, 5 Inactive, 1 Alumni
Headquarters P.O. Box 520269
Flushing, New York, U. S.
Homepage http://www.pideltapsi.com/

Pi Delta Psi (ΠΔΨ) is an Asian-American cultural interest fraternity founded at Binghamton University on February 20, 1994.[1] As of 2008, the organization listed around 1,500 members spanning 30 undergraduate chapters and 1 alumni chapter.[2]

This organization is a member of the National APIA Panhellenic Association (NAPA).[3]

History

Pi Delta Psi fraternity was founded at Binghamton University (SUNY) on February 20, 1994. The fraternity's founding members are David Lee, Philip Hunt, Sammy Wong, Spencer Seto, Ronny Chow, Damien Lee, Thuan Luong, Chester Huang, Christopher Murata, Tracy B. Tabije, and Michael Son.

An early picture of Pi Delta Psi's founding fathers, Binghamton University, spring 1994

A year after its founding, Pi Delta Psi was officially incorporated in the State of New York on April 19, 1995. After five years, the fraternity had grown too large for the Pi Delta Psi National Council to maintain. Thus in 1999, it was decided by the National Council to restructure itself in an effort to grow in proportion to the fraternity's expansion rate, standardize chapters nationwide, and increase inter-chapter cohesion. The National Council was also renamed the "National Executive Board" during that period.

After 19 years, this fraternity has expanded to 30 campuses spanning 13 states (New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, California, Florida, Washington, D.C., Colorado, Minnesota, and Virginia).

Mission statement

Pi Delta Psi and its members seek to bring about Asian-American unity by breaking down cultural barriers amongst Asian communities by upholding and/or instilling the fraternities pillars: academic achievement, cultural awareness, righteousness, friendship, and loyalty. Pi Delta Psi's mission statement also advocates an increase in education and awareness of Asian cultures as a means of overcoming racism.[4]

National events

National Convention

Brothers posing for a photo at Convention 3 at Rutgers University, Spring 2005.

Pi Delta Psi holds an annual National Convention during the month of March each year. The National Convention is a formal 2-3 day meeting of members where the National Executive Board meets and discusses relevant fraternity issues with active members from all various chapters. Discussed issues involve an overview of the fraternity, creating general goals, and national expansion. Cultural, career, and/or leadership workshops are also held. The location of each year's National Convention is usually determined in the previous convention and is subject to change annually.

National Winter Conference

Pi Delta Psi holds an annual National Winter Conference during the month of January each year. The Winter Conference is a private, one day leadership retreat where the National Executive Board meets and discusses relevant fraternity issues with 2-3 representatives from each undergraduate chapters. The event is held in the New York metropolitan area.

National Summer Weekend

Pi Delta Psi holds an annual National Summer Weekend during the month of July each year. The National Summer Weekend is a 2-3 day series of events that includes the National Summer BBQ, National Summer Conference, and National Summer Banquet.

The National Summer BBQ is normally held at Alley Pond Park in Queens, New York, and includes sporting events and chapter fundraising activities.[5]

The National Summer Conference is a private half day event where the National Executive Board meets and discusses relevant fraternity issues with active chapter members. Elections for the following year's National Executive Board also takes place during this event. The Conference is normally held in the New York metropolitan area.

The National Summer Banquet is a formal dinner event for Pi Delta Psi members which is normally held near the location of the National Summer Conference. National announcements such as awards and scholarships are presented during this event.[5]

Cultural awareness

Brothers of Tau Chapter performing their annual lion dance on campus.

At the chapter level, each chapter is required to host a set number of cultural events on campus each year depending on the chapter's size; failure to achieve this annual criterion will result in the chapter losing its chapter status.[6][7][8]

Philanthropy

Brothers posing with California's Governor Schwarzenegger during a philanthropy event.

The national philanthropy of Pi Delta Psi for 2009 was the March of Dimes, and fraternity is still an official team youth partner.[9]

Currently, Pi Delta Psi's national philanthropy is the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America program. All chapters are expected to work closely with the Big Brothers program in their own campus community. At the Chapter level, each Chapter is required to participate in a set number of philanthropy events each year depending on the Chapter's size; failure to achieve this annual criteria will result in the chapter having its status revoked.[7]

Hazing incidents

In December 2013 prospective member Chun Hsien "Michael" Deng died from brain trauma due to suspected hazing during an unsanctioned pledge event at the Baruch College chapter. Deng, 19, was a recent graduate of The Bronx High School of Science.[10] Deng and four other pledges wore 30 lb. backpacks filled with sand while members of the fraternity tackled them during a ritual known as "The Glass Ceiling," which represented Asian American struggle in the United States. Despite Deng becoming immediately unconscious, his fraternity brothers failed to call for emergency help, instead attempting to cover up the incident.[11] Baruch College responded by permanently banning the fraternity from their campus.[12]

Andy Meng, the former National Executive President for Pi Delta Psi said in a statement the incident happened during "an unsanctioned event that was strictly prohibited by our organization." After investigating the incident,[13] the fraternity revoked its affiliation with the Baruch chapter. Baruch also banned the fraternity from ever returning.[12] In February, 2014, the death was ruled a homicide, and the Monroe County district attorney expects to file charges after the investigation.[14] Deng's parent's had filed a lawsuit against the fraternity, including Meng, who is the younger brother of U.S. representative Grace Meng.[15] When Deng lost consciousness his fraternity brothers called Meng who allegedly told them to conceal any evidence of the fraternity before calling the authorities.[16] On September 14, 2015, charges were filed against 37 members, including five for third-degree murder.[17] Andrew Meng is facing charges of hazing, conspiracy and hindering apprehension.[18]

Chapter locations

Map of Pi Delta Psi locations in the U.S. as of January 2014.
Greek Designation Collegiate Institution Charter Date Status City U.S. State/District
Alpha Chapter SUNY Binghamton February 20, 1994 Active Vestal New York
Beta Chapter SUNY Buffalo December 3, 1994 Active Buffalo New York
Gamma Chapter Hofstra University December 7, 1996 Inactive Hempstead New York
Delta Chapter SUNY Stony Brook May 17, 1997 Active Stony Brook New York
Zeta Chapter New York University May 17, 1997 Active New York New York
Eta Chapter SUNY Albany December 13, 1997 Active Albany New York
Theta Chapter Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute December 13, 1997 Active Troy New York
Iota Chapter University of Rochester November 24, 1997 Active Rochester New York
Kappa Chapter Cornell University April 25, 1998 Active Ithaca New York
Lambda Chapter Rutgers University November 21, 1998 Active New Brunswick New Jersey
Mu Chapter The Ohio State University April 22, 2000 Active Columbus Ohio
Nu Chapter Carnegie Mellon University December 8, 2001 Inactive Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
Xi Chapter University of Massachusetts Amherst November 24, 1999 Active Amherst Massachusetts
Omicron Chapter The George Washington University November 15, 2003 Active Washington District of Columbia
Pi Chapter University of Maryland at College Park November 13, 2004 Inactive College Park Maryland
Rho Chapter University of California, Riverside March 30, 2002 Active Riverside California
Sigma Chapter University of Florida November 13, 2004 Active Gainesville Florida
Tau Chapter Pennsylvania State University April 19, 2003 Active University Park Pennsylvania
Upsilon Chapter Rochester Institute of Technology November 18, 2006 Inactive Henrietta New York
Phi Chapter University of Central Florida April 7, 2008 Active Orlando Florida
Chi Chapter University of South Florida November 9, 2008 Active Tampa Florida
Psi Chapter Saint John's University November 8, 2008 Active Queens New York
Omega Chapter University of Connecticut April 12, 2008 Active Storrs Connecticut
Alpha Alpha Chapter Northeastern University November 19, 2005 Active Boston Massachusetts
Associate Chapter Columbia University April 23, 2005 Active New York New York
Established Colony University of Colorado at Boulder December 6, 2009 Active Boulder Colorado
Established Colony CUNY Baruch December 5, 2010 Revoked New York New York
Established Colony University of Minnesota April 16, 2011 Active Minneapolis Minnesota
Established Colony University of California, Berkeley December 4, 2011 Active Berkeley California
Established Colony George Mason University November 17, 2012 Active Fairfax Virginia

References

  1. ↑ "Pi Delta Psi History". Pi Delta Psi. Retrieved 2015-09-24.
  2. ↑ "Pi Delta Psi Chapters". Pi Delta Psi. Retrieved 2015-09-24.
  3. ↑ "National APIA Panhellenic Association Homepage". Pi Delta Psi. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  4. ↑ "Pi Delta Psi Mission". Pi Delta Psi. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Pi Delta Psi National Events". Pi Delta Psi. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  6. ↑ "The different faces of race". The Tartan. Retrieved 2007-01-29.
  7. 1 2 "Asian-interest Greek groups grow at CMU". The Tartan Online. Retrieved 2005-01-31.
  8. ↑ "Asian groups recruit". gwhatchet.com. Retrieved 2004-02-05.
  9. ↑ "Pi Delta Psi is On the Move". March For Babies Blog. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
  10. ↑ Heather Holland; Ben Fractenberg (11 December 2013). "Baruch College Student Dies in Fraternity Hazing Ritual in the Poconos". DNAinfo New York. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  11. ↑ "Student tried to cover up frat-link in fatal hazing: cops - NBC News".
  12. 1 2 "Baruch College Institutes A Lifetime Ban For Pi Delta Psi After Hazing Death".
  13. ↑ "Baruch College Student Dies in Fraternity Pledge Ritual in Poconos". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-12-11.
  14. ↑ "Coroner: Death at a Pi Delta Psi fraternity 'ritual' ruled a homicide - CNN.com".
  15. ↑ Connor, Tracy. "Hazing Suit: Baruch Fraternity Pi Delta Psi Let Michael Deng Die". NBC News. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  16. ↑ "'His Parents' Hopes Rested on His Shoulders': Hazing Death Victim Michael Deng Had a Bright Future Ahead of Him, Lawyer Says - people.com".
  17. ↑ Zauderer, Alyssa (September 14, 2015). "37 students charged in hazing death of Baruch College student Michael Deng". Pix11. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  18. ↑ "5 People Charged in Baruch College Hazing Death". US News & World Report. 2015-09-15. Retrieved 2015-11-18.

External links

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