Phi Kappa Psi

Phi Kappa Psi
ΦΚΨ
Founded February 19, 1852 (1852-02-19)
Jefferson College
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Type Secret, Social
Scope United States
Motto Conjugati Amicitia,
Vindicate Honore,
Et Ducti Vero,
Vivimus et Vigemus.
United by friendship,
sustained by honor,
and led by truth,
We live and we flourish.
Maxim The great joy of serving others.
Member badge
Phi Kappa Psi member badge
Pledge pin
Phi Kappa Psi pledge pin
Colors

     Cardinal red

     Hunter green
Flag
Phi Kappa Psi's flag
Flower
Jacqueminot Rose
Publication The Shield (quarterly)
Philanthropy Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Chapters 101[1]
Colonies 4[1]
Members Approx. 5,900[1] collegiate
126,000+ lifetime
Headquarters Laurel Hall
5395 Emerson Way
Indianapolis, Indiana 46226, USA
Homepage PhiKappaPsi.org
[2] [3]

Phi Kappa Psi (ΦΚΨ, Phi Psi) is an American collegiate social fraternity that was founded in the southwest corner of the second floor of Widow Letterman's home on the campus of Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852.[4] There are over 100 chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States.[3] More than 119,000 men have been initiated into Phi Kappa Psi since its founding.[3] Phi Kappa Psi and Phi Gamma Delta, both founded at the same college, form the Jefferson Duo.

History

The Letterman home, where Phi Kappa Psi was founded

In the winter of 1850, a typhoid fever epidemic hit Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Many students left school. Among those who remained were William Henry Letterman and Charles Page Thomas Moore. They chose to care for their classmates who were stricken with the contagious disease, and a strong bond was formed. In the following school year, Letterman and Moore decided to found a fraternity based on "the great joy of serving others" that they experienced during the epidemic. On February 19, 1852, Phi Kappa Psi was founded.

Executive Council

The Executive Council of Phi Kappa Psi is composed of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and 6 Archons.

Since its founding, Phi Kappa Psi has been controlled by undergraduates. This unique system of governance is achieved by a governing body, the Executive Council, which is made up of a majority of elected undergraduates. These undergraduates, known as Archons, represent the six Districts of Phi Kappa Psi, which divide the nation into roughly equal parts based on the number of chapters represented. Archons are elected during meetings of each District during Woodrow Wilson Leadership Schools, held during odd-numbered years. Four alumni also serve on the Executive Council and are elected at Grand Arch Councils, held during even-numbered years.

Grand Chapters

Phi Kappa Psi's first form of government centered around a Grand Chapter.[5] One chapter at a time was designated the Grand Chapter, and it was responsible for governing the national fraternity.[5][6] This lasted until 1886 when a new constitution changed to the current form of government.[7]

In 1992, Phi Kappa Psi began to award one exceptional chapter with the Grand Chapter Award. Its name is derived from the fraternity's first form of government. This award was initially granted biennially at Grand Arch Councils. 2001 marked the first time that this award was granted in an odd-numbered year, and it has been an annual award ever since.[8]

Founders

Organization of the fraternity

Undergraduate chapter officers

Officers may vary from each chapter with some chapters not using certain positions and others creating new positions. The duties of each officer may vary from each chapter as well. The top 9 officers (GP, VGP, P, AG, BG, SG, Hod, Phu, Hi) are common to all chapters.

Grand Arch Councils

The supreme governing body of Phi Kappa Psi is the Grand Arch Council (G.A.C.). The first convened in 1853, one year after the Fraternity's founding. They would then convene at an irregular schedule, until an entirely new form of government was ratified in 1886.[9] Beginning in 1888, nearly all G.A.C.s have been regularly scheduled, and have occurred biennially, with the sole exception being that the 1944 G.A.C. was cancelled due to World War II.[10]

The Order of the S.C.

The Order of the S.C., formed in 1920 at the Grand Arch Council held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is regarded by Phi Kappa Psi as a "fraternity within a fraternity". Entrance can only be gained by performing, to the satisfaction of the Order, one or more acts of benefit to the Fraternity and attending at least seven Grand Arch Councils. The Order meets every two years, during Phi Kappa Psi's biennial Grand Arch Council. The words which the initials "S.C." represent are held secret by its members, and there are currently more than one hundred living members of the Order who guard its traditions and carry out its work.

Symbols

The coat of arms as adopted in 1908 has a sable (black) field, but today it is most often seen as shown at the top of this page.

The fraternity's official colors are Cardinal Red and Hunter Green.

The badge is a textured bordered shield with a lamp resting on a book at the bottom and an eye surrounded by two stars at the top. In the center of the shield are the symbols for the Greek letters Phi (Φ) Kappa (Κ) and Psi (Ψ).

The fraternity flag is in the proportions of eight and one-half feet wide by six feet high. The colors are the official fraternity colors and the design is three vertical stripes of equal width, a hunter green in the middle, flanked on either side by a cardinal red stripe. A smaller version is available with proportions roughly three and one-half feet wide by two feet high.

Phi Kappa Psi Foundation

The Phi Kappa Psi Foundation was formed to aid, encourage, promote and contribute to the education and scholastic attainments of Phi Psis and other students across the country. Organized in 1914, the Phi Kappa Psi Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational foundation. As such, the Foundation is the only charitable arm of Phi Kappa Psi entitling donors to a full tax deduction within the limits set by the Internal Revenue Code.

The Foundation provides funds for a variety of programs and services which assist college students in meeting their educational objectives through scholarships, grants, fellowships and assistantships, while promoting learning, high ethical standards and constructive citizenship. Today, the Foundation has assets of over $45,000,000, making it one of the largest fraternal foundations.

Mission

The mission of the Phi Kappa Psi Foundation is to foster the development of leaders and promote academic excellence in higher education.

The Foundation is governed by 16 Trustees who serve six year terms as volunteers, at their own cost. These individuals serve on committees that are responsible for planning and implementing investment and spending strategies as well as fundraising and donor cultivation efforts. They are also committed to the idea that Phi Psi's young members are the future of the nation and need every opportunity to succeed. The Trustees bring their considerable experience in business, investing, management, planning and public relations to their stewardship and support of the Foundation.

Chapters

Phi Psi chapter house at Purdue University

The Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity is composed of chapters and alumni associations, the former of which is the scope of this section. Each chapter is chartered to an individual host institution. These host institutions must be accredited four year degree granting colleges and universities in a state, province, territory, or federal district of Canada or the United States. To date, chapter charters have only been granted to groups at U.S. institutions.

When Phi Kappa Psi is extending to an institution that does not currently have a chapter, a probationary group called a "colony" is formed. After criteria are met, that colony receives its charter and becomes a chapter.

A chapter becomes inactive when it relinquishes its charter, or the charter is revoked by the fraternity.

Chapter naming convention

The chapter naming convention is composed of the top level subnational division of that chapter's host institution, and a Greek letter in alphabetical order from when the charter was originally issued. For example, the first Phi Psi chapter is from Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. The first letter in the Greek alphabet is Alpha. The chapter name is Pennsylvania Alpha. The second chapter, and first in Virginia, was installed at the University of Virginia, so it is the Virginia Alpha chapter. The third chapter overall, and the second in Virginia, was installed at Washington & Lee University, so it is the Virginia Beta chapter. The George Washington University chapter is the only chapter ever chartered in the District of Columbia, so it is the District of Columbia Alpha chapter.

If borders change, the chapter name does not. Virginia Delta was chartered at Bethany College in 1859. After the Civil War, Bethany College was in West Virginia, but the chapter remained Virginia Delta.

Chapters are named based on when the charter is granted, not when it is installed. As a result, there have been rare instances when the chapter naming convention may not appear to be consistent with the charter dates. For example, four charters have been granted in Iowa. The second granted was the fourth installed, so Iowa Beta chartered after Iowa Gamma and Iowa Delta.

Membership

An active member of the fraternity is a full-time enrolled student at his chapter's host institution at the undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate level; all others, including members who have graduated or transfer to a school without a Phi Psi chapter, are considered alumni.[11] Men may be initiated into Phi Kappa Psi either by an active chapter, or as part of a colony that is being installed as a chapter. Members typically join Phi Kappa Psi when a chapter extends an offer to enter into a probationary period known as pledgeship, which within the organization, and per National guidelines lasts no more than 6 weeks and concludes with initiation.

Membership is normally only granted to men who are enrolled as full-time students at a chapter's host institution.[11] There have been three exceptions to this:

1. Alumni of a colony which became a chapter after their graduation, and for two years after.
2. Men who have been of service to a chapter, but not students at the institution.
3. Honorary membership extended to men of prominence, a practice that was banned in 1885.[12]

Controversy

In 1984 Liz Seccuro was drugged and gang raped at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at the University of Virginia.[13][14] Only one of Seccuro's gang rapists, William Beebe, was convicted, which was a result of a written confession he had made to Seccuro as part of his AA program.[15] Although two other alleged gang rapists were implicated during an investigation of the case, they pled the Fifth when questioned before a grand jury.[15] No members of Phi Kappa Psi would testify against their accused fraternity brothers.[15]

In 2009 Phi Kappa Psi members were accused of stealing University of Arizona student newspapers that contained a news story about a student who alleged that she had been drugged with GHB and possibly raped while blacked out at a Phi Kappa Psi party.[16][17][18] The homework of two Phi Kappa Psi members was found at the same location where the stolen newspapers were discarded.[16][17][18] Emails from friends and relatives of Phi Kappa Psi members confirmed that the theft had been organized by the fraternity's leadership in an attempt to cover up the accusations of drugging and rape.[16][17][18]

In 2011 a student at Butler University was allegedly raped at a Phi Kappa Psi house party. The university ordered Phi Kappa Psi to cease operations.[19][20]

In 2014 one of two female Brown University students who became rapidly intoxicated at a Phi Kappa Psi party tested positive for the date rape drug GHB. One reported being sexually assaulted. University officials suspended the fraternity.[21] Questioning of the positive test results by the fraternity and the university's subsequent investigation showed that the results were in fact inconclusive for the presence of GHB due to errors in the procedures undertaken by the independently contracted laboratories.[22]

University of Virginia allegation

In a November 2014 article, since discredited, in Rolling Stone, Sabrina Erdely reported in detail allegations of a 2012 gang rape, and reported in brief on allegations of two subsequent gang rapes at the University of Virginia.[23][24] Leaders of the fraternity conducted an internal investigation, and found the allegation to be baseless.[25] Following the story the fraternity voluntarily suspended activity there. The chapter house was also vandalized in response to the accusation.[20] Until mid-January the University of Virginia suspended fraternity activities, until they signed a new agreement with the university.[25] Several writers have criticized Erdely for not questioning the alleged rapists,[26][27] including Robby Suave of Reason,[28] Judith Shulevitz of The New Republic,[29] and others.[27][30] Rolling Stone apologized for the article,[31] and after investigating the accusations, Phi Kappa Psi, ABC News,[32] and The Washington Post said they had found significant discrepancies in the account.[33][34]

On January 12, the University of Virginia reinstated the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity after the police investigation concluded that no incident had occurred at the fraternity. According to Charlottesville police Capt. Gary Pleasants, Phi Psi has been cleared; "We found no basis to believe that an incident occurred at that fraternity, so there's no reason to keep them suspended." [35] That same day, the fraternity was reinstated by the University of Virginia into its Greek system.[25]

On April 5, 2015 Rolling Stone retracted the story. Sabrina Erdely publicly apologized for the article on the same day.

On April 6, 2015 Phi Kappa Psi announced it would file a lawsuit against Rolling Stone over the article.[36]

On July 29, 2015 A lawsuit was filed by three graduates of the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi against its publisher Wenner Media and its publisher for defamation and infliction of emotional distress.[37]

Hazing incidents

In 1986 Mark Seeberger, an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Texas at Austin died from alcohol poisoning during a Phi Kappa Psi pledge event.[38] Seeberger consumed between 16 and 20 ounces of rum in a couple of hours while handcuffed to a van. A grand jury condemned the event and identified it as hazing, but declined to prosecute, as Seeberger was encouraged to drink, but not coerced.[39] In 1991 Seeberger's family settled a lawsuit against the fraternity for $1.9 million.[40]

In response to repeated hazing and alcohol incidents, Phi Kappa Psi's national organization revoked the charter of the University of Arizona's chapter in 2012. The chapter was one of the fraternity's largest.[41][42] The organization had closed the UCLA chapter a year earlier, over similar concerns.[42][43]

In 2012 the University of Dayton suspended the fraternity for one year after an underage pledge was forced to drink an excessive amount of alcohol, leading to hospitalization.[44][45]

In 2013, Cornell University placed the fraternity on interim suspension in response to credible hazing allegations.[46][47]

In 2013, West Virginia University placed its chapter on suspension following an alleged hazing incident. According to the Morgantown Police Department, a 19-year-old pledge was pushed against a wall and suffered a split chin and broken teeth while doing push-ups and other hazing rituals. After a joint investigation by both the university and the national fraternity, the chapter house was closed and the chapter was suspended for five semesters.[48]

In 2016, the University of Kentucky placed its chapter on suspension for five years following reports of hazing and alcohol abuse. Accusations included forced alcohol consumption, forced exercises in/around vomit until the pledge vomited, and forced watching of gay pornography. The chapter admitted that these and other accused hazing activities did occur.[49]

See also

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 "By the Numbers". Phi Kappa Psi. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  2. ↑ Gorgas 1952, pp. 126–127.
  3. 1 2 3 Collinsworth 2011, pp. 8–9.
  4. ↑ Anson & Marchesani 1991, p. III 83.
  5. 1 2 Van Cleve 1902, p. 61.
  6. ↑ Van Cleve 1902, p. 64.
  7. ↑ Van Cleve 1902, p. 85.
  8. ↑ Collinsworth, Shawn (2009). "2009 Woodrow Wilson Leadership School award winners" (pdf). Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. yimg.com. pp. 22–23. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  9. ↑ Van Cleve 1902, p. 88.
  10. ↑ Phi Kappa Psi 1997, pp. xii–xiii.
  11. 1 2 Harper 1989, p. 226.
  12. ↑ Van Cleve 1902, p. 114.
  13. ↑ "A History of Violence: Not Huguely, But the University of Virginia". Huffington Post. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  14. ↑ "Dear Rapist…". The Guardian. 24 April 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  15. 1 2 3 "I Was Gang Raped at a U-VA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything". The Daily Beast.
  16. 1 2 3 "Fraternity Accused of Stealing 10,000 Student Newspapers to Cover Up Date Rape Story". Washington City Paper.
  17. 1 2 3 James King (4 November 2009). "Fraternity Steals 10,000 Free Newspapers to Keep People From Reading Date-Rape Drug Story, UA Student Newspaper Alleges". Valley Fever.
  18. 1 2 3 "Arizona Daily Wildcat  :: Daily Wildcat receives new evidence in stolen newspaper case". arizona.edu. horizontal tab character in |title= at position 27 (help)
  19. ↑ "Fraternity ordered to cease operations after rape allegation". WTHR Indianapolis. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  20. 1 2 Kass, Dani, "Phi Kappa Psi surrenders fraternal agreement with UVa amid reactions from Rolling Stone article", Daily Progress, 20 Nov., 2014
  21. ↑ "Brown student tests positive for date-rape drug after Phi Kappa Psi fraternity party". Newsday. 9 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  22. ↑ "Botched Date Rape Investigation Leaves Students Fuming". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
  23. ↑ Erdely, Sabrina Rubin (19 November 2014). "A Rape on Campus: A Brutal Assault and Struggle for Justice at UVA". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  24. ↑ Kingkade, Tyler, "University Of Virginia Wants Investigation Of Alleged 7-Member Fraternity Gang Rape," Huffington Post, 20 Nov. 2014
  25. 1 2 3 T. Rees Shapiro; Susan Svrluga (14 January 2015). "U-Va. Phi Psi members speak about impact of discredited gang rape allegations". Washington Post. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  26. ↑ Benedikt, Allison; Rosin, Hanna (December 2014). "The Missing Men". Slate. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  27. 1 2 Farhi, Paul (1 December 2014). "Author of Rolling Stone article on alleged U-Va. rape didn't talk to accused perpetrators". The Washington Post. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  28. ↑ Suave, Robby (1 December 2014). "Is the UVA Rape Story a Gigantic Hoax?". Reason. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  29. ↑ Shulevitz, Judith (1 December 2014). "Rolling Stone Never Gave the Villains of Its Gang Rape Story a Chance to Defend Themselves". The New Republic. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  30. ↑ Sillesen, Lene Bech (2 December 2014). "Rolling Stone's omission in UVA article proves problematic". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  31. ↑ Dana, Will (5 December 2014). "A Note to Our Readers". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  32. ↑ ABC News. "New Questions Raised About Rolling Stone's UVA Rape Story". ABC News.
  33. ↑ Ortiz, Erik (5 December 2014). "Rolling Stone Backpedals On UVA Rape Story, Says 'Trust' in Victim Misplaced". NBC News. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  34. ↑ Shapiro, T. Rees (5 December 2014). "Key elements of Rolling Stone's U-Va. gang rape allegations in doubt". The Washington Post. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  35. ↑ T. Rees Shapiro (12 January 2015). "Police clear U-Va. fraternity, say rape did not happen there". Washington Post. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  36. ↑ "U-Va. fraternity announces lawsuit against Rolling Stone". Washington Post.
  37. ↑ "Virginia college graduates sue Rolling Stone over rape story". Reuters. 2015-07-29. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
  38. ↑ "Authorities question events surrounding death of fraternity member". News & Courior (NYTNS). 1 October 1986. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  39. ↑ "No Charges In Hazing Death". New York Times (Associated Press). 24 December 1986. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  40. ↑ "Suit Settled Over Fraternity Pledge's Death". Orlando Sentinel (Cox News Service). 6 September 1991. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  41. ↑ Alaimo, Carol Ann (22 February 2012). "UA's Phi Kappa Psi frat house shut down for hazing, alcohol". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  42. 1 2 "Executive Council Revokes the Charter of Arizona Alpha". Phi Kappa Psi. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  43. ↑ Reynolds, Kylie (23 August 2011). "Phi Kappa Psi at UCLA declared "null and void" by national chapter". Daily Bruin. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  44. ↑ "UD fraternity center of hazing investigation". WDTN. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  45. ↑ "UD fraternity suspended, accused of hazing". WHIO. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  46. ↑ Lajoie, Eliza (12 April 2013). "Phi Psi Fraternity Suspended Due to Hazing Allegations". Cornell Daily Sun. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  47. ↑ "Phi Kappa Psi suspended for hazing allegations". Cornell Chronicle. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  48. ↑ "Morgantown Police Arrest Another In WVU Fraternity Hazing Investigation". wboy.com. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  49. ↑ "Phi Kappa Psi suspended from UK for hazing, alcohol abuse". www.kentucky.com. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.

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