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Pi Kappa Phi is a national social fraternity that was founded in the spirit of "nu phi," meaning non-fraternity, in 1904 in Charleston, South Carolina. Pi Kapp has over 120 active chapters with nearly 95,000 initiated brothers. It is the only fraternity with its own charitable organization, Push America, which integrates tightly with Pi Kapp chapters to serve people with disabilities. Push America also holds many renowned national events including the Journey of Hope, a bicycle ride across the continental United States.
National History
Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ) is a national fraternity at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. It began to oppose a fraternity slate in elections. After losing the elections, the "Nu Phi" slate's leaders joined together to found their own Greek letter fraternity on December 10, 1904. The three founders were Andrew Alexander Kroeg, Jr., Simon Fogarty, Jr., and Lawrence Harry Mixson; accompanying them in their endeavor were A. Pelzer Wagener, Thomas F. Mosimann, Theodore ("Teddy") Barnwell Kelly, and James Fogarty.
Pi Kappa Phi has become a nationwide brotherhood of more than 90,000 men, living and leading in every state in the United States.
Mission statement
Leaders by Choice
The expression of shared values and ideals as contained in the Ritual of Initiation, Supreme Law and Fraternity policy;
The pursuit of brotherhood through scholarship, leadership, service and social experiences;
The achievement of personal excellence in each member and collective excellence in our Fraternity;
A lifelong brotherhood of its members.
Student Creed
I Believe that the ideal chapter is made up of men. . .
Who are bound together in a common loyalty which transcends any personal selfishness.
Who realize that membership means personal responsibility in bearing their share of the financial burden of the chapter and the national organization.
Who bring credit to the fraternity by striving to attain the highest possible standards of scholarship.
Who safeguard the reputation of their chapter by keeping careful watch over their personal conduct.
Who uphold faithfully the traditions and activities of their college.
Who prepare themselves diligently to shoulder their full responsibility as citizens.
I Believe that my chapter can become an ideal chapter, and I shall do my share to make it so.
Noteworthy Alumni
- Jerry Lawler, WWE Wrestler, Alpha Sigma (University of Tennessee)
- Leonard Anderson, Pilot, Blue Angels flight demonstration team, Alpha Phi (Illinois Inst. of Tech)
- Howard Baker, Senate Majority Leader, Alpha Sigma (University of Tennessee)
- Carroll A. Campbell, Jr., former governor of South Carolina, Sigma (South Carolina)
- Adrian Cronauer, voice behind Good Morning Vietnam, Eta Epsilon (Maryland)
- Roger Crouch, astronaut, Gamma Beta (Old Dominion)
- "Downtown" Adam Browne, NASA engineer for the Hubble Telescope, Alpha Psi (Indiana University)
- Jim Edmonds, All-Star Outfielder, St. Louis Cardinals, Zeta Rho (California State-Fullterton)
- James Edwards, former governor of South Carolina, Alpha (College of Charleston)
- Rich Eisen, journalist, NFL Network, Alpha Kappa (Michigan)
- Joe Forehand, former CEO of Accenture, Alpha Iota (Auburn)
- Henry H. Fowler, former Secretary of the Treasury, Xi (Roanoke College)
- David Goodnow, CNN Headline News Anchor, Alpha Psi (Indiana)
- Lindsey Graham, U.S. Senator from South Carolina, Sigma (University of South Carolina)
- George M. Grant., US Congressman from Alabama, Omicron(Alabama)
- Robert Graziano, President/CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Delta Rho (USC, Los Angeles)
- Ernest Hollings, former U.S. Senator & governor of South Carolina, Alpha (College of Charleston)
- Bobby Jones, former NBA All-Star for the Philadelphia 76ers, Kappa (University of North Carolina)
- Matthew Keegan, cartoonist for The New Yorker, Alpha Psi (Indiana University)
- Tommy Lasorda, former manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, member-at-large
- Ed Lu, astronaut, Psi (Cornell)
- Chris Moneymaker, Professional Poker Player, Alpha Sigma (University of Tennessee)
- David D. Morgan, Insurance industry leader/ Pi Kappa Phi Hall of Fame, Beta Omicron (Northwestern State)
- Ollie Wilson Nabors, U.S. Senator from Alabama, Omicron (Alabama)
- Gaylord Nelson, former U.S. Senator & Governor of Wisconsin, Gamma Nu (La Grange)
- Randy Owen, Lead singer of Alabama, Delta Epsilon (Jacksonville State University)
- Pat Rummerfield, world's first fully recovered quadriplegic, land speed world record holder, Theta Iota (Washington State University)
- Joe Sewell, Baseball Hall of Fame, Omicron (Alabama)
- Charles Townes, Nobel Prize Recipient, Delta (Furman University)
- George Wallace Jr., former State Treasurer of Alabama, Omicron (Alabama)
- Thomas Wolfe, author, Kappa (UNC)
- Howard Coble, US Congressman, Epsilon Iota (UNC-Greensboro)
- Admiral Ronald J. Zlatoper, US Navy, former Commander of the Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), Alpha Tau (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
Interesting facts
- Pi Kappa Phi has 126 active chapters and 10 associate chapters in 36 states.
- Pi Kappa Phi has 96,550 initiated brothers.
- Currently, there are 6,255 undergraduate brothers in Pi Kappa Phi.
- There are more than 90 alumni chapters.
- The coat of arms has changed multiple times to incorporate symbols of Charleston, South Carolina. The original coat of arms had only two stars and a student's lamp above the chevron. A third star has been added, and the swords, originally pointing downward, now point upward.
- The original crest was a hand holding a red rose. It is believed this was to recognize the Delta Chapter of Furman University. The Delta Chapter had to operate sub rosa because fraternal organizations were illegal at the time.
- While the current motto is Greek, the original motto was the Latin Nil Separ Abit, meaning "Nothing shall separate us."
- The original Pi Kappa Phi newsletter was titled The Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Journal. The title was later changed to The Star and Lamp
- Pi Kappa Phi is the only fraternity to have created and operated its own philanthropy, Push America.
- Push America provides awareness, fundraising, and volunteerism to people with disabilities across the United States while offering opportunities for its members to serve the local and national organization.
Location of Chapters
- Albright College - Zeta Chi
- American University - Theta Eta, website: Theta Eta
- Appalachian State University - Delta Zeta
- Arizona State University - Arizona State Associate Chapter
- Auburn University - Alpha Iota
- Averett University - Zeta Xi
- Barton College - Zeta Tau - Zeta Tau
- Baylor University - Theta Kappa
- Bowling Green State - Delta Sigma
- Bradley University - Epsilon Mu
- California State Long Beach - Longbeach Associate Chapter
- California State University at Fullerton - Zeta Rho
- California State University
- California State at Northridge - Zeta Mu
- Central Michigan University - Beta Xi
- Christopher Newport University - Eta Iota
- Clemson University - Zeta Alpha
- Coastal Carolina University - Eta Pi
- College of Charleston - Alpha
- Colorado State University - Zeta Phi
- Concord College - Eta Alpha
- Cornell University - Psi
- Duke University - Mu
- East Carolina University - Beta Phi
- Elon University - Epsilon Alpha
- Florida International University - Theta Delta
- Furman University - Delta
- George Mason University - [1] - Zeta Epsilon
- George Washington University - Theta Zeta
- Georgia College and State University - Epsilon Upsilon
- Georgia Institute of Technology - Iota
- Georgia Southern University - Gamma Kappa
- Georgia Southwestern University - Gamma Xi
- Georgia State University - Beta Kappa
- Illinois Institute of Technology - Alpha Phi
- Indiana University - Alpha Psi
- Iowa University - Theta Theta
- Iowa State University - Alpha Omicron
- Jacksonville State University - Delta Epsilon
- James Madison University - Delta Tau
- Kansas State University - Delta Chi
- Kennesaw State University - Eta Delta
- LaGrange College - Gamma Nu
- Lander University - Gamma Rho
- Lenoir-Rhyne College -[2] Epsilon Rho
- Louisiana State University - Gamma Iota
- Marshall University - Zeta Pi
- Mercer University - Alpha Alpha
- Miami University (OH) - Eta Upsilon
- Michigan State University - Alpha Theta
- Middle Tennessee State University - Delta Iota
- Missouri State University - Theta Lambda
- Morehead State University - Delta Eta
- North Carolina State University - Tau
- New Mexico State University - Eta Omega
- New Jersey Institute of Technology- Beta Alpha
- North Georgia College - Delta Beta
- Northern Illinois University - Beta Sigma
- Northwestern State University - Beta Omicron
- Ohio University - Ohio Associate Chapter
- Old Dominion University - Gamma Beta
- Oregon State University - Alpha Zeta
- Pennsylvania State University - Alpha Mu
- Presbyterian College - Beta
- Purdue University - Omega
- Queens University of Charlotte - Eta Zeta
- Radford University - Delta Phi
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Alpha Tau
- Richard Stockton College - Zeta Kappa
- Roanoke College - Xi
- Samford University - Alpha Eta
- San Francisco State University - Eta Omicron
- Seton Hall University- Epsilon Theta
- Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania - Epsilon Psi
- Southern Polytechnic State University - Epsilon Kappa
- St. John's University - Alpha Xi
- St. Joseph's University - Epsilon Tau
- Stetson University - Chi
- State University of New York at Brockport - Eta Lambda
- State University of New York at Cortland - Zeta Omicron - (http://www.pikapp-zo.com)
- Texas A&M University- Delta Omega
- Texas Christian University- Eta Chi
- Texas State University at San Marcos - Eta Rho
- Texas Tech University - Epsilon Omega
- Troy University - Gamma Gamma
- Truman State University - Delta Delta
- University of Alabama - Omicron
- University of Alabama at Birmingham - Epsilon Phi
- University of Arizona - Beta Theta
- University of California, Berkeley - Gamma
- University of California, Los Angeles - Eta Sigma
- University of Central Florida - Eta Psi
- University of Colorado at Boulder - Eta Gamma
- University of Georgia - Lambda
- University of Houston - Beta Nu
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Upsilon
- University of Iowa - Theta Theta
- University of Kansas - Theta Epsilon
- University of Kentucky - Eta Tau
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County - Eta Phi
- University of Massachusetts at Amherst - Theta Mu
- University of Memphis - Gamma Delta
- University of Michigan - Alpha Kappa
- University of Missouri at Columbia - Beta Epsilon
- University of Missouri at Rolla - Gamma Lambda
- University of Nevada at Reno - Nevada Reno Associate CHapter
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Kappa
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte - Delta Lambda
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro - Epsilon Iota
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington - Gamma Theta
- University of North Dakota - Zeta Gamma
- University of North Florida - Zeta Zeta
- University of Oklahoma - Alpha Gamma
- University of Pennsylvania - Eta Nu
- University of South Alabama - Gamma Phi
- University of South Carolina - Sigma
- University of South Carolina Upstate - Epsilon Lambda
- University of Southern Mississippi - Theta Alpha
- University of Tampa - Beta Lambda
- University of Tennessee - Alpha Sigma
- University of Texas at Arlington - Delta Psi
- University of Toledo - Beta Iota
- University of Utah - Utah Associate Chapter
- University of Virginia - Beta Upsilon
- University of Virginia's College at Wise - Epsilon Epsilon
- University of Washington - Alpha Delta
- University Of West Alabama - Gamma Alpha
- University of West Georgia - Theta Beta
- Utah State University - Utah State Associate Chapter
- Valdosta State University - Beta Tau
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (VA Tech) - Delta Alpha - [3]
- Washington & Lee University - Rho
- Washington State University - Theta Iota
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania - Zeta Nu
- West Virginia University - Alpha Rho
- Wingate University - Eta Mu
- Wofford College - Zeta
Note: The Delta Rho chapter at the University of Southern California lost its charter in February 2006 [4]
Alumni Chapters/Associations
- Kennesaw State University - Eta Delta
Legal Issues
Like most other national social fraternities, Pi Kappa Phi has had its share of legal trouble with alcohol-related deaths and hazing. The following are some of the major events. The national organization requires all members to participate in the AlcoholEDU program, in which many univerisities now require incoming freshmen to participate. Pi Kappa Phi takes strict stances against hazing [5] and alcohol abuse [6].
Chico State Death
Pi Kappa Phi associate member (or pledge) Adrian Heideman died from alcohol poisoning after a fraternity event in October 2000. Heideman passed out in the Chico State fraternity house and asphyxiated when left unattended. The parent organization settled out of court with the Heideman family for an undisclosed sum. [7] The national fraternity suspended the chapter's charter. Chico State's Greek system has been known for having problems with alcohol abuse and hazing. In June 2005, alcohol and hazing were banned by the university president. [8]