Phi Kappa Tau
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Phi Kappa Tau | |
---|---|
ΦΚΤ | |
Carnation | |
Publication | The Laurel of Phi Kappa Tau |
Philanthropy | SeriousFun Children's Network |
Chapters | 161 Chartered, 81 Active, 7 Associate chapters [1] |
Members | 3,500+[1] collegiate 101,000[1] lifetime |
Nickname | Phi Tau |
Headquarters | 5221 Morning Sun Road Oxford, OH 45056 USA |
Website | www |
Phi Kappa Tau (ΦΚΤ), commonly known as Phi Tau (
History
Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity (commonly called
The fraternity was founded as the Non-Fraternity Association to give Miami's non-fraternity men a voice in campus political affairs. The name was changed to
Phrenocon became "national" in 1911 when an organization of independent men known as the Ohio University Union chose to form the
Phi Kappa Tau has been a member since 1916 of the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), a consortium of national men's social fraternities.
Phi Kappa Tau Foundation
The Phi Kappa Tau Foundation was created in 1945 as a separate charitable organization.[1] The Foundation's significant expansion began in 1983 with the announcement of a challenge gift of over $1 million from Ewing T. Boles, a member of fraternity's Delta chapter at Centre College. The Boles gift was the largest gift to a fraternity or sorority foundation up until that time and became the lead gift in a $3.2-million capital campaign. That same year Boles was named an Honorary Founder by Phi Kappa Tau. Boles left an additional bequest of over $3 million to the Foundation upon his death. Its current assets exceed $15 million.[1]
Organization and leadership
Phi Kappa Tau chapters consist of Resident Councils, comprising current collegiate members, and Graduate Councils, which include all alumni or those who have departed from their educational institutions. Each chapter council is granted a vote at the National Convention, the fraternity's supreme governing body that convenes biennially. This convention is responsible for electing the National Council, which acts as the fraternity's board of directors and oversees its governance in the intervals between conventions.
Executive offices of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity and Foundation are in Oxford, Ohio. Michael McCrum (Texas State) is national president and Jeffrey Hilperts (Spring Hill) is chair of the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation.
Controversies
In 2003, Bradley University student Robert Schmalz, age 22, died from alcohol poisoning during a rush week event. The event happened shortly before the university received a national award for its efforts to reduce alcohol abuse.[5][6]
In November 2006, the Phi Kappa Tau Upsilon chapter at
In 2007, Gary DeVercelly Jr., age 18, died from alcohol poisoning while pledging the fraternity at Rider University. The chapter was dissolved, and three students were indicted in the death with one receiving three years' probation.[14] Atypically, two university officials were also indicted,[14] although charges against the officials were later dropped.[15]
In 2012, the College of William & Mary suspended Phi Kappa Tau for three years due to a repeated history of hazing, culminating in an incident when something was stolen from Colonial Williamsburg during a scavenger hunt held for new recruits.[16][17]
In October 2013, the Phi Kappa Tau chapter at the
In 2016, the Miami University suspended the fraternity for at least four years for forcing pledges to participate in abusive workouts, be held overnight against their will, and act as servants by cleaning members' rooms and writing their papers for them.[21] Phi Kappa Tau's Miami chapter had been previously suspended for a fireworks battle with neighboring Sigma Alpha Epsilon in 2012 which led to police discovering drugs and drug paraphernalia in the groups' houses.[22]
Notable members
Chapters
As of January 2024, Phi Kappa Tau reports chartering 161 chapters since its founding, with 81 active chapters and 7 Associate chapters.
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Mission, Creed, and Insignia of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity". phikappatau.org. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ Link: "Constitution and Bylaws". Archived from the original on 2015-11-09. Retrieved 2015-11-16.. Under membership qualifications, "Any male student not a member of a national college fraternity other than an honor society or professional fraternity who is pursuing undergraduate, post-graduate, or professional study" (Emphasis added).
- ^ "Phi Kappa Tau Risk Management Policy - Reviewed July 2011" (PDF). Phi Kappa Tau. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- ^ "Prevent Hazing". Phi Kappa Tau. Archived from the original on 30 September 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- ^ Keith, Ryan (18 September 2003). "Student dies after binge drinking". Deseret News. Associated Press. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- ^ Jodi S. Cohen; Ted Gregory; Virginia Groark (16 September 2003). "Death at college tied to drinking". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- ^ Boyle, Andy. "One student dies in Wesleyan fraternity fire". The Daily Nebraskan. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
- ^ "Police: Student intentionally set fire, but not fatal one". The Denver Post. Associated Press. 2007-04-16. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
- ^ a b Boyle, Andy. "Affidavit reveals fireworks, drugs found in Wesleyan frat". The Daily Nebraskan. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
- ^ a b Star, MELISSA LEE / Lincoln Journal. "NWU fraternity suspended for four years". JournalStar.com. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
- ^ Star, MELISSA LEE / Lincoln Journal. "Police: NWU fire's cause may never be known". JournalStar.com. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
- ^ "Fraternity hopes to come back strong after fatal fire". KETV. 2012-08-20. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
- ^ Edwards, Jonathan. "Wesleyan fraternity reopens, moves forward". JournalStar.com. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
- ^ a b "Indictments In N.J. Campus Hazing Death". CBS News. Associated Press. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- ^ Hester Jr., Tom (8 August 2007). "Judge dismisses Rider U. hazing charges". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- ^ Koenig, Becky (14 February 2012). "Fraternity Suspended On Hazing Charges". Flat Hat News (Student Newspaper). Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- ^ Ham, David (14 February 2012). "W&M suspends fraternity for hazing, crimes". WVEC (ABC News). Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- ^ "Frat chapter suspended over 'rapebait' email". Retrieved 2015-05-29.
- ^ "Infamous 'Rapebait' Frat Disbanded for Being Entirely Too Rapey". 4 April 2014. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
- ^ Hess, Amanda (31 October 2014). "Two Lawsuits Allege Rape at the "Rapebait" Frat House>". Slate. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
- ^ "Miami U suspends 2 fraternities for hazing". cincinnati.com. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ "Frat in 'fireworks battle' sues Miami U. for $10M". journal-news. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
Further information
- Anson, Jack L., The Golden Jubilee History of Phi Kappa Tau, Lawhead Press, Athens Ohio: 1957
- Ball, Charles T., From Old Main to a New Century: A History of Phi Kappa Tau, Heritage Publishers, Phoenix: 1996 ISBN 0-929690-29-X