Pi Alpha Phi

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Template:Short description Template:Infobox Fraternity

Pi Alpha Phi Fraternity, Inc. (Script error: No such module "Lang"., also Pi Alpha Phi or PAPhi) was an American university-level fraternity. It was founded in 1929 at the University of California, Berkeley. On August 1, 2023, Pi Alpha Phi Fraternity announced that it was closing all of its chapters. At the time, it was the oldest active Asian-American interest fraternity in the United States. It was a founding member of the National APIDA Panhellenic Association.

History

Origins

When Pi Alpha Phi was founded in the 1920s, traditional Greek letter fraternities along with the rest of the nation, legally discriminated against men of color.[1] In 1928, Wing C. Chan, Dong Wing Tom, and Elmer Leong, members of the class of 1930 at the University of California, Berkeley, had the idea to start a fraternity for the several hundred students of Chinese descent.[2] Six students signed the fraternity's charter in both Chinese and English, officially establishing Pi Alpha Phi on February 1, 1929.[3][2]

The six founders of Pi Alpha Phi were D. Wing Tom, Wing Chan, Elmer Leong, Chack Chan, Tim Jang, and George Lee.[3][2] All were born in America except Wing Chan, who came from China at an early age.[3] Wing Chan became the fraternity's first president.

Because they were banned from joining traditional Greek letter fraternities, Pi Alpha Phi's founding fathers wanted to ensure that Asian-American awareness would be an important part of the fraternity.[1] The fraternity encouraged its members to learn Asian-American culture, heritage, and history and to share this knowledge with others. In its later years, the basic premise of the fraternity remained largely unchanged.[1] The fraternity was open to people of all ethnic backgrounds but retained its Asian-American character.[1]

Expansion

The local fraternity became national with the addition of its Beta chapter at the Stony Brook University in 1990.[4] This was followed by Gamma chapter at University of California, Davis that same year.[4] More chapters followed in California and Michigan through 2000.[4] The fraternity's first annual convention was hosted by the Epsilon chapter in Arcadia, California in 2000.

The fraternity continued to charter chapters, expanding into Arizona, North Carolina, and Washington.[4] Pi Alpha Phi was a founding member of the National APIDA Panhellenic Association in 2005.[5][6] In 2014, Pi Alpha Phi had active ten chapters, one associate chapter, and six colonies.[1] It was headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.[7]

Scandals and dissolution

In July 2020, the National Board of Directors placed a national moratorium on chapter activities in response to "multiple reports of sexual misconduct nationwide."[8][9] The moratorium was lifted but, a pledge, Phat Nguyen, died and three others were hospitalized after a hazing incident at Michigan State University on November 19, 2021.[10][11][12][13][14] Nine fraternity members were charged in connection with the death.[11] In June 2023, the family of the deceased student filed a wrongful death suit against the fraternity.[10]

On August 1, 2023, Pi Alpha Phi Fraternity announced the closure of all of its collegiate chapters.[15][10] The fraternity said that its chapters were unsustainable because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, declining university enrollment, and financial pressures.[15] Not all chapters agreed with this decision. Some chapters attempted to stay open or tried to start a new organization; although, the former was prohibited by the national fraternity.[10][15] At the time of its closure, Pi Alpha Phi was the oldest active Asian-American interest fraternity in the United States.[1]

The National APIDA Panhellenic Association removed Pi Alpha Phi from its membership roles on October 13, 2023.[10][6] NAPA said, "Pi Alpha Phi Fraternity, Inc. has contributed to the vibrant Greek life on campuses nationwide and served as a chartering organization of  NAPA in 2005. Their dedication to fostering academic excellence, Asian American awareness, brotherhood, leadership, and philanthropy has left a lasting mark on our fraternity and sorority community."[6] Some of the fraternity's materials are archived at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.[1]

Symbols

The name Pi Alpha Phi was derived from the initials of the Greek phrase meaning "To advance through brotherly ties; the thirst for learning." The colors of Pi Alpha Phi were Berkeley Blue and California Gold.[16] Its mascot was the phoenix. Its symbol was the Brotherhood Links.[17] The five pillars of the fraternity were academic excellence, Asian awareness, brotherhood, leadership, and philanthropy.[18][19] Its motto is "A tradition of excellence since 1929".[20][17] The group's nicknames were PAPhi and Pineapples.[21][17]

Activities

From the mid-1980s to 2002, Pi Alpha Phi participated in the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, operating the “Pi Alpha Phi Dragon”.[22]

The fraternity awarded the annual Herbert Gee Scholarship, named in honor of an Alpha chapter founder.[23] The scholarship was funded by alumni and was award to an active member of the fraternity.[24]

The fraternity's national philanthropy was the Jade Ribbon Campaign which promoted hepatitis awareness and discussed the health disparity between Asian Americans and white Americans.[25] Chapters also supported charities in their local, such Habitat for Humanity and Christmas charities for children.[25]

Chapters

Following is a list of the former Pi Alpha Phi collegiate chapters.[4][15][26][27]

Chapter Charter date

and range

Institution City State Status References
Alpha Template:Dts – April 25, 2005; 200x ? – 2013 University of California, Berkeley Berkeley California Inactive [28][29][30]Template:Efn
Beta Template:Dts–1992 Stony Brook University Stony Brook New York Inactive
Gamma Template:Dts – August 2012 University of California, Davis Davis California Inactive [31]Template:Efn
Delta Template:Dts – January 23, 2003 San Jose State University San Jose California Inactive [32][33]Template:Efn
Epsilon Template:Dts–2012 University of California, Riverside Riverside California Inactive [21]Template:Efn
Zeta Template:Dts – 2021 University of California, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz California Inactive [34]Template:Efn
Eta Template:Dts – 2011; 2016–2022 University of California, Irvine Irvine California Inactive [35]Template:Efn
Theta Template:Dts – August 1, 2023 University of California, San Diego La Jolla California Inactive [36]
Iota Template:Dts–2023 University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan Inactive [37]
Kappa Template:Dts – August 1, 2023 University of Arizona Tucson Arizona Inactive [25][38]
Lambda Template:Dts Inactive
Mu Template:Dts – December 5, 2021 Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan Inactive [15][39]Template:Efn
Nu Template:Dts–before August 2022 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill North Carolina Inactive
Xi Template:Dts – August 1, 2023 University of Washington Seattle Washington Inactive
Omicron Template:Dts – March 22, 2023 University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California Inactive [40]Template:Efn
Pi Template:Dts – August 1, 2023 University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa Inactive
Rho Template:Dts – before August 2022 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte North Carolina Inactive [41][42]Template:Efn
Sigma Template:Dts – October 29, 2018 Northwestern University Evanston Illinois Inactive [43]Template:Efn
Tau Template:Dts–before August 2022 North Carolina State University Raleigh North Carolina Inactive [44][45]Template:Efn
Upsilon Template:Dts – August 1, 2023 San Francisco State University San Francisco California Inactive
Phi Template:Dts–before August 2022 Drexel University Philadelphia Pennsylvania Inactive
Chi Template:Dts – August 1, 2023 Clemson University Clemson South Carolina Inactive [46]Template:Efn
Psi Template:Dts – August 1, 2023 Iowa State University Ames Iowa Inactive [47]Template:Efn
Alpha Alpha Template:Dts–20xx ?; March 2018 – August 1, 2023 University of Buffalo Buffalo New York Inactive [48][26]
Template:Dts20xx ?– before August 2022 University Nevada, Las Vegas Paradise Nevada Inactive [49]Template:Efn
Template:Dts20xx ?– before August 2022 University of Delaware Newark New Jersey Inactive [50]Template:Efn
Template:Dts20xx ?– before August 2022 University of Maryland, College Park College Park Maryland Inactive Template:Efn
Colony Template:Dts Arizona State University Tempe Arizona Inactive [15]Template:Efn
Colony Template:Dts University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro North Carolina Inactive [51]Template:Efn
Colony Template:Dts University of South Carolina Columbia South Carolina Inactive [16][52]Template:Efn

Template:Notelist

Alumni clubs

The fraternity had alumni clubs in the United States and Asia.[53]

United States Asia

Notable members

Member and chapter misconduct

  • On January 21, 2003, the San Jose State chapters of Pi Alpha Phi and the Lambda Phi Epsilon fraternity turned their rivalry into a brawl.[55][33][32] The fight involved around 100 people, including Pi Alpha Phi members of the University of California, Santa Cruz who had been recruited to participate.[33][32] Four people were stabbed in the incident.[56] A member of Lambda Phi Epsilon was killed while trying to stop the fight, and others were seriously injured and were taken to the hospital.[57][55]
  • Phat Nguyen, a pledge, died and three others were taken to the hospital after a hazing incident involving the forced consumption of alcohol at the Michigan State University chapter on November 19, 2021.[10][58][39] Nine fraternity members were changed in connection with the death.[59][58][11] In June 2023, the family of the deceased student filed a wrongful death suit against the fraternity.[10]

See also

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Fraternities and Sororities Template:National APIDA Panhellenic Association

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ a b c d e Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (January 10, 2024) "Pi Alpha Phi". Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed March 19, 2024.
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ a b c d e f g Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ a b c d e f Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Alumni Spotlight Evan Jackson Leong
  55. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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