Phi Kappa Sigma

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Phi Kappa Sigma
(ΦΚΣ)
The Coat of Arms of Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity
Founded August 16, 1850 (1850-08-16) (age 157)
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Type Social
Scope International
Motto Stellis Aequus Durando ("Equal to the Stars in Endurance.")
Colors Black and Old Gold
Symbol Maltese Cross
Flower Yellow Chrysanthemum
Headquarters 2 Timber Drive
Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, USA
Homepage Phi Kappa Sigma Website

Phi Kappa Sigma (ΦΚΣ) is an international all-male college leadership and social fraternity. Its members are known as "Phi Kaps", "Skulls" and sometimes "Skullhouse", the latter two because of the skull and crossbones on the Fraternity's badge and coat of arms. Phi Kappa Sigma was founded by Dr. Samuel Brown Wylie Mitchell at the University of Pennsylvania. Mitchell recorded the initial ideas and concepts of Phi Kappa Sigma on August 16, 1850. He then began to discuss the idea with other students, first Charles Hare Hutchinson, and then Alfred Victor du Pont (son of Alfred V. du Pont), John Thorne Stone, Andrew Adams Ripka, James Bayard Hodge, and Duane Williams. The seven men formally founded the Fraternity on October 19th, 1850 becoming the founding fathers of Phi Kappa Sigma[1]

Contents

[edit] The Objects of Phi Kappa Sigma

“ The objects of the Fraternity shall be the promotion of good fellowship and the cultivation of the social virtues among its members; the protection of the just rights and the advancement of the best interests, present and future, individual and collective, of all those who shall be associated together as members of the Fraternity; the encouragement of good scholarship and breadth of training for its members; and cooperation in the educational and cultural programs of institutions of higher education in which Chapters are located.[2] ”

[edit] Badge

The fraternity's badge was designed by its founder, Dr. Mitchell, and outside of changes in size, it's official design has remained the same. In the shape of a Maltese cross the badge is gold with black decoration. The center of the cross is anchored by a skull and crossbones. The four leafs of the cross display, individually, the Greek letters Phi, Kappa, and Sigma, starting at the left leaf and rotating counter-clockwise. The fourth and top leaf display a six-pointed star. The back of the badge has an engraved serpent echoing the serpent from the Fraternity's coat of arms.

In the 1850s, the Southern chapters inaugurated the custom of wearing silver skulls on their badges, and thus were known as the "Silver Skulls." Iota Chapter, at Columbia University, adopted a smaller badge, in 1861, than had been worn previously by the membership of any chapter and also copied the Southern custom of utilizing the silver skull. The silver skull on the badge was never re-instituted by any chapter after the Civil War.[1]

[edit] The Statement of Core Values

At the Fraternity's 90th Grand Chapter (June 22nd, 2000 in Philadelphia) and as part of the celebration of the Fraternity's 150 year anniversary, undergraduate chapter representatives composed and adopted the Fraternity's "Statement of Core Values". The values: Trust, Honor, Respect, Knowledge, Wisdom, Responsibility, and Integrity, were adopted as a re-commitment to the founding values of the fraternity.[2]

[edit] Public mottos

Phi Kappa Sigma has taken on multiple public mottos, each pertaining to a different aspect of the fraternity:[2]

  • "Brotherhood is more than skin deep": Brothers are chosen based on the worth of their character, not their religion, race, or wealth.
  • "Once a Phi Kap, always a Phi Kap": Phi Kappa Sigma is a life-long commitment not limited to college years.
  • "Stellis Aequus Durando": Latin for “equal to the stars in endurance”, this motto honors the many tribulations Phi Kappa Sigma has survived, and its determination to overcome future challenges.

[edit] Chapter Listing

See List of Phi Kappa Sigma chapters

[edit] Notable Members

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Phi Kappa Sigma International Fraternity - History. Retrieved on March 20, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Phi Kappa Sigma International Fraternity - Purpose and Principles. Retrieved on November 04, 2007.
  3. ^ Phi Kappa Sigma Maltese Cross 2003. Retrieved on Apr 04, 2008.
  4. ^ NASA Bio of Chaffee. Retrieved on Apr 04, 2008.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Famous Phi Kaps, Greek 101. Retrieved on 2008-04-06.

[edit] External links

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