Phi Society
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The Phi Society is a social, secret, Greek-letter, college fraternity located at the University of Virginia. Another similarly named organization, the Phi Society of 1883 exists at the The University of the South. Although both organizations were created by former members of Phi Delta Theta, the Phi Society and the Phi Society of 1883 are currently unrelated.
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[edit] History
The Phi Society traces its lineage to November 18, 1873 when three graduate students met in Room 40, East Range of Thomas Jefferson’s Academical Village at the University of Virginia to form the Virginia Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.
The chapter lasted at the University for some 127 years when a dispute between the members and the fraternity headquarters in Oxford, Ohio caused the organizations to part ways. Phi Delta Theta instituted a ban on alcohol in all of its fraternity houses nation-wide. The undergraduates and alumni of the U.Va. chapter believed that this policy was unreasonable and therefore entered into negotiations with the national organization.
After polling the alumni of the Virginia chapter, a majority rejected the alcohol measure being instituted by the national body. Although many Phi Delta Theta chapters voiced their displeasure with the alcohol measure, most attempted to implement it. The undergraduate members voted not to implement the policy as opposed to agreeing to it and disregarding it. The reason is that doing so would violate the tenets of the University’s honor system. After a compromise could not be met, the alumni supported the undergraduate’s move to separate and change the name of the fraternity to Phi Delta Alpha on September 27, 2000. It was subsequently changed to the Phi Society in September 2002.
The Phi Society and Phi Delta Theta are currently unrelated but remain cordial. The members of the Phi Society recognize a common and inextricable link between the two organizations despite their differences. The rolls of over 1500 alumni of the U.Va. chapter are recognized by the University as belonging to the Phi Society, thereby allowing the Chapter to trace its roots to 1873.
Another chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Sewanee, The University of the South, also separated, calling themselves the Phi Society of 1883. The reference to 1883 points to the year in which the chapter was founded. Although Virginia’s chapter was founded just 10 years before and the names of the two organizations are similar, there currently is no tie between the groups. Another chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Dartmouth College left Phi Delta Theta in 1960 because of a dispute over membership criteria and renamed itself Phi Delta Alpha.
[edit] Governance
The alumni of the Phi Society own the property and chapter house, located at One University Circle, Charlottesville, Virginia. The chapter is an active participant of the University’s Inter-Fraternity Council and intramural activities.
[edit] Awards
At the conclusion of each academic year, the following awards are given to selected members of the fraternity:
The Record - The Record is the Phi Society's oldest and most prestigious award. It is given at the conclusion of each academic year to the "Best Phi," or rather, the brother who has given the most lasting contribution to the fraternity during his time at the University. Awardees' names are included on a plaque at the chapter house.
The Virginia Beta Award for Excellence - This awardee is selected by members of the fraternity's alumni board of trustees to the undergraduate brother who has demonstrated the most lasting contribution to the fraternity in the eyes of the alumni. Awardees' names are included on a plaque at the chapter house and the winner receives an engraved tankard.
Maupin Pence Memorial Award - This award is given to the undergraduate brother who has achieved academic excellence while an undergraduate member. The award is named in honor of Maupin Pence who was a long time chapter advisor to the Fraternity in the 1950s and 1960s. Significance is placed on the amount of time the student has given back to the fraternity in addition to his studies. Awardees names are engraved on a plaque at the chapter house.
Joseph C. Tunner '63 Memorial Award - The Tunner is given for athletic achievement. It is named in honor of Joseph Tunner who died in an automobile accident while a student. Qualification for the award varies by year depending on the activities of the winner. Sometime it is given for significant varsity athletic ability. More often is it given to the brother who participates in a combination of varsity, club, or intramural sports and also organizes the fraternity's intramural sports teams. Winners' names are included on a plaque in the chapter house.
Jeffrey Rockwell Cudlip '90 Memorial Award - This award is given to the member of the brotherhood from the most recent pledge class who contributed the most to the fraternity as a pledge. Jeff Cudlip died soon after graduation from the University and the award is given in his memory. Jeff was an outgoing and social student who loved the University and his fraternity. A semi-formal event at the chapter house takes place every Spring, where Jeff's father, Charles T. "Chick" Cudlip '63, presents a medal to the winner. A number of Jeff's family members and friends usually attend this event. Additionally, a member of the University President's office reads a letter from the President congratulating the winner. The winner's name is engraved on a plaque in the chapter house.
Peter A. Stoudt '75 Alumni Award - This is the only award given to alumni of the fraternity. One alumnus is chosen by the board of trustees who has demonstrated particular accomplishments in his life. It is named in honor of Peter Stoudt '75 who served as the fraternity's House Corporation President for a number of years and provided wonderful leadership during that time. It is given out once every 5 years at a party in which alumni and undergraduates attend at the Boar's Head Inn in Charlottesville. The next party, the 135th Anniversary of the Fraternity will take place in September 2008.
Horny Korny ("HK") Award - This is light-hearted award which is given to a member of the fraternity who, despite his best efforts, is not successful with dating. The member and his nickname are emblazened on the underside of a special table which the member keeps in his room for the next year. Additionally, the award is memorialized with a mounted pair of large moose antlers in permanent display in the chapter house. The HK was first given to George Murray in 1956 and has been awarded every year since.
