Tau Epsilon Phi
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Tau Epsilon Phi (TEΦ, commonly pronounced TEP) is an American fraternity with approximately 40 active chapters, chiefly located at universities and colleges on the East Coast of the United States. The national headquarters is currently located in Voorhees, New Jersey and the official colors of the organization are lavender and white (although most chapters use purple instead of lavender).[1]
TEP attracts and accepts brothers of all religions and ethnicities who agree to be bound by the fraternity's ideals: friendship, chivalry, and service.
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[edit] History
The organization was founded on October 10, 1910, by ten Jewish Freemason men at Columbia University, as a response to the existence of similar organizations who would not admit Jewish members.[1]
The first pledge, Maximillian Nemser, was initiated in 1911, and in 1912, the first new chapter was founded at New York University.[1] Continued expansion led to the adoption of a national constitution in 1916.[1]
In 1920, the opening of a chapter at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec made TEΦ an international fraternity.[1] The McGill chapter has since been disbanded. The oldest remaining chapter today is the Delta chapter at Cornell University.
Beginning in 1923, the organization has published a nationally distributed magazine, The Plume.[1] TEΦ was initially exclusively Jewish, but began admitting non-Jewish members (predominantly Catholics) in the 1950s.[1]
President Dwight D. Eisenhower was inducted as an honorary member during his administration.[1]
In 1986, Sidney Suntag, who served as Executive Secretary from 1946-1979, published the book The History of Tau Epsilon Phi: 75 Years of Friendship 1910-1985 recounting the national history of the fraternity.
[edit] Ideals
The organization's creed asserts its governing ideals as "friendship, chivalry, and service." Chapters uphold these ideals through participation in various social, academic, and athletic, and charity events.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Jeff Altman
- Red Auerbach
- Omar Bradley (accepted honorary membership)
- Bryan Clark
- Larry David
- David Duchovny
- Dwight D. Eisenhower (accepted honorary membership)
- Benny Goodman
- Vincent C. Gray, Chairman, Washington, DC Council
- Judge Irving R. Kaufman
- Larry King
- Raymond Kurzweil
- Samuel J. LeFrak
- Gov. Marvin Mandel, (D-Md)
- State Delegate Kirill Reznik, (D-Md)
- Dr. Jonas Salk
- Adam Sandler
- Senator Rick Santorum, (R-PA)
- Bernard Siegel
- James Spector
- Jerry Springer
- Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele, (R-Md)
- George Stephanopoulos
- Lawrence Wagner, a.k.a. Love 22
- Judge Joseph Albert Wapner
- See also: List of Tau Epsilon Phi chapters
