| Pi Alpha Phi | |
|---|---|
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ΠΑΦ
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| Founded | 1929 UC Berkeley |
| Type | Social |
| Emphasis | Asian-American Interest |
| Scope | National |
| Motto | "A Tradition of Excellence Since 1929" |
| Colors | Berkeley Blue and California Gold |
| Symbol | Brotherhood Links |
| Chapters | 10 Chapters, 2 Associate Chapters, 2 Colonies |
| Headquarters | Berkeley, California, USA |
| Homepage | Pi Alpha Phi National Website |
Pi Alpha Phi (ΠΑΦ a.k.a PAPhi or Pineapples) is an American university-level fraternity. It was founded in 1929 at the University of California, Berkeley.
Pi Alpha Phi is one of the oldest Asian-American Interest Fraternity. Since its founding in the early 20th century, the fraternity has expanded with chapters at campuses throughout the nation.
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In 1928, three enterprising members of the Class of 1930 conceived the idea to form a fraternity to serve the several hundred students of Chinese descent at the University of California, Berkeley. Wing C. Chan, from the Central California town of Oroville; Dong Wing Tom, from San Francisco; and Elmer Leong from Berkeley, did much of the preliminary work towards the formation of the Fraternity. In the Fall of 1928, the three approached Tim Jang, a freshman starting his first year at the university to join.
On February 1, 1929, the six Founding Fathers signed the fraternity's Constitution in both Chinese and English and officially established Pi Alpha Phi at the University of California, Berkeley. The Six Founders were: D. Wing Tom, Wing Chan, Elmer Leong, Chack Chan, Tim Jang, and George Lee.
The Founding Fathers of Pi Alpha Phi hailed primarily from the state of California. Elmer Leong, George Lee, and D. Wing Tom were from the San Francisco Bay Area. Tim Jang, Wing Chan, and his younger brother Chack Chan came from the Central Valley Region of California. All were born in America with the exception of Wing Chan, who came from China at an early age.
The men studied science and engineering, which was considered a better path to employment after graduation since discrimination prevented most Asians from entering into law, medicine or other graduate disciplines.
Their challenges grew as they found out that student lodging was often not rented to those of Asian heritage. It was especially difficult for Tim, Wing and Chack from the Central Valley for whom commuting was not an option. The problem was solved by the goodwill of a sympathetic German woman known as Mother Tusch, who also had been a victim of racism. The seeds of brotherhood were planted in the cabin she rented to Wing, Elmer and D. Wing Tom behind her house near Sather Gate.
The six men proceeded with their college careers, engaging in academic and social events, as well as athletics. Elmer Leong even joined the university track team. They found great comfort and camaraderie in their small group but felt compelled to turn their group into more than a circle of friends, more than a club, more than a social gathering. They decided to form a formal fraternity of brothers that would bind them forever; a fraternity that would break the status quo and seek recognition by the university system.
Following graduation in the early 1930s, the Founding Fathers found life difficult. The country was in the midst of the Great Depression and discrimination against those of Asian heritage for jobs was even more prevalent. Four of the six - Wing Chan, Chack Chan, D. Wing Tom and George Lee - went to southern China to find employment and new lives. Tim and Elmer decided to stay in America to continue their education and start a career despite the difficult circumstances. The four in China prospered, with Wing teaching chemistry at a university in Canton, Chack Chan working in the local aircraft industry, George Lee pursuing a medical degree; and all four found their wives and started their families.
In 1937, with the advent of war in China, all returned home to America with the exception of Wing, who returned after World War II. During wartime, each of the founding fathers made contributions to their country. For example, Tim enlisted in the U.S. Navy Seabees. He served as a construction corpsman for the 132nd Naval Construction Battalion in the Pacific. Chack put his engineering skills to use as a draftsman at the famed Henry J. Kaiser naval shipyard in Richmond, California, where many of the country's great war ships were built.
Pi Alpha Phi focuses itself on several core values, which are written into its [1]. The 5 pillars of the fraternity are: Academic Excellence, Asian Awareness, Brotherhood, Leadership, and Philanthropy.
The Fraternity creates a studious environment and encourages each of its members to achieve his greatest academic potential. The Fraternity supports all educational endeavors and recognizes exceptional academic achievement.
The Fraternity believes in learning Asian American culture, heritage and history. The Fraternity encourages its members to pass on this knowledge to others.
When Pi Alpha Phi was founded in the 1920s, traditional Greek fraternities along with the rest of the nation, legally discriminated against men of color. Since they were banned from joining a traditional Greek fraternity, Pi Alpha Phi's Founding Fathers wanted to ensure that Asian American Awareness would forever be an important part of the Fraternity.
Today, the basic premise of the fraternity remains largely unchanged. Although the fraternity is open to people of all ethnic backgrounds it still retains its Asian American character. With emphasis on brotherhood, the fraternity works to create lifelong bonds that extend far beyond the university setting. The basic goals of brotherhood attained through shared experience, friendship and academics remain unaltered. Although the organization evolves from generation to generation, the underlying vision and heart of the fraternity is as solid today as it was for six young Berkeley men in 1929.
Established in 1975, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing together people with a common interest in the history of Chinese and Chinese-Americans in Southern California. The Society conducts research, collects materials and artifacts, and disseminates information. Pi Alpha Phi Alumnus are mentioned quite a few times in this book. Refer to Notable Alumni section.
From the mid 1980’s to the early 2000s, Pi Alpha Phi was a mainstay in the parade, operating what had affectionately become known as the “Pi Alpha Phi Dragon”. It was an event that truly exemplified the close bonds of brotherhood among the chapters of the fraternity: an opportunity for fraternity members all over to come together, have fun, and celebrate a cultural tradition.
Since 2002, due to several factors including the retiring of our dragon as well as criteria changes for participating organizations, the fraternity has not participated in the parade.
Their efforts were rewarded when the parade committee graciously extended a parade invitation to Pi Alpha Phi and its partner the Jade Ribbon Campaign to operate a Jade Ribbon Dragon.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=uAwhlTLlAZQ
The Jade Ribbon Campaign spreads awareness of the greatest health disparity between Asian Americans and Caucasian Americans: liver cancer, 80% of which is caused by chronic hepatitis B infection.
The Dragon the fraternity purchased was thought to have a capacity of only 20 people, but when it was put together, it was much longer. Although the dragon may not have been the most elaborate of the parade, it was definitely the longest, as the crowd surely recognized as the dragon snaked through the downtown parade route.
The Fraternity members took advantage of the opportunity by having a great turnout: almost 100 fraternity members showed up to participate and share in the bonds of brotherhood. Running a dragon at the parade had always been a great opportunity for the fraternity’s members to work together, build the bonds of brotherhood, and celebrate cultural traditions.
http://medstaging.stanford.edu/liver/
The Fraternity encourages mutual trust, respect, and loyalty among its members. The Fraternity creates an extended family that nurtures life-long "friendships" through the shared bonds of tradition, shared values, and unity.
The Fraternity provides opportunities to fulfill important duties within the organization and helps members develop leadership skills in preparation for their future careers and endeavors.
The Fraternity is committed to its responsibility to serve others and encourages participation in activities for the betterment of not only the Asian American community, but the community as a whole. One of its national events is the Jade Ribbon Campaign.
The Jade Ribbon Campaign spreads awareness of the greatest health disparity between Asian Americans and white Americans: liver cancer, 80% of which is caused by chronic hepatitis B infection.
The dragon the Fraternity purchased was thought to have a capacity of only 20 people, but when it was put together, it was much longer. Although the dragon may not have been the most elaborate of the parade, it was definitely the longest, as the crowd surely recognized as the dragon snaked through the downtown parade route.
The Fraternity members took advantage of our opportunity by having a great turnout: almost 100 fraternity members showed up to participate and share in the bonds of Brotherhood. Running a dragon at the parade has always been a great opportunity for the fraternity’s members to work together, build the bonds of Brotherhood, and celebrate cultural traditions. This year, they were also able to support a great philanthropic cause: the Jade Ribbon Campaign.
* defunct
National Cabinet 2009-2010
President: Irving Dang
Vice President: Kyle Sato
Treasurer: Doug Radtke
Secretary: Adam Tsang
Director of Membership Development: Sang Shin
Director of Risk Reduction: Brian Gee
National Cabinet 2008-2009
President: Keith Chu
Vice President: Ken Hui
Treasurer: Sujay Karve
Secretary: Jason JA Wang
Director of Membership Development: Doug Radtke
Director of Alumni Relations: David Jung
Director of Expansion: Justin Wong
Director of Risk Management: Brian Gee
National Cabinet 2007-2008
President: Jeremy Song
Vice President: Shuichi Sekino
Treasurer: Nathan Aukerman
Secretary: Keith Chu
Director of Expansion – West: Ken Hui
Director of Expansion – East: David Jung
National Cabinet 2006-2007
President: Dwight Lin
Vice President: Greg Chang
Treasurer: Sam Lin
Secretary: Jeremy Song
Director of Expansion: Charles Pak
National Cabinet 2005-2006
President: Kenny Shih
Vice President: Cheng Chiv
Treasurer: Paul Hsiao
Secretary: Phil Wang
Director of Expansion: Charles Pak
National Cabinet 2004-2005
President: Doug Liou
Vice President: Darren Lee
Treasurer: Edgar Gonzalez
Secretary: Sang Shin
Director of Expansion: Charles Pak/ Allen Yu
National Cabinet 2003-2004
President: Brian Futagaki
Vice President: Joshua Larson
Treasurer: Arthur Guo
Secretary: Leeman Now
Director of Expansion: Charles Pak/ Allen Yu
Today, Pi Alpha Phi's Alumni Association consists of one of the largest networks of alumni spanning back from the mid 1920's. For over eighty years, Pi Alpha Phi alumni have pursued and established successful careers, becoming pioneers in business, law, medicine, politics, higher education, science, entertainment, and nearly every other field imaginable.
The following esteemed alumni represent only a small sample of the many successful members of the Fraternity:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/obituary.aspx?n=ralph-fong&pid=144335993&fhid=5486
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