Pi Kappa Alpha ( ΠΚΑ ), commonly known as Pike is a college fraternity founded at the University of Virginia in 1868. The fraternity has over 225 chapters and provisional chapters across the United States and abroad with over 15,500 undergraduate members and over 300,000 lifetime initiates.
14-679: Pi Kappa Alpha was founded on March 1, 1868, in Room 47 in West Range ( The Range ) at the University of Virginia by six graduate students: Three of the Founders had been former cadets, having served on both sides of the recently concluded Civil War . One had been a Union hospital officer, another a Confederate veteran, and a third, a repatriate. Expansion was considered early in the fraternity's history; on March 1, 1869, exactly one year after
28-828: A four-star general and commander of the US First Army in Europe. Sectarian and other restrictions that were in place during the early years have since been modified or removed entirely: Pi Kappa Alpha remained a southern fraternity until the New Orleans Convention in 1909 when the fraternity officially declared itself a national organization. Like many other social fraternities at the time, Pi Kappa Alpha had limited its membership to white males. All race restrictions were removed in 1964. The fraternity's rituals were based on those of Independent Order of Odd Fellows . Its colors are garnet and old gold. Its symbols are
42-607: A short period before this duty was taken over by an administrative office. John Shaw Foster, a junior founder from Theta chapter , helped to reestablish Alpha chapter at the University of Virginia. Theta chapter is the longest continual-running chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha, having been founded in 1878. The four delegates to the Hampden–Sydney Convention are referred to as the Junior Founders. Pi Kappa Alpha
56-780: Is a community at University of Virginia for graduate students. The structure was designed by Thomas Jefferson as part of the original design. There are fifty-two rooms, which run parallel to the Lawn in rows. There are six "hotels" on the Range, three on each side. Originally used as dining facilities, the hotels today include a number of administrative office spaces as well as the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society . Previous Range residents who have become well-known include Edgar Allan Poe (13 W. Range) and Woodrow Wilson (31 W. Range). Pi Kappa Alpha maintains 47 W. Range, where it
70-469: Is only one of six criteria for admission, and Order of Omega is not a part of the Association of College Honor Societies . The Order of Omega was established in 1959 at the University of Miami . It sought to differentiate itself from the long-standing Greek honors society of Phi Beta Kappa by emphasizing community service and inter-Greek communication over academic and nominal honors. At that time,
84-744: Is the name used for all of the fraternity's leadership programs. The program is administered by the fraternity's professional staff. It was founded in 1948 as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization for charitable, literary & educational purposes. Events held by the university include the International Convention, the Academy, the Chapter Executives Conference, and several regional Leadership Summits. Pike University grants more than $ 100,000 in scholarships each year. In 1948, Pi Kappa Alpha established and chartered
98-533: The Alpha chapter at the University of Virginia was formed, the Beta chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha was founded at Davidson College . Its Gamma chapter was placed at William and Mary just two years later, and a total of seven chapters formed in the first decade. This period of early growth slowed though, and by 1889 only four chapters remained active. A call for a national convention was sent out, and delegates of three of
112-534: The "Pi Kappa Alpha Memorial Foundation" as a 501(c)(3) organization . The foundation grants $ 350,000 in scholarships and grants to undergraduate members each year. It also provides funding to the fraternity and its chapters for leadership programs, scholarships, and chapter house facilities. The foundation grants initiation fee scholarships to undergraduates inducted into Phi Beta Kappa , Omicron Delta Kappa , Order of Omega , Phi Kappa Phi , and Tau Beta Pi honoraries. The Pike Foundation also maintains and operates
126-824: The Memorial Headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee . This facility houses professional staff, the Harvey T. Newell Library, and the Freeman Hart Museum. The building is a war memorial built in 1988 to recognize the military services of members who died in the line of duty. A Gold Star Memorial was dedicated on August 1, 2008. Despite policies put in place by the national fraternity to curtail hazing behavior, local chapters have been involved in events which lead to deaths, sexual assault, and other misconduct. The Range (University of Virginia) The Range
140-416: The four active chapters met in what would become the "junior founding" of the fraternity at what they called the Hampden–Sydney Convention, held in a dorm room at Hampden–Sydney College . This marked the start of a new wave of prosperity and substantial growth and the end of almost a decade of decline. Theta chapter , at Rhodes College , took over the responsibilities of Alpha chapter , granting chapters for
154-511: The group adopted as its mark the Greek letter omega , in gold on an ivory field. The organization was unique to the University of Miami until, in 1967, a second charter was granted to begin a chapter at University of Southern Mississippi . The group remained exclusive to men until 1977. In more recent years, the order has emerged as a moot arena in which the fraternity and sorority community can air progressive changes to its member organizations as
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#1732772722894168-683: The shield, diamond, dagger, and key. Its flower is the lily of the valley. Its tree is the Oak and its mascot is the White Horse. Its jewel is the Diamond. Shield & Diamond is the official quarterly publication of Pi Kappa Alpha. It was first printed in December 1890 by Robert Adger Smythe, who was then Grand Secretary and Treasurer, under the name The Pi Kappa Alpha Journal . The name was changed to Shield & Diamond in 1891. Pike University
182-423: Was founded on March 1, 1868. Order of Omega The Order of Omega is an undergraduate Greek society recognizing "fraternity men and women who have attained a high standard of leadership in inter-fraternity activities." It functions as an adjunct to traditional fraternal organizations, rather than a social or professional group in se . It is not an academic honor society ; a minimum grade point average
196-529: Was not originally organized as a sectional fraternity; however, by constitutional provision it became so in 1889, and for twenty years would only open chapters south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Pi Kappa Alpha members have supported the nation's armed conflicts in large numbers. In World War I , one out of every six members of the fraternity served in uniform. In World War II , 15,000 of its 33,000 active members served, including General Courtney Hodges ,
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