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Pi Beta Phi
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{{short description|North American collegiate sorority}} {{Infobox Fraternity | name = Pi Beta Phi | letters = {{lang|grc|ΠΒΦ}} | crest = Pi_Beta_Phi_crest.png | image_size = 160px | founded = {{start date and age|1867|04|28}} | birthplace = [[Monmouth College]] | affiliation = NPC | status = Active | type = Social sorority | scope = North America | motto = Friends and Leaders for Life | member badge = [[File:Pi Beta Phi badge.png|110px]] | colors = {{color box|#781126}} [[Wine (color)|Wine]] and {{color box|#8A9A9A}} [[shades of blue|Silver Blue]] <!--See [https://www.color-name.com/silver-blue.color]. In practice, multiple colors can carry this name. This appears the truest fit.--> | symbol = [[Arrow]] | mascot = [[Angel]] | flower = Wine [[carnation]] | publication = ''The ARROW'' | philanthropy = Read > Lead > Achieve | chapters = 136 active | members = 21,000+ | address = 1154 Town & Country Commons Drive | city = [[Town & Country, Missouri|Town & Country]] | state = [[Missouri]] | ZIP code = 63017 | country = United States | homepage = {{url|http://www.pibetaphi.org}} }} '''Pi Beta Phi''' ('''{{lang|grc|ΠΒΦ}}'''), often known simply as '''Pi Phi''', is an international [[Fraternities and sororities in North America|women's fraternity]] founded at [[Monmouth College]], in [[Monmouth, Illinois]] on April 28, 1867, as '''I. C. Sorosis''', the first national secret college society of women to be modeled after the men's Greek-letter fraternity. Pi Phi's headquarters are located in [[Town and Country, Missouri]]. Since its founding, the fraternity has installed over 200 chapters and more than 300 alumnae organizations across the [[United States]] and [[Canada]]. Most of the fraternity's official philanthropies fall under the category of [[education]]/[[literacy]] programs or the preservation of traditional arts and crafts. Pi Beta Phi is one of 26 international sororities that are members under the umbrella organization of the [[National Panhellenic Conference]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://npcwomen.dynamic.omegafi.com/about/our-member-organizations/|title=Our Member Organizations|work=National Panhellenic Conference|access-date=2018-05-10|language=en-US}}</ref> ==History== Pi Beta Phi was founded as a secret organization under the name of '''I. C. Sorosis''' on {{dts|1867|04|28}} at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. Pi Beta Phi is regarded as the first national women's fraternity, although [[Kappa Alpha Theta]] was the first Greek-letter fraternity known among women in 1870.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pibetaphi.org/pibetaphi/PBP/Chapters/chapter.aspx?id=14089 |title=Welcome to Pi Beta Phi |publisher=Pibetaphi.org |date=1996-10-19 |access-date=2014-08-20}}</ref> The founders were: {{columns-list|colwidth=15em| * Clara Brownlee Hutchinson * Libbie Brook Gaddis * Emma Brownlee Kilgore * Margaret Campbell * Rosa Moore * Ada Bruen Grier * Nancy Black Wallace * Jennie Horne Turnbull * [[Rachel Nicol (physician)|Rachel Jane "Jennie" Nicol]] * Inez Smith Soule * Fannie Thomson * Fannie Whitenack Libbey<ref>{{Cite web|title = Pi Beta Phi Fraternity For Women|url = https://www.pibetaphi.org/pibetaphi/About_Us/History/History_of_Pi_Beta_Phi/|website = www.pibetaphi.org|access-date = 2017-07-14}}</ref>}} The organization was formed "to enjoy the benefits of a secret society similar to those formed by collegiate men."<ref name="Website History" /> They planned their society at a home where two of the women rented a room, choosing I. C. Sorosis as the name and "Pi Beta Phi" as the motto.<ref name="Baird's Manual Online">{{Cite web |editor-last=Baird |editor-first=William Raimond |editor2-last=Lurding |editor2-first=Carroll |title=Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities – Student Life and Culture Archives – U of I Library |url=https://www.library.illinois.edu/slc/welcome/fraternity-sorority-almanac/ |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=www.library.illinois.edu}}</ref> Shortly after the founding, the sisters had a jeweler design their official badge: a golden arrow with the letters "I. C." on the wings. When the name was changed to "Pi Beta Phi," the Greek letters replaced "I. C." on the wings. At the Yellowstone Convention of 1934, they voted to limit the links in the badge's chain; there are 12, one for each of the founders.<ref name="Website History">{{Cite web|title = Pi Beta Phi Fraternity For Women|url = https://www.pibetaphi.org/pibetaphi/About_Us/History/History_of_Pi_Beta_Phi/|website = www.pibetaphi.org|access-date = 2015-09-26}}</ref> The first fraternity convention was held in 1868 at the home of Fannie Thomson in Oquawka, Illinois. The fraternity's second chapter was established that same year at [[Iowa Wesleyan University]] in [[Mount Pleasant, Iowa|Mount Pleasant]], Iowa. The expansion made Pi Beta Phi the first national (multi-chapter) women's secret society.<ref name="Baird's Manual Online" /> === Name change and NPC membership === At the 1882 convention, the society officially adopted its motto as well as the fraternity colors of wine and silver blue. It began to use Greek letters as its name six years later, in 1888, when the name was changed from I. C. Sorosis to Pi Beta Phi. In 1893, with the number of alumnae members growing, the fraternity organized a national alumnae department. Cooperation among women's fraternities and sororities was formalized in 1902 with the founding of the National Panhellenic Conference, of which Pi Beta Phi was a founding member.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Panhellenic Conference {{!}} Pi Beta Phi History |url=https://history.pibetaphi.org/exhibits/national-panhellenic-conference |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=history.pibetaphi.org}}</ref> Meanwhile, chapter expansion continued, and in 1908 the fraternity's first Canadian chapter was established at the [[University of Toronto]].<ref name="Baird's Manual Online" /> The fraternity's first philanthropy, [[Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts|Pi Beta Phi Settlement School]], was organized in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in 1912. In 1913, the fraternity created local Alumnae Advisory Committees to support its chapters individually. Central Office, the fraternity headquarters, was established in 1925. In the 1960s, [[G. William Domhoff]], writing in ''[[Who Rules America?]]'', listed Pi Beta Phi as one of "the four or five sororities with nationwide prestige."<ref>{{cite book|title=[[Who Rules America?]]|last=Domhoff|first=G. William|publisher=McGraw Hill College|year=2015|edition=Seventh|page=57|oclc=912380768|author-link=G. William Domhoff}}</ref> ==Symbols== The official [[symbol]] of Pi Beta Phi is the [[arrow]]. Its flower is the wine [[carnation]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |date=January 2018 |title=Manual of Information |url=https://npcwomen.dynamic.omegafi.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2037/2018/01/manual-of-information-2018.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618075328/https://npcwomen.dynamic.omegafi.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2037/2018/01/manual-of-information-2018.pdf |archive-date=2018-06-18 |access-date=2018-06-17 |work=National Panhellenic Conference |page=26 |edition=23rd}}</ref> The fraternity colors are [[wine (color)|wine]] and [[blue|silver blue]].<ref name=":02" /> The unofficial mascot is the [[angel]], nicknamed "Angelica". Pi Beta Phi does not have an official gemstone. The crest is a [[Lozenge (heraldry)|lozenge]] emblazoned with the crest of the Brownlee family, two of whom were founders of the fraternity. The badge is a golden arrow with the Greek letters '''{{lang|grc|ΠΒΦ}}''' on the wings and a loop of chain on the shaft.<ref name=":02" /> The pledge pin is a golden arrowhead with the Greek letter '''{{lang|grc|Β}}'''.<ref name=":02" /> The ''Kansas Alpha'' chapter began publication of ''The Arrow'' in 1885; it would eventually become a quarterly magazine published by the international fraternity for all its members.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Arrow {{!}} Pi Beta Phi Fraternity For Women |url=https://www.pibetaphi.org/engage/publications/arrow |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=www.pibetaphi.org}}</ref><ref name=":02" /> == Chapters and alumnae clubs == {{Main|List of Pi Beta Phi chapters}}Pi Beta Phi alumnae, initiated members in good standing who have graduated or otherwise left their college or university, can organize into local alumnae clubs, which are recognized by the fraternity.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Alumnae Club Histories {{!}} Pi Beta Phi History |url=https://history.pibetaphi.org/clubs/list-of-alumnae-clubs |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=history.pibetaphi.org}}</ref> Like collegiate chapters, alumnae clubs are grouped geographically into regions, which is led by an Alumnae Regional Director.<ref name=":1" /> == Governance == The international fraternity is governed by a Grand Council, elected at each biennial convention and comprising a Grand President and six Grand Vice Presidents (Alumnae, Collegians, Finance/Housing, Community Relations, Fraternity Growth, and Member Experience). Also elected biennially are seven international Directors (Alumnae, Operations, Finance/Housing, Community Relations, Recruitment, Risk Management and Member Experience) and two Directors for each region (Collegiate Regional Director and Alumnae Regional Director). The work of Directors is supervised by a member of the Grand Council.<ref name=":1" /> In addition to the elected officers, there are several appointed international officers assigned certain functions, such as an archivist and a fraternity historian. == Philanthropies == Like many [[sororities]] and [[fraternities]], Pi Beta Phi members take part in several [[philanthropy]] programs. Over the fraternity's history, philanthropies have included education, literacy, and the preservation of regional arts and crafts. In 1990, Pi Beta Phi created the Pi Beta Phi Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pibetaphifoundation.org/mission-vision-values |title=Pi Beta Phi Foundation Website |access-date=2012-01-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102111816/http://www.pibetaphifoundation.org/mission-vision-values |archive-date=2012-01-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref> === Read > Lead > Achieve === [[File:Woman reading picture book to children.jpg|Woman reading picture book to children|200px|left]] Pi Phi's philanthropy is called Read>Lead>Achieve and is centered around children's literacy.<ref>{{cite web |title=READ > LEAD > ACHIEVE |url=https://www.pibetaphi.org/pbp/0e230d54-cce0-4a6e-a24d-cfd61f6791d9/Literacy |website=Pi Beta Phi |access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref> Pi Phi's believe in unlocking the power of reading to create a more literate and productive society. To do so, Pi Phi has started a reading enrichment program for students in pre school through third grade called, "Champions are Readers".<ref>{{cite web |title=Champions Are Readers |url=https://www.pibetaphi.org/car |website=Pi Beta Phi |access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref> This program is funded through the Pi Beta Phi foundation and provides students with all materials needed for the program. Additionally, members can join a virtual book club to share their love of reading with their sisters. ===Educational and cultural philanthropies=== Pi Beta Phi opened the '''[[Pi beta phi settlement school|Pi Beta Phi Settlement School]]''' in [[Gatlinburg, Tennessee]], in 1912 to provide education, economic opportunity, and health care to the rural area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pi Beta Phi Fraternity For Women |url=https://www.pibetaphi.org/philanthropies/arrowmont.html |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=www.pibetaphi.org}}</ref> Over the years, as the community took over childhood education, Settlement School began to adapt by offering arts and crafts classes to preserve and promote the region's crafts tradition. An extension of the Pi Beta Phi Settlement School called the Craft Work Shop was begun in 1945 in cooperation with the [[University of Tennessee]].<ref name=knoxnews>Josh Flory, [http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/aug/16/pi-beta-phi-fraternity-sell-arrowmont-land/ Pi Beta Phi fraternity to sell Arrowmont land], Knoxville News Sentinel, August 16, 2008</ref> Now an independent [[nonprofit organization]] known as the [[Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts]], it is one of the oldest arts and crafts centers in the [[Southern United States|South]].<ref name=knoxnews/> == Notable members == {{main|List of Pi Beta Phi members}} ==Local chapter or member misconduct== In 2005, the chapter at the [[University of California at Los Angeles|University of California, Los Angeles]] was penalized for hazing pledges.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dailybruin.com/2005/03/20/hazing-in-greek-system-not-fre/|title = Hazing in Greek system not frequently litigated}}</ref> In 2010, the chapter at [[Cornell University]] received national attention after the release of a seven-page email sent to members of the chapter to address what is acceptable and unacceptable attire for recruitment. The tone of the e-mail—with lines such as "No muffin tops or camel toe" and "I will not tolerate any gross plastic shizz [jewelry]"—drew criticism from the [[Huffington Post]] and many online young adult forums.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/sorority-hazing-increasingly-violent-disturbing-college-campus/story?id=9798604| title = Sorority Hazing Increasingly Violent, Disturbing - ABC News| website = [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref> In 2010, the chapter at the [[Miami University]] was suspended for one year after underage drinking, vomiting, littering, and damaging Lake Lyndsay Lodge in Hamilton, Ohio.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-04 |title=Sororities' drunken actions shock MIami alumni, students |url=https://www.journal-news.com/news/local/sororities-drunken-actions-shock-miami-alumni-students/toY6eV0M9wDOAJYUerndYI/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704063459/https://www.journal-news.com/news/local/sororities-drunken-actions-shock-miami-alumni-students/toY6eV0M9wDOAJYUerndYI/ |archive-date=2018-07-04 }}</ref> In August 2017, the organization closed its chapter at Miami, saying that "... the decision was made because the membership experience has routinely fallen below Fraternity expectations, particularly in regards to risk management and the lack of commitment to Pi Beta Phi's core values."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pibetaphi.org/pibetaphi/News/Pi_Beta_Phi_Chapter_at_Miami_University_Closes/|title=Pi Beta Phi Fraternity For Women|website=www.pibetaphi.org|access-date=2017-11-21}}</ref> In 2012, the chapter at [[Bucknell University]] was suspended for at least three years for violation of the international chapter's policy and position statements regarding event planning-management and alcohol use. The chapter has since closed permanently.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailyitem.com/news/bucknell-sorority-suspended-for-years/article_dfc2b087-2b0c-546e-af2f-effcc3660b58.html|title=Bucknell sorority suspended for 3 years|date=18 July 2012 }}</ref> In 2013, the chapter at the [[University of Nevada at Reno]] was banned from campus until the last active member graduated due to repeated hazing violations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-25 |title=Pi Phi Beta Sorority Suspended for Minimum of 3 Years - KTVN Channel 2 - Reno Tahoe Sparks News, Weather, Video |url=http://www.ktvn.com/story/20606136/pi-phi-beta-sorority-suspended-for-minimum-of-3-years |access-date=2023-03-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425031417/http://www.ktvn.com/story/20606136/pi-phi-beta-sorority-suspended-for-minimum-of-3-years |archive-date=2019-04-25 }}</ref> In 2013 and 2014, sorority women from multiple chapters at the [[University of Alabama]] – including Pi Beta Phi, [[Kappa Delta]], [[Chi Omega]], [[Delta Delta Delta]], [[Alpha Omicron Pi]], and [[Chi Omega|Alpha Gamma Delta]] – alleged that either active members or some of their alumnae had prevented them from offering membership to black candidates because of their race.<ref name=":163">{{Cite news|url=https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/news/a10379/revolution-on-sorority-row-september-2014/|title=Revolution on Sorority Row|last=Webley Adler|first=Kayla|date=2014-08-06|work=Marie Claire|access-date=2018-06-27|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.hercampus.com/life/greek-life/truth-about-racism-southern-sororities|title=The Truth About Racism at Southern Sororities|last=Gladu|first=Alex|date=2013-11-13|work=Her Campus|access-date=2018-06-27|language=en}}</ref> An anonymous Pi Beta Phi member told the university newspaper, ''[[The Crimson White]]'', that alumnae threatened to cut financial support from the chapter if they offered membership to a black candidate the chapter had wanted to recruit.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://blog.al.com/tuscaloosa/2013/09/alabama_sorority_alumni_advise.html|title=Alabama sorority alumnae, advisers blocked black rushees, students say|last=Brown|first=Melissa|date=2013-09-11|work=AL.com|access-date=2018-08-26|language=en-US}}</ref> Students held a campus march to integrate Greek life on campus, and following media and national outcry, the university held a second round of recruitment in hopes of offering membership to more women, including black women.<ref name=":163" /> In 2021, [[Emory University]]'s chapter faced allegations of racism and sexual assault cover-ups.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Huynh |first1=Anjali |title=Despite Attempts to Reform, Sorority Members Decry Systemic Failures |url=https://emorywheel.com/despite-attempts-to-reform-sorority-members-decry-systemic-failures/#:~:text=that's%20bulls—.”-,Pi%20Beta%20Phi,Jessie%20Michael%20(20C)%20surfaced. |access-date=10 June 2024}}</ref> == See also == * [[List of social sororities and women's fraternities]] * [[National Panhellenic Conference]] ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== *[http://www.pibetaphi.org/ Pi Beta Phi Fraternity For Women] {{National Panhellenic Conference}} {{Fraternities and Sororities |collapsed}} [[Category:Pi Beta Phi| ]] [[Category:1867 establishments in Illinois]] [[Category:International student societies]] [[Category:National Panhellenic Conference]] [[Category:Student societies in the United States]] [[Category:Student organizations established in 1867]] [[Category:Monmouth College]] [[Category:Women's organizations based in the United States]] [[Category:Fraternities and sororities in the United States]] [[Category:Sororities]]
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