Editing Pi Kappa Alpha

{{Short description|North American collegiate fraternity}}
{{Infobox Fraternity
| letters = {{lang|grc|ΠΚΑ}}
| name = Pi Kappa Alpha
| crest = Pi Kappa Alpha Coat of Arms.png
| image_size = 220px
| founded = {{start date and age|1868|3|1}}
| birthplace = [[University of Virginia]]
| affiliation = NIC
| type = Social fraternity
| vision = 
| colors = {{color box|#990000}} Garnet and {{color box|#9E7C0A}} Old Gold
| flag = [[File:Pi_Kappa_Alpha_flag.jpg|150px]]
| symbol = Shield, Diamond, Dagger, and Key
| jewel = [[Diamond]]
| flower = [[Lily of the Valley]]
| publication = ''Shield and Diamond''
| scope = North America
| chapters = 225
| members = 
| lifetime = 310,000+
| nickname = Pikes, Pikas
| address = 8347 West Range Cove
| city = [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]]
| state = Tennessee
| ZIP code = 38125
| country = United States
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.pikes.org}}
| status = Active
| tree = Oak Tree
| mascot = White Horse
| motto = "Once a Pike, always a Pike"
| member badge = [[File:Pi_Kappa_Alpha_badge.png|left|90px]]
}}

'''Pi Kappa Alpha''' ('''{{lang|grc|ΠΚΑ}}'''), commonly known as '''Pike''' is a [[Fraternities and sororities|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.

==History==
Pi Kappa Alpha was founded on March 1, 1868, in Room 47 in West Range ([[The Range (University of Virginia)|The Range]]) at the [[University of Virginia]] by six graduate students: 
{|border="0" cellpadding="5"
|-valign="top"
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*[[Robertson Howard]]
*[[Julian Edward Wood]]
*[[James Benjamin Sclater Jr.]]
|
*[[Frederick Southgate Taylor]]
*[[Littleton Waller Tazewell Bradford|Littleton Waller Tazewell (Bradford)]] 
*[[William C. Alexander (1848–1937)|William Alexander]].<ref name="pike.org History">{{cite web|url=http://www.pikes.org/historyA.aspx|title=Founding History|author=Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity|access-date=11 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928084158/http://www.pikes.org/historyA.aspx|archive-date=28 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|}

Three of the Founders had been former cadets, having served on both sides of the recently concluded [[American Civil War|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 the ''Alpha chapter'' at the University of Virginia was formed, the ''Beta chapter'' of Pi Kappa Alpha was founded at [[Davidson College]].<ref name="Beta chapter History">{{cite web|url=http://www.davidson.edu/student/organizations/pika/|title=A History of Beta|author=Beta chapter, Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity|access-date=11 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324093235/http://www.davidson.edu/student/organizations/pika/ |archive-date=24 March 2012}}</ref> Its ''Gamma chapter'' was placed at [[The College of William and Mary|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.<ref name="Baird's">{{cite book |editor1-first=Jack L. |editor1-last=Anson |editor2-first=Robert F. |editor2-last=Marchenasi |title=Baird's Manual of American Fraternities |edition=20th |year=1991 |orig-year=1879 |publisher=Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. |location=Indianapolis, IN |isbn=978-0963715906 |page=III-99–102}}</ref>

A call for a national convention was sent out, and delegates of three of 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 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.<ref name="Baird's" />

Pi Kappa Alpha 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2iErAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA301 |title=Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities |edition=9th |date=1920 |publisher=James T. Brown |access-date=26 March 2018 |via=Google Books}}</ref>

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]], a four-star general and commander of the [[First United States Army|US First Army]] in Europe.<ref name="Baird's" />

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.<ref name=1970PledgeGuide>{{cite book|title=Garnet & Gold Pledge Guide|year=1970|publisher=Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity|edition=15th}}</ref><ref name="Baird's" /> 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.<ref name=Hughey>{{cite journal|last=Hughey|first=Matthew W|title=Black, White, Greek...Like Who?: Howard University Student Perceptions of a White Fraternity on Campus|journal=Educational Foundations|date=Winter–Spring 2006|volume=20|issue=1–2|pages=9–35|url=http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/EJ751759.pdf|access-date=5 January 2013}}</ref>

As of 2024, Pi Kappa Alpha has initiated more than 310,000 members.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://pikes.org/about/ |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=Pi Kappa Alpha |language=en-US}}</ref> The fraternity's headquarters are in Memphis, Tennessee.<ref name=":0" />

==Symbols==
The fraternity's rituals were based on those of [[Independent Order of Odd Fellows]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4htx62wIXIgC&pg=PA256|title=Conspiracy Theories and Secret Societies For Dummies|first1=Christopher|last1=Hodapp|first2=Alice Von|last2=Kannon|date=4 February 2011|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=9781118052020|access-date=26 March 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref> Its colors are garnet and old gold.<ref name=":0" /> Its symbols are the shield, diamond, dagger, and key.<ref name=":0" /> Its flower is the lily of the valley.<ref name=":0" /> Its tree is the Oak.<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name=1970PledgeGuide />

The fraternity's nickname is PIKE and its members are called Pikes.<ref name=":0" />

==Activities==

===PIKE University===

Pike University is the name used for all of the fraternity's leadership programs. The program is administered by the fraternity's professional staff.<ref name="pikes.org PikeUni">{{cite web|url=http://www.pikes.org/subPikeUniversity.aspx?mode=spage&spid=88&pid=8|title=About Pike University|author=Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity|access-date=11 July 2011}}</ref> 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.

===PIKE Foundation===

In 1948, Pi Kappa Alpha established and chartered 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.<ref name=1970PledgeGuide /><ref name=Folmsbee>{{cite book|last=Folmsbee|first=Stanley|title=History of Tennessee, Volume 4|year=1960|publisher=Lewis Historical Publishing Company|pages=838|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VnsGAQAAIAAJ}}</ref>

The Pike Foundation also maintains and operates the Memorial Headquarters in [[Memphis, Tennessee]]. This facility houses professional staff, the Harvey T. Newell Library, and the Freeman Hart Museum.<ref name="pikes.org MHQ" /> The building is a war memorial built in 1988 to recognize the military services of members who died in the line of duty.<ref name="pikes.org MHQ" /> A Gold Star Memorial was dedicated on August 1, 2008.<ref name="pikes.org MHQ">{{cite web|url=http://www.pikes.org/AboutMHQ.aspx?mode=spage&spid=51&pid=3|title=About Memorial Headquarters|author=Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity|access-date=11 July 2011}}</ref><ref name="pike.org Fast Facts">{{cite web|url=http://www.pikes.org/FastFacts.aspx?mode=spage&spid=48&pid=3|title=Fast Facts|author=Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity|access-date=11 July 2011}}</ref><ref name="GPO">{{cite book|title=United States of America Congressional Record 111th Congress, Vol. 155 - Part 7|year=2009|publisher=Government of United States|pages=9673|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GRMxoaZIn9cC&pg=PA9673}}</ref>[[File:Pi Kappa Alpha, Georgia Institute of Technology.jpg|thumb|278x278px|Pi Kappa Alpha at the [[Georgia Tech|Georgia Institute of Technology]]]]

== Chapters ==
{{Main|List of Pi Kappa Alpha chapters}}

== Notable members ==
{{main|List of Pi Kappa Alpha members}}

==Chapter and member misconduct==
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.<ref>{{cite news |title=BGSU sophomore Stone Foltz has died following alleged fraternity hazing |url=https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/family-of-bgsu-student-stone-foltz-involved-in-alleged-hazing-incident-says-theyre-working-with-doctors-to-donate-his-organs/512-e431cb25-e805-4aab-a4f8-785ef727936b |access-date=8 March 2021 |work=wtol.com}}</ref>

=== Hazing deaths ===
*Samuel Mark Click, a pledge at [[Texas Tech University]], was killed by a train while participating in a scavenger hunt as part of a hazing event in 1976.<ref name="Nuwer2001">{{cite book|author=Hank Nuwer|title=Wrongs of Passage: Fraternities, Sororities, Hazing, and Binge Drinking|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lHM9ltEQIU0C&pg=PA320|year=2001|publisher=[[Indiana University Press]]|isbn=0-253-21498-X|pages=320–}}</ref>
*In 2002, Albert Santos, a pledge at the [[University of Nevada at Reno]], drowned in a lake during a hazing ritual. He and several pledges were told to swim in a lake in their underwear; Santos could not swim.<ref name="kolotv.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/631347.html|title=Parents of Drowned UNR Student File Lawsuit|agency=Associated Press|website=kolotv.com|access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref>
*In 2012, Pi Kappa Alpha pledge David Bogenberger died of a [[cardiac arrhythmia]] triggered by [[alcohol poisoning]]. According to police, Bogenberger and other pledges were pressured into drinking large quantities of alcohol in a two-hour time at an unsanctioned [[Northern Illinois University]] event.<ref name="Bogenberger">{{cite news|last1=Burnett|first1=Sarah|title=Hazing At Fraternity: 22 Pi Kappa Alpha Members Charged After Student Dies|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/18/hazing-at-fraternity-pi-kappa-alpha_n_2320354.html|newspaper=[[Huffington Post]]|date=2012-12-18}}</ref> Bogenberger and 18 other pledges drank to unconsciousness. Five fraternity officers and seventeen other members were convicted of misdemeanors in one of the largest hazing prosecutions in U.S. history. The chapter was suspended by the fraternity.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vitello|first1=Barbara|title=Father of NIU frat hazing victim tells 22 convicted, 'You left him alone to die'|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20150508/news/150508898/|access-date=May 10, 2015|work=[[Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)|Daily Herald]]|date=May 8, 2015}}</ref>
*In March 2021, fraternity pledge [[Death of Stone Foltz|Stone Foltz]] died at the hospital due to [[alcohol intoxication]] after being forced to consume a fifth of [[Evan Williams (bourbon)|Evan Williams]] whiskey. Eight members of the ''Delta Beta chapter'' at [[Bowling Green State University]] were criminally charged with first-degree felony involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, felonious assault, hazing, failure to comply with underage alcohol laws, and obstructing official business, third-degree felony involuntary manslaughter, tampering with evidence, and obstructing justice.<ref name="Columbus">{{cite news |last1=Hendrix |first1=Sheridan |date=April 29, 2021 |title=Stone Foltz: Eight BGSU students indicted in fraternity hazing death |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/crime/2021/04/29/bgsu-hazing-death-8-fraternity-members-charged-stone-foltz-ohio-case/4889081001/ |newspaper=[[Columbus Dispatch]]}}</ref> The international fraternity expelled all of the undergraduate members and revoked the chapter's charter.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 29, 2021 |title=Statement on Indictment of Former Members of Delta Beta Chapter at Bowling Green State University |url=https://pikes.org/health/antihazing/ |publisher=Pi Kappa Alpha |quote=The Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity has a zero-tolerance policy toward hazing, illegal activity, substance abuse, and bullying. Following the tragic death of Stone Foltz, the Supreme Council of The Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity voted to suspend the charter of the Delta Beta Chapter at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) and that its charter be revoked.}}</ref> In 2023, the parents of Stone Foltz filed a lawsuit against Bowling Green State for the wrongful death of their son.<ref>{{cite web |date=24 June 2022 |title=Parents of college student sue university after son died after hazing incident |url=https://abc7ny.com/fraternity-hazing-death-bowling-green-state-university-stone-foltz-pi-kappa-alpha-international/11992422/}}</ref>

=== Sexual assault ===

* In 1988, three members of the [[Florida State University]] chapter were charged with the sexual battery of a freshman female student.<ref name="miaminewtimes.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/pi-kappa-alpha-has-a-history-of-suspensions-in-florida-including-for-alleged-rape-6521158|title=Pi Kappa Alpha Has a History of Suspensions in Florida, Including for Alleged Rape|first=Michael E.|last=Miller|date=22 August 2013|website=miaminewtimes.com|access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Basu|first1=Moni|title=Ghosts of rape past: Can a survivor find solace in return to the crime scene?|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/16/us/campus-rape-survivor-faces-ghosts/|access-date=December 9, 2015|work=CNN|date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> Also in 1988 several members of Pi Kappa Alpha were arrested for a sexual assault that took place at [[Stetson University]].<ref name="miaminewtimes.com" />
* In 2008, ten Pike members were arrested at [[Tulane University]] for pouring boiling water on pledges; the chapter was also accused of drugging and sexually assaulting several female students at the fraternity's annual bacchanal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/05/suspended_tulane_frats_reputat.html|title=Suspended Tulane frat's reputation is hardly brotherly|website=nola.com|date=7 May 2008 |access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref>
* [[Florida International University]] suspended the fraternity in 2013 after the discovery of photos on [[Facebook]] of [[Hazing in Greek letter organizations|hazing]] and drug deals, as well as sexually explicit photos of women taken without their consent.<ref>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Michael E.|title=FIU Suspends Frat After Facebook Posts Reveal Drug Deals, Hazing, and Creep Shots|url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2013-08-29/news/fiu-frat-suspended/|access-date=13 January 2014|newspaper=Miami New Times|date=29 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Vasquez|first=Michael|title=FIU suspends Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity over Facebook posts|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/08/21/3577093/fiu-suspends-pi-kappa-alpha-fraternity.html|access-date=13 January 2014|newspaper=Miami Herald|date=21 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Chen|first=Tina|title=Fraternity Probed for Alleged Drug Dealing on Facebook|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/08/fraternity-probed-for-alleged-drug-dealing-on-facebook/|access-date=13 January 2014|newspaper=ABC News|date=24 August 2013}}</ref>
* In 2015, the [[Utah State University]] chapter president was charged with forcible sexual abuse, a felony, after allegedly inappropriately touching a female student who passed out at a party.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Fraternity chapter ceases operations at USU after former president accused of sexual abuse|url = http://fox13now.com/2015/03/25/former-fraternity-president-at-utah-state-university-facing-accusations-of-sexual-assault/|website = fox13now.com|date = 26 March 2015|access-date = 2015-11-02}}</ref>
* In 2023, the [[Montana State University]] chapter was placed on probation by the university for reports of sexual assault; the chapter was suspended for sexual assault in 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kbzk.com/news/local-news/msu-fraternity-is-on-probation-after-two-reports-of-sexual-assault | title=Montana State fraternity is on probation after two reports of sexual assault | date=2 October 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.montanakaimin.com/news/student-group-joins-lawsuit-state-appeals-climate-case-msu-frat-on-probation/article_6adb3a1a-67bd-11ee-a4ac-9be6e3bb4a82.html | title=Student group joins lawsuit, state appeals climate case, MSU frat on probation | date=12 October 2023 }}</ref>

=== Other incidents ===

* In 2014, the leaders of the [[University of Arkansas]] chapter were asked to resign following an unauthorized [[Martin Luther King, Jr. Day]] party that incorporated racist stereotypes.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Maher|first1=Emily|title=Frat president reacts to accusations of racially-themed party|url=http://www.4029tv.com/news/arkansas/Frat-president-reacts-to-accusations-of-racially-themed-party/24705596|access-date=4 June 2014|work=KHBS Ft. Smith/Fayetteville|date=26 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Leyenberger|first1=Kyle|last2=Gilleece|first2=Erin|title=UA Frat Sanctioned After 'Disrespectful' MLK Party|url=http://www.nwahomepage.com/fulltext-news/d/story/ua-frat-sanctioned-after-disrespectful-mlk-party/77038/j3JnlowEW0CO-L-ibzrh2A|access-date=4 June 2014|work=NWAHomepage.com|publisher=Nexstar Broadcasting|date=27 February 2014}}</ref> 
* The [[University of Southern Mississippi]] chapter was closed from 2014 to 2018, following a hazing incident that led to the death of two mated [[flamingo]]s that pledges stole from the local zoo.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Watts |first=Michael Martinez, Carma Hassan, Amanda |date=2014-10-11 |title=Southern Mississippi fraternity rush prank goes awry, flamingo dies |url=https://www.cnn.com/2014/10/10/us/mississippi-fraternity-prank-flamingo-death/index.html |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> 
* In May 2017, the [[California State University, Chico]] chapter was charged with illegally cutting down 32 trees in the [[Lassen National Forest]] during an initiation of new pledges. They were also charged with possession of a firearm and conspiracy to commit an offense or defraud the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2017/05/17/frat-charged-for-damaging-national-forest-during-hazing/|title=Frat charged for damaging national forest during hazing|date=17 May 2017|website=nypost.com|access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref> The chapter was sentenced to 9,800 hours of community service and a $4,000 fine after pleading guilty in the U.S. District Court.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/17/chico-state-fraternity-sentenced-in-tree-cutting-episode/|title=Chico State fraternity sentenced in tree-cutting episode|date=17 October 2017|website=mercurynews.com|access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref> 
* In 2021, seven members of the [[University of Mississippi]] chapter were arrested for hazing a pledge who was told to ingest bleach, resulting in Grade 4 [[erosive esophagitis]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfordeagle.com/2021/12/09/court-date-for-the-seven-arrested-pi-kappa-alpha-members-set-for-feb-28/|title=Court date for the seven arrested Pi Kappa Alpha members set for Feb. 28|work=The Oxford Eagle |date=9 December 2021}}</ref> 
* In 2023, the [[University of Arkansas]] chapter was suspended after a hazing video leaked on social media. The video leaked showed a pledge kneeling before an altar, holding another pledge's hands while fraternity members chanted and paddled the kneeling pledges.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.uatrav.com/news/article_8e2a3a14-7ab6-11ee-b1e6-d7805c727893.html | title=Pi Kappa Alpha suspended pending investigation into hazing allegations | date=3 November 2023 }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of social fraternities]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.pikes.org}}

{{Fraternities and Sororities |collapsed}}
{{North American Interfraternity Conference}}

[[Category:Pi Kappa Alpha| ]]
[[Category:North American Interfraternity Conference]]
[[Category:Student organizations established in 1868]]
[[Category:1868 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Memphis, Tennessee]]