Wikipedia

Phi Alpha Pi

Phi Alpha Pi (ΦΑΠ) is a local fraternity at the University of Olivet in Olivet, Michigan. It was established as a literary society in 1861 and became a traditional social fraternity in 1887. It is the oldest social and literary fraternity at Olivet College.[1]

Phi Alpha Pi
ΦΑΠ
FoundedMarch 20, 1861; 163 years ago (1861-03-20)
Olivet College
TypeSocial
EmphasisLiterary
ScopeLocal
Motto"Progress, Truth, Friendship"
Colors  Royal blue and   White
NicknamePhi Alphs, Napples,
The Gentlemen
Headquarters504 S. Main Street
Olivet, Michigan 49076
United States
Websitewww.uolivet.edu/greek-life/phi-alpha-pi/

History edit

The fraternity originated as Olivet Lyceum literary society at Olivet College (now the University of Olivet) in 1847.[2] Its name changed to Philalethian in 1850.[2] The group was reorganized and became Phi Alpha Pi Society on March 20, 1861.[3][2] Its founders were E. E. Benedict, G. W. Barney, S. F. Drury, George W. Keyes, N. J. Morrison, J. J. Scovel, S. F. White.[3] Morrison served as its first president.[4] Other original officers included Barney as vice president, Scovel as treasurer, Keyes as recording secretary, Drury as corresponding secretary, White as critic, and Benedict as librarian.[4] Meetings were held in the Chapel Recitation room on campus.[4]

The society hosted weekly literary sessions that were open to the public.[5] It held an annual exercise on December 3, 1873, that featured music, oratory, readings, and debate.[6] Phi Alpha Pi's members participated in Inter-Collegiate Society Oratorial Association's competitions in 1875.[7] It won Michigan's first inter-fraternity oratoritorical contest in 1877.[5] The society also competed with the Aldephic and the Soronian Societies from Olivet College.[8]

In 1887, the literary society changed its constitution to become a "secret fraternity".[5] However, it continued to host weekly literary sessions that were open to the public.[5] In September 1892, it changed its name from Phi Alpha Pi Society to Phi Alpha Pi Fraternity.[9] By May 1896, the Phi Alpha Pi annual reception was one of the top of the Olivet College social life.[10]

In December 1912, Phi Alpha Pi held its 51st annual public debates, with 24 students participating in the preliminary debates.[11] Students from Olivet competed with debaters from Alma College, Ferris Institute, Hillsdale College, and Hope College.[11]

Symbols edit

The motto of Phi Alpha Pi is "Progress, Truth, Friendship."[3][1] This is the English translation of Φιλία, Αλήθεια, Πρόοδος (originally arranged as "Friendship, Truth, Progress") giving the Greek letter name of ΦΑΠ to the fraternity.[12]

The fraternity's colors are royal blue and white.[3] Its nicknames are Phi Alphs, Naples, and The Gentlemen.[3]

Chapter house edit

 
Phi Alpha Pi chapter house

When Parson's Hall was constructed, the fraternity leased rooms on the building's fourth floor.[4] The group spent $2,000 upfitting their rooms with butternut and black walnut wood.[13]

The group laid the cornerstone of a chapter house on June 15, 1890, during the college's commencement week.[14] It was dedicated during commencement week on June 17, 1892.[15][16] The chapter house is constructed of Lake Superior sandstone in Greek-Swiss or colonial style.[13][15][16][2] It features a portico with eight red granite columns and a roof of red Spanish tiles.[13][16][2] Its first floor includes an auditorium, cloakroom, committee room, library, reception hall, and parlor.[13][15][2] The auditorium seats several hundred people.[2] Its second floor includes committee rooms, a dining hall, dressing rooms, a janitor's apartment, a kitchen, a pantry, and apartments for twenty members.[13][15][2] The chapter house cost around $24,000 to build ($813,867 in today's money).[13] I. C. Seely of Minneapolis was the major donor to the project; a tablet with his name and class year was placed at the house's entrance.[15]

The chapter house was listed on the Michigan Register of Historic Places.[17][18] On November 2, 1978, the house was destroyed by a fire; forty firefighters fought the blaze for seven hours.[17][18] The fire was cause by faulty wiring.[19] The only part of the historic structure that was undamaged was the portico and columns, stone walls, and chimney.[17][18][1] WIthin two weeks of the fire, the fraternity announced that it planned to restore the damaged chapter house.[20] However, the insurance company only paid $200,000 of the $500,000 needed to restore the structure.[21][1] Part of the house was occupied in 1981.[22] By November 1985, the exterior restoration was completed, along with most of the interior.[1]

The house was damaged by arson on April 9, 1989.[22] The fire destroyed the third floor and roof; the second and first floors had water damage.[23]

The house is located on 504 S. Main Street on the Olivet campus.[22]

Philanthropy edit

The fraternity hosts an annual Christmas party for underprivileged children.[24][25]

Scandals and controversies edit

  • In 1973, the college announced plans to build a new conservatory after receiving a one million dollar gift; the chosen site included the property of the fraternity and its chapter house.[26] The fraternity started a campaign and petitions to save their house.[26] However, the college's board of trustees voted to relocate the conservatory and save the fraternity's house from demolition.[27]
  • In April 1989, an arsonist set fire to the Phi Alpha Pi chapter house hours after placing four phone calls, saying "The house will burn".[22][28] Four students and a firefighter were injured and there was $200,000 in damages ($491,597 in today's money) to the house that had just been restored from an electrical fire.[22] Three Olivet students admitted to making three prank calls did not make the fourth call that included the threat of fire.[29]
  • In 1992, eight or nine members of Phi Alpha Pi were involved in a campus brawl between white and black students.[30] The incident started when a white female student called the fraternity house, asking for help because she was being threatened by several black male students who were outside of her room.[31][32] Around seventy students were involved in the fight.[31][32]
  • In February 2003, police uncovered a hazing incident at the Phi Alpha Pi house; the fraternity was already on probation with the college for prior incidents.[33]

Notable members edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Waterbury, Glen (1985-11-13). "Olivet Fraternity Rises From the Ashes". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-02-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Fraternity Halls at Olivet College". Detroit Free Press. 1913-05-11. p. 69. Retrieved 2024-02-24 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Phi Alpha Pi". The University of Olivet. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  4. ^ a b c d Blake, C. S. "History" in Manual of the Phi Alpha Pi fraternity of Olivet College, Olivet, Michigan. Olivet, Michigan: Phi Alpha Pi. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Hathi Trust.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Blake, C. S. "History" in Manual of the Phi Alpha Pi fraternity of Olivet College, Olivet, Michigan. Olivet, Michigan: Phi Alpha Pi. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Hathi Trust.
  6. ^ "Olivet College". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. 1873-12-06. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "An Inter-Collegiate Oratorial Contest". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. 1875-11-13. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Their Annual Public. Phi Alpha Pi Men Hold Their Thirty-Second Annual Exhibition". Detroit Free Press. 1893-12-08. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Olivet College Notes". Detroit Free Press. 1892-09-22. p. 4. Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Olivet College. Phi Alpha Pi and Adelphic Annual Reception". Detroit Free Press. 1896-05-17. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b "Big Literary Event of the Year". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. 1912-12-07. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Blake, C. S. "History" in Manual of the Phi Alpha Pi fraternity of Olivet College, Olivet, Michigan. Olivet, Michigan: Phi Alpha Pi. p. .6 Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Hathi Trust.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Blake, C.S. "History" in Manual of the Phi Alpha Pi fraternity of Olivet College, Olivet, Michigan. Olivet, Michigan: Phi Alpha Pi. p. 3-4. Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Hathi Trust.
  14. ^ "State Items". Detroit Free Press. 1890-05-28. p. 4. Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Commencement at Olivet". The Times Herald. Port Huron, Michigan. 1891-06-17. p. 4. Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b c "Olivet College. Dedication of a Society Hall". Detroit Free Press. 1891-06-19. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b c "Out of Our Past". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. 2003-11-03. p. 17. Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ a b c Lynch, Lorrie; Kaufman, Stan (1978-11-03). "Olivet Landmark Burns". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-02-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Wiring Blamed for Fire". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. 1978-11-07. p. 11. Retrieved 2024-02-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Olivet Landmark to be Restored". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. 1978-11-16. p. 24. Retrieved 2024-02-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Gave, Keith (1981-10-26). "House Embodies Brotherhood". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 13. Retrieved 2024-02-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ a b c d e Christenson, Trace (1989-04-10). "5 Hurt in Fraternity-House Blaze". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-02-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "5 Hurt in Fraternity-House Blaze pt. 2". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. 1989-04-10. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-02-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Olivet College Students Share the Season with Donations". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. 2013-01-06. pp. A8. Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Today". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. 2006-12-08. p. 20. Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ a b Morgan, Stan (1973-03-22). "Fraternity House Center of Olivet College Battle". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 30. Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Wrecking Ball Won't Swing at Olivet Fraternity House". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. 1973-04-05. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Miller, Bill (1989-04-11). "Charred Flooring Studied for Clues: Threats Probed in Frat-House Fire". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-02-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Pranksters Confess". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. 1989-04-21. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-02-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Tempters Still Flare: Tensions High in Olivet". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. 1992-04-04. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-02-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ a b "Tensions Still High at Olivet College after brawl pt. 2". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan ·. 1992-04-04. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-02-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ a b "Blunt Talk of Race Helps Olivet Mend". Detroit Free Press. 1992-04-04. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-02-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Hazing incident". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. 2003-02-02. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-02-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "Hamilton King (1852–1912)". U.S. Department of State, Office of Historian. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  35. ^ "Alexander Tison, Lawyer, Dies at 80; Retired in 1936 After He Had Practiced Here for More Than 40 Years; Once Professor in Tokyo" (PDF). The New York Times. 1938-07-17. p. 26. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
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