History
History of Pi Kappa Phi
Pi Kappa Phi started as an idea of three friends at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. In 1904, we were founded as Nu Phi, the “non-fraternity.” Since then, over 90,000 men have initiated into Pi Kappa Phi, and over 140 chapters in over 35 states bear our letters. On December 4th 2013, Pi Kapps will soon celebrate our 110th anniversary.
Learn more about our past and present at our national fraternity’s website.
History of Upsilon Chapter
In 1921 Pi Kappa Phi first came to the University of Illinois, making us the 20th Pi Kapp chapter and earning us a single letter chapter designation (Upsilon). Chapter maintained a strong presence on campus from 1904 to 1999. Due to low recruitment, the active members in 1999 returned their charter to the national headquarters and asked for it to be recolonized a few years later.
After three years, the Upsilon chapter of Pi Kappa Phi came back to campus. Many men were interested, but only 10 were strong enough to carry the dream into reality. For two years these men gave their dedication, hard work, and time to building the chapter.
On February 19, 2005, twenty-seven men initiated into Pi Kappa Phi and earned back the Upsilon charter.
Our Beginnings
In 1921 the local chapter of Gamma Sigma Kappa became Pi Kappa Phi. The Upsilon chapter is one of the few chapters whose original charter was that of another fraternity. There is only a small amount of data that can be found about the original Gamma Sigma Kappa founders, but their legacy lives on to today.
Beginning in the early 1990s, the Upsilon Chapter experienced set backs to its recruitment causing its closing in 1999. While the brotherhood was strong, low numbers caused the members of that time to decide to hand over their charter to the national organization asking that a new recruitment effort be conducted at a later time.
The chapter advisor at the time, Mike Lowery, was saddened by these turn of events but did encourage and support this decision led by the archon Jeff McMahon. In 2000, having given back the charter, Pi Kappa Phi Upsilon closed its doors on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus.
The Recolonization
The recolonization of the Upsilon Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity at the University of Illinois’ Champaign-Urbana campus began in the early days of February, 2003. The National Headquarters of Pi Kappa Phi began its recruitment effort with three expansion consultants – J. Todd Cox, Brandon Tudor, and Nathan Holic.
These alumni began their recruitment by visiting with local sororities to ask for the names and contact information of men who fit the C.L.A.S.S. profile. From these names, the consultants began sending out e-mails to the men asking them to come to an information session to learn about the opportunities Pi Kappa Phi has to offer. These sessions were held in the Illini Union.
Attendance at the first few meetings was sparse, but the expansion consultants were not deterred. With each information session, more men were coming out, and after the sessions, there were activities in the Illini Union’s pool hall and bowling alley.
The Omega Chapter of Purdue University came to one of the meetings to answer questions about the fraternity. Once the consultants had met with a potential recruit and deemed him worthy of a bid, they met him for lunch and extended to him a bid to become a founding father.
Within a few weeks of the info sessions and lunches, several potential brothers were accepting their bids, and it was time to move forward with the organization of the new Chapter. The expansion consultants had recruited roughly 20 men and had from them chosen the first executive council, led by Mark Peluse, the chapter’s first Archon. The Fraternity registered itself as an official student organization with the University of Illinois. On March 2nd, the chapter met for its first meeting in the Illini Union, which was run by Nate, Todd, and Brandon.
In the following week, the expansion consultants along with the help of the newly formed chapter recruited approximately 14 more men, to bring their total number to 34. On Friday, March 7th, the men gathered at the local YMCA for their pre-initiation and installation retreat. Saturday, was spent learning about sound chapter operations. On that Sunday, the chapter cooked breakfast for the ladies of Gamma Phi Beta as they provided the most potential new member names to the consultants. After breakfast, the leadership consultants left us to our own ways and that very evening, March 9th we held our first independent chapter meeting in the cafeteria of the Armory House Dorm.
Associate Chapter & Charles Moka Jr,
During the remaining months of the spring 2003 semester, the Upsilon Associate Chapter accomplished many tasks. Chairmen were appointed and the basis for a committee structure was formed. The Chapter forged a Constitution and Bylaws and a Code of Conduct. A recruitment program was put together, along with member education and service standards.
For the next year and a half the chapter strived to create a positive image on campus, to make a strong brotherhood, and to set the groundwork for a thriving chapter.
In the fall of 2004, Charles Moka Jr, the chapter’s Archon and most spirited leader, passed away on August 19th. The chapter was forced to push on in his memory and spirit. Adam Nekola, the Vice-Archon at the time, took over presidential duties and started the chapter with their preparation to charter.
Six months to the day after the passing of their leader, the men of the Upsilon Associate Chapter initiated into Pi Kappa Phi and earned a charter from the National Organization. Upsilon was officially back at the University of Illinois.
Present Day
The chapter now boasts over 80 gentlemen and participates in almost every intramural sport offered at the University of Illinois. Consistently, the chapter has been ranked in the top 5 GPA’s on campus for Greek fraternities.
PUSH America, the chapter’s philanthropy, continues to be a major focus of the chapter. The chapter’s close relationship with the local Champaign-Urbana Special Recreation is reinforced with a yearly donation on behalf of PUSH America from the money that the chapter raises.
As the chapter continues to grow, we must thank those who have come before us. We wouldn’t be here if it were not for their safekeeping of the Chapter. Likewise, we continue to recruit men of C.L.A.S.S and look to the future for the next leaders of Pi Kappa Phi.
