Pi Chi stresses brotherhood in battle with national board
Joe Badaczewski
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: News
Last update: 9/4/08 at 2:12 AM EST
The Duquesne University Pi Chi chapter of Alpha Phi Omega stress two main principles: tradition and brotherhood.
Starting as a scouting fraternity in 1966, Alpha Phi Omega has grown to more than 360 chapters nationwide and has more than 410 alumni from the Pi Chi Chapter alone. The Pi Chi Chapter, however, has been facing a dire situation since early 2005 when Alpha Phi Omega's executive national officers announced that every chapter that is currently all male will start having to make steps towards becoming coed.
Since Pi Chi's founding, it has been all-male and many of the brothers feel it would thwart the original traditions and affect the foundation of the chapter if they were to allow female members.
"As a whole, [my brothers and I] have always taken a firm stand on what we believed in," President Lee Filip said. "In order to preserve the history of our chapter, staying all- male would be in our best interest."
Not only are the leaders and brothers of the Pi Chi Chapter actively against becoming a coed service fraternity, but multiple alumni have also supported their fellow brothers during the tenure of this controversial situation.
"Our chapter as a whole has been actively against going coed," Filip said. "All of our alumni that we have talked to in the last couple years since we have been trying to transition have also been completely supportive of our views as they send many helpful donations.
"There is a synergy that you get with all male chapters that is just simply not there with a coed organization. With being all male, the Pi Chi Chapter of APhiO at Duquesne had something special; it was a safe place to come and do something positive for the community," Filip said.
Jeremy Embrey, an associate member of Pi Chi and a part-time senior music technology major at Duquesne, stressed the uniqueness of Pi Chi.
"APhiO currently has over 360 chapters, and only about 10 are all male. It really allows for a much different experience."
Starting as a scouting fraternity in 1966, Alpha Phi Omega has grown to more than 360 chapters nationwide and has more than 410 alumni from the Pi Chi Chapter alone. The Pi Chi Chapter, however, has been facing a dire situation since early 2005 when Alpha Phi Omega's executive national officers announced that every chapter that is currently all male will start having to make steps towards becoming coed.
Since Pi Chi's founding, it has been all-male and many of the brothers feel it would thwart the original traditions and affect the foundation of the chapter if they were to allow female members.
"As a whole, [my brothers and I] have always taken a firm stand on what we believed in," President Lee Filip said. "In order to preserve the history of our chapter, staying all- male would be in our best interest."
Not only are the leaders and brothers of the Pi Chi Chapter actively against becoming a coed service fraternity, but multiple alumni have also supported their fellow brothers during the tenure of this controversial situation.
"Our chapter as a whole has been actively against going coed," Filip said. "All of our alumni that we have talked to in the last couple years since we have been trying to transition have also been completely supportive of our views as they send many helpful donations.
"There is a synergy that you get with all male chapters that is just simply not there with a coed organization. With being all male, the Pi Chi Chapter of APhiO at Duquesne had something special; it was a safe place to come and do something positive for the community," Filip said.
Jeremy Embrey, an associate member of Pi Chi and a part-time senior music technology major at Duquesne, stressed the uniqueness of Pi Chi.
"APhiO currently has over 360 chapters, and only about 10 are all male. It really allows for a much different experience."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Robbie Wahl
posted 9/07/08 @ 7:52 PM EST
I'll e-mail this to fellow Auburn University, Delta chapter members. The current actives could not come to a consensus on weather to stay or go but we did fight the board when it was proposed. (Continued…)
Anthony Feldpausch
posted 9/09/08 @ 10:24 AM EST
Great job guys. Stay steadfast!
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