Pi Kappa Alpha

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Pi Kappa Alpha
ΠΚΑ
Abbreviation: Pike
Org Founded: 1868 at the University of Virginia
CU Chapter: Iota Lambda
Chapter Established: 1990
Motto: "Once a Pike, Always a Pike"
Symbol(s): Oak Tree
House: None
Recognition: IFC
Contact: pikeeboard@googlegroups.com

Pi Kappa Alpha, Iota Lambda chapter, is one of the fraternities recognized by the Interfraternity Council. The fraternity more commonly goes by its nickname Pike.

The chapter earned a 5 star ALPHA Standards of Excellence rating in spring 2012 and was awarded Most Improved Chapter by the Inter Greek Council. They also earned achievement awards in philanthropy (presented to chapters that raise over $60 per member), community service (presented to chapters that complete over 20 service hours per member), and campus involvement (presented to chapters where over 60% are involved in another campus activity.)

The chapter again earned a 5 star ALPHA Standards of Excellence rating in spring 2013.

Pike has consistently been one of the top fundraisers for Relay for Life. In 2012 the chapter raised $12,325, more than any other campus organization, and in 2013 they raised over $1,000.

Service & Philanthropy

Pi Kappa Alpha "sees philanthropy as a priority and always looks to give back to the community." Annually, the chapter has participated in Relay for Life and Columbia Community Outreach, raising over $20,000 and accumulating over 5,000 service hours over the past 3 years.

Pike's flagship event, Taylor Trudeau Cycle for Life, has raised over $5,000 for Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Melanoma research in honor of a brother who passed away from blood cancer. Pike has also partnered with other organizations, like NYCare, to further reach out to the NYC community as a whole. Bothers are also heavily involved in other service and philanthropic efforts including tutoring, health education, community development, and more.

Past PIKE Philanthropy Events:

  • Cycle for Life: PIKE led the annual Taylor Trudeau Cycle for Life, a stationary cycling event held in conjunction with PIKE chapters across the country to raise awareness for leukemia, lymphoma, and melanoma. The event is held in honor of Taylor Trudeau, a Pi Kappa Alpha brother who died of leukemia in 2008. The fall 2013 event on October 27 raised $2,300 for the cause.
  • Feeding the Homeless with Alpha Phi Alpha: PIKE teamed up with Alpha Phi Alpha to make sandwiches on campus and distribute them to the homeless population of Morningside Heights on the night of November 15.
  • Volunteer Cleanup: Brothers regularly volunteer to clean up Riverside/Morningside Park
  • Relay for Life: In spring 2012 the chapter Raised over $12,325, more than any other campus organization, at Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society. The money was raised through donations and co-hosting a fundraising basketball tournament with fellow IFC fraternity Kappa Delta Rho.

About Pi Kappa Alpha

Pi Kappa Alpha, also known as Pike, is a national fraternity founded in 1868, and at Columbia in 1990. The national fraternity has over 220 chapters and colonies and over 250,000 lifetime initiates in North America.

Previously earned awards from the Inter Greek Council include:

  • Most Improved Chapter Award
  • ALPHA Standards of Excellence Five Stars rating
  • Community Involvement Award
  • Greek Man of the Year
  • Order of Omega Community Service Award

Notable Alumni

  • Tom Kitt, CC '96 - Composer of score for the musical Next to Normal, winning 2 Tony awards and was co-winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
  • Tom Forman, CC '95 - Co-creator of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and winner of 3 Primetime Emmys

Membership

Pi Kappa Alpha "selects potential brothers based on the criteria of 'Scholars, Leaders, Athletes, and Gentlemen' or S.L.A.G., aiming to find candidates who exemplify these traits."

Pikes are "active within the Columbia community in student council, debate, rugby, crew, intramural sports, a cappella, squash, and more."

2013 pledge scavenger hunt

On March 2, 2013, Bwog posted a scavenger hunt list ostensibly leaked to it by a Pike pledge[1]. The post predictably resulted in a long thread of pro- and anti-Greek sentiments, and arguments about rape culture and whether the scavenger hunt was hazing or not. (It is worth noting that Student Affairs's "Anti-Hazing New Member" policy explicitly mentions scavenger hunts are as a prohibited activity[2].

The 2013 scavenger list

The scavenger list included such items as "Nametag of a McDonald's worker," "A homeless man's shoe," and "Panties from an XXL girl." It also notably included "Video of a pledge poonspeeding (eating a pussy while wearing a swimcap and goggles)". This last item was seized upon by many blogs, including New York magazine[3], Total Frat Move[4], and something called Bro Bible[5][6][7].

The scandal resulted in a closed hearing before the Greek Judicial Board, the results of which were never released, since, like all official hearings at any American University of legitimate international community, information is confidential.

Trivia

  • Allen Ginsberg once lived in the fraternity's former brownstone, before the organization moved in (and then out).

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://bwog.com/2013/03/03/overseen-scavenger-hunt/
  2. ↑ http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/resprograms/fraternity_sorority/semester
  3. ↑ http://nymag.com/thecut/2013/03/frat-scavenger-hunt-rewards-obscure-sex-act.html
  4. ↑ http://totalfratmove.com/pike-scavenger-hunt-checklist-found-at-columbia-university-new-sex-act-revealed/
  5. ↑ http://www.brobible.com/college/article/columbia-fraternity-pledge-scavenger-hunt-list
  6. ↑ http://www.cosmopolitan.com/celebrity/news/poonspeeding-columbia-frat
  7. ↑ http://gothamist.com/2013/03/04/columbia_fraternitys_pledge_scaveng.php
Greek life at Columbia
IFC Fraternities: Alpha Delta Phi • Alpha Epsilon Pi • Beta Theta Pi • Delta Sigma Phi • Kappa Delta Rho • Phi Gamma Delta • Pi Kappa Alpha • Psi Upsilon • Sigma Chi • Sigma Nu • Sigma Phi Epsilon • Zeta Beta Tau
Panhel Sororities: Alpha Chi Omega • Alpha Omicron Pi • Delta Gamma • Gamma Phi Beta • Kappa Alpha Theta • Sigma Delta Tau
Multicultural Greek Fraternities: Phi Iota Alpha • Alpha Phi Alpha • Kappa Alpha Psi • Omega Psi Phi • Pi Delta Psi • Lambda Phi Epsilon • Sigma Lambda Beta
Multicultural Greek Sororities: Lambda Pi Chi • Sigma Iota Alpha • Delta Sigma Theta • Kappa Phi Lambda • Sigma Lambda Gamma
Inactive (de-recognized): Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon
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