Phi Gamma Delta
| Phi Gamma Delta | |
| ΦΓΔ | |
| Abbreviation: | Fiji |
| Org Founded: | 1848 at Jefferson College |
| CU Chapter: | Omega |
| Chapter Established: | 1866 |
| Motto: | "Φιλοτης Γλυκυτατη Δυναστεια" Friendship, the sweetest influence |
| Symbol(s): | Star Diamond |
| House: | None |
| Recognition: | IFC |
| Contact: | cc3157@columbia.edu |
Phi Gamma Delta is a fraternity that is also known as Fiji. Columbia had previously hosted one of the original chapters of the fraternity, having been founded as "Omega Chapter" in 1848. Omega Fiji was indisputably the most socially active fraternity on campus, providing generations of its Brothers and their guests a veritable oasis of cordial camaraderie, a revivifying outlier of genial companionship in the otherwise aridly inaffable wasteland that was, for far too long, the social desert that was Columbia. It was recently reinstated into Columbia's Greek system after being suspended for seven years for "behavior that was not consistent with the standards of the Greek community" (aka the high crime of tossing back a couple of cold ones). [1] Despite being one of the only fraternities on campus without permanent housing, having lost its previous and long established home at 538 West 114 Street, the Columbia chapter continues to operate and has succeeded in maintaining its membership.
One of the historical traditions at Fiji known to some outsiders was the painting of the fire hydrant across the street from their house on 114th street to mark the occasion of a brother deflowering one of Columbia's fair maidens. This hydrant, and the sidewalk surrounding it, over the years had developed a significant crust of paint. Stay classy, Fiji.
Alumni
- Roone Arledge, late CEO of the ABC Network
- Ralph Morgan, co-founder and first president of the Screen Actor's Guild
- Jack Kerouac, Beat Generation author
- Matthew Fox, Actor, Lost
- Neil Gorsuch, co-founder of The Fed and federal court judge
- Edward Harris Klees
Links
References
| 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 |
