THE LAUREL OF PHI KAPPA TAU

THE LAUREL

Volume XXXVI

of Phi Kappa Tau

RICHARD ]. YOUNG, Editor

THE PHI KAPPA TAu FRATERNITY

CENTRAL OFFICE

OXFORD, OHIO

May, 1948 Number 4

The exoteric publication of The Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. Published prior to 1917 as "Sidelights." Scheduled to appear quarterly in the months of

February, May, August, and :November, under direction and authority of the J\(ationo.l Council.

Acceptance for mailing at rates of postage provided for in Section 1103, Act of Oc1obu 3, 1917. Published four times a year during the months of February, May, August and November, by The Lawhead Press, Inc .• 17 West Washington Street, Athens, Ohio, official printers for Tbe Pbi Kappa Tau Fraternity. Bntered aa second clasa matter at the Post Oflice at Athens, Obio. Additional entry at the Post Oflice at Oxford, Ohio. Life subscription UO.OO

PHI KAPPA TAU

THE ROAD TO FRIEND SHIP

T RU LY an important part of the A merican educational system is the college

fraternity , where men are indoctrinated in the fundamental principles of living,

working and playing together. The chapter house is a co llege man 's home; his

fraternity brothers are his closest friend s. The ideals wh ich guide the member

have been shared by more than a million men in all fraternities throughout the

country.

By rea son of the fact that a group of men with common purposes are

closely associated in their work and play, the fraternity provides benefits and

advantages that cannot otherwis'e be obtained in' college. · It develops a bal ­

anced persona lity by sharing the lives and experiences of others. It produces the

qualities of leadership - judgment, tolerance , temperance , knowledge -

through the experience of operating a group house, and supervisi ng the living

ALPHA CHAPTER, MIAMI UN IVERSITY

BETA CHAPTER , OHIO UNIVERSITY

of a group of young men . It is a group of men of common purposes bound

together by a high ideal expressed in the secret r;tual of the organization.

Scholastically the fraternities have a record of which they may well feel

proud. In the past quarter of a century the grade averages for fraternity men

have been well above the unorganized g roups. The Greek-letter organizations

definitely do work to stimulate the desire to study on the part of all members and

pledges.

A very significant thing about fraternity men is the fact that their interest

1n alma mater and classmates far exceeds that of non-fraternity men. Un­

questionably thi s continuing interest results from the influence of the fraternity

upon the life of the undergraduate. The chapter house and the fraternity influ­

ence are ties which bind an alumnus to his college years after his degree has

been won.

The college fratern ity provides training in a field which no book can teach,

no c lass room lecture can develop. The mystic Greek letters symbolize the ideals

wh ich provide life's happiest experience. And now, after the stress and strain of

war, the fraternity's values are even greater.

THE PHI KAPPA TAU FRATERNITY

pHI KAPPA TAU was founded at Miami University , O xford, Ohio, almost half

a cen tury ago. Conceived by a group of four men. Wi ll iam H. Shideler ,

Clinton D. Boyd , Taylor A. Borradaile and Dwight I. Douglas, Phi Kappa Tau is

one of four national fraternities founded at Miami.

Originally intended only for the campus at Miami where the fraternity was

founded, Phi Kappa Tau has grown from one chapter to more than sixty. Today

Phi Kappa Tau is twelfth in size among sixty American college Greek-letter

societies. Established in 1906, Phi Kappa Tau is ranked among the older col lege

fraternities. More fraternities have been founded since Ph i Kappa Ta u than

were in existence before the fraternity was organized.

Growth of Phi Kappa Tau has been steady and conservative. The fraternity

today is represented in outstanding colleges and universities throughout the

United States. Chapters are located from coast to coast , from the Great La kes

to the Gulf of Mexico. The total membership exceeds 15,000.

Early members banded together in order to bring into close communion

men of kindred interests. These fundamental characteristics guided the founders

ZETA CHAPTER, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

FOUNDERS OF

OMICRON CHAPTER, PENN STATE COLLEGE

in establishing Phi Kappa Tau: 1. Emphasis upon innate worth as a qualification

for membership . 2. Democrati c nature of the organization . 3. Chri stian ideals.

Although almost half a century has passed since the fraternity' s founders

gathered for their first meeting , Phi Kappa Tau jealously clings to these idea ls.

M E MBE R SHIP ADVANTA G ES

Phi Kappa Tau seriously endeavors to make a col lege man' s life more worth

while because of his a ssociation with the fraternity. Every chapter fosters a

program to develop real fellowship , clean livin g and re spect for learning . A d ­

vantages of membership in Phi Kappa Tau are manifold. The fraterni ty affords

an opportunity for cooperation between students and faculty; through the chap­

ter the undergraduate and pro fessor meet info rmally , can see the human side o f

each other. Lifelong friend ships are developed. Intimate relation ships are

promoted and members benefit from cooperation, working together in a common

cause. Individualism is taug ht; each man must learn to stand on his own two

feet. Valuable training in democratic self-government is g iven every member.

The fraternity is a man's home while in schoo l; it supplies the parental contact

which may temporarily be broken when a man goes to col lege. And last bu t

not least, the fraternity is a tie closely uniting the alumnus to his alma ma ter.

PSI CHAPTER, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO

THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION

Three American college fraternities hove constructed buildings devoted

exclusively tci the administrative work of the notional organization. Phi Kappa

Tau is one of these. The headquarters building, known as the Central Office , is

located in O xford, Ohio , where the fraternity was founded. Entire cost of the

building, erected in 1931 as a memorial to the four founders of Phi Kappa Tau ,

was pa id through accumulated endowments and contributions of alumni. Admin­

istrative work of the fraternity is under supervision of a full-time executive sec­

retory. Regular visits ore mode to each chapter by field secretaries.

Government of the fraternity is vested in the notional chapter, a biennial

convention at which undergraduate and alumni groups ore represented. Between

conven tions affairs of the fraternity ore directed by notional officers and on·

executive commi ttee known as the notional council. All of these officers ore

graduate members.

To facilitate the supervision of the various chapters the fraternity is divided

geographically into domains. Each of these divisions is under supervision of a

domain chief, a graduate officer who is in charge of chapters for a geograph­

ical area. In addition to this supervision chopte;s ore called upon several times

annually by other notional officers. Working with every undergraduate chapter

to strengthen supervision in all matters perta ining to cond uct , finan ce, member­

ship, and general welfare is a chapter adviser, usually a member of the college

faculty.

Scho larship is supervised by a notional scholarship commiss ioner. His work

is aug mented by representatives in each chapter who serve individua l members

in on advisory capaci ty. Ph i Kappa Tau has ran ked very high in overages of

fra ternity scho larship. The overage of a ll fraternities has compared favorably

with the genera l scho lastic overage of a ll college men for a number of years.

For consis tently high scho larship, the Ph ilip Morri s Co. awarded Phi Kappa

Tau the sum o f $500 to be used in making loon s to deservin g underg raduates.

Th is is only a port of the Notiona l fraternity' s loon fund for men in school.

Ph i Kappa Tau fees ore reasonable. Each chapter operates on a cooper­

ative basis, members meeting the cost of the expense incurred. Every pledge

and member may rest assured that the fraternity does not charge· excess ive fees

ei the r before or afte r init iation. The frate rnity has on endowment fu nd o f con­

siderable size wh ich defrays a port of the expense of operation.

ALPHA KAPPA CHAPTER, WASHINGTON STATE COLLEG~

ALPHA ETA CHAPTER, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

PROMINENT MEMBERS

Many graduates of Phi Kappa Tau ore prominent in the educational, busi­

ness, professional and pol itical world. Only a few of the more important members

ore listed here. They ore: Lorry E. Gubb, chairman of the Boord of Philco

Corporation; Dr. Henry E. Hoogland , former member of the Federal Home Loon

Bonk Boord ; Honorable Guy K. Bard , Honorable Hugh M. Morris, Honorable

Albert Lee Stephen s, federal judges; Joseph Morris Bache lor, author; Joseph W.

Clokey , composer; Maynard M. Boring , vice president General Electric Com­

pony; Frederick K. Stamm , minister and author; Bruce K. Brown , president, Pan­

American Petrolet.:m Corporation; Edgar Ewing Brandon , Dean Emeritus of

Miami University; Deans Albert J. Horno, University of Il li nois; William E. Alder­

man , Miami Universi ty; Harley W . Chandler, University of Florida; C. C. Todd,

Washington State College; Pau l W. Brosmon, T ulone University; Roy R. Hewitt,

W il liomette University; E. C. C loyd and Thomas Nelson, North Carolina State

College; Brigad ier General James W. Curtis.

GENERAL INFORMATION

More than three-fourths of the chapters own their homes, valued at approx­

imately two mil lion dol lars. A lum ni supe rvise operat ion and maintenance of

these properties throug h building corpo rat ions.

Rough initiation practice, commonly known a s "hell week," is positively

forbidden in Phi Tau chapters . Pledges are treated a s gentlemen; no activities

which may cause physical injury or personal embarrassment are permitted. Phi

Kappa Tau sponsors scholastic, moral and soc ial achievement, not childish

fooli shness.

The fraternity is a member of the Nationa l Interfraternity Conference, an

a ssociation of sixty men's general college fraternitie s. This organization of Greek­

letter societies is recognized and ~65pected by col lege authorities and admini s­

trators throughout the United States.

ALPHA LAMB DA CHAPTER , ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE

ehapters of 1-

• COLOIAOO NUUSU WUU1AI

KANS.AS l

i ·Xappa ·7 au

LAMBDA CHAPTER, PURDUE UNIVERSITY

PHI KAPPA TAU OBJECTIVES

I. To assist the freshman in the difficult readjustment

between high school and college when all home

ties are broken for the first time in life.

2. To take the place of parents for four years - the

work of the fraternity begins where that of the

father leaves off.

3. To assist the freshman in the crystallization of his

philosophy of life so that his standards on self and

social relationship shall be clearly defined instead

of chaotically dispersed.

4. To teach group consciousness.

5. To teach group loyalties.

6. To furnish a laboratory for the practice of self

government.

8. To teach men how to live, work and think with other

men.

9. To help the individual 1n his self-expression and

development.

I 0. Finally, to furnish a guide and inspiration for the

spiritual development of members during the four

year period in which for some indefinable reason

the church seems unable to function.

Phi Kappa Tau 1s a creator of MEN.

MU CHAPTER, LAWRENCE COLLEGE

NU CHAPTER, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

ALPHA TAU CHAPTER , CORNELL UNIVERSITY

TAU CHAPTER, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

EPSILON CHAPTER, MOUNT UNION COLLEGE

ALPHA OMEGA CH APTER, BALDWIN-WALLACE COLLEGE

XI CHAPTER, FRANKLIN AND MARSHALL COLLEGE

UPSILON CHAPTER, NEBRASKA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

0 I 0 0 o<

0 LL X 0 z

CHAPTERS OF PHI KAPPA TAU Alpha .. . .......... . . . . . . Miami University .. .. ... . ... .. . .. . .. . .. . .. ... . .... Oxford, Ohio

Beta . . . .. .. .. . .. . ... .. .. .Ohio University .. .. ..... ... .. .. ..... .. .. .. ..... . . Athens, Ohio

Gamma .. .. .......... . . . Ohio State University ......... . . ... . . . .. . ...... Columbus, Ohio

Delta . . .. .. .. . ..... . .. . .. Centre College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danville , Ky.

Epsilon . ..... . . . ... .. .. .. Mount Union College. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Alliance, Ohio

Zeta .. . .... . . . . . . . •. . . .. . University of Illinois .......... . . .... Champaign, Ill.

Eta .. . . ... ... . . ...• .. . . . .Muhlenberg College . . .... .. ......•............. Allentown, Po .

Theta . . .. .... . ....•.. .. . .Transylvania College . .. .. . . . . . .. .. .. . ............ Lexington, Ky.

Iota .... .. . . ... . ...... . . . Coe College .................. . ...... . .. Cedar Rapid s, Iowa

Kappa ..... . .. . . . .. . .. . . University of Kentucky . . ...... . .. . ............... Lexington, Ky.

Lambda .... . .......... .. Purdue University . . ....... ... . . .. .... .... . ....... Lafaye tte, Ind.

Mu . .. ... . ... .. . . ... .. .. Lawrence College . .. ..... . . . .. . .. . . ... . ........ Appl eton, Wis.

Nu . . ......... . .. . ....... University of California .......... . . ... . ... . ...... . Berkeley, Col.

Xi ..... . . ... . . ..•... . . . . . Franklin and Marshal l College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... Lan caster, Po .

Omicron .. . . . . . .. . ....... Penn State College . ............. . . . ....... . State College, Po.

Pi . . ............... . ..... University of Southern California ...... . . . ... . . Los Ang eles, Co l.

Rho . .. .. .... . .. . ..... .. . Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ....... .... , .. . . ... ... Troy, N. Y.

Sigma . . ... . . . •.... ... .. . Syracuse University ... . ............... . ... .' ..... Syracuse, N. Y.

Tau . . .. .. ..... . ...... .. . University of Michigan .. . . .. . . . . . .. . .......... Ann Arbor, Mich .

Upsilon ... .. .. ... . . ...... Nebraska Wesleyan University .... . .. . . · . .......... Lin co ln, Nebr.

Phi . .. . . . ...•. . .......... Bethany College ....... .. .... . ... . .. . .. .. . .. .. Bethany, W. Vo .

Chi .... .. . . ..•.......... North Carolina State College . . ........ . ........ . Raleigh, N. C .

Psi ....... .. . .... ...... . . University of Colorado .. ... ... ... ... . . . ... . . . . .. Boulder, Colo.

Omega ......... . ..... .. . University of Wisconsin . ...... . .... . . .. ..... . • .. . . Madison, Wis.

Alpha Alpha ... . . . . . ..... Michigan State College ... .. ........ .. . . .. . . . . . .. Lansing , Mich.

Alpha Beta . . . ... .. ...... New York University . . ..... .. . .. . . ..... . . . ...... New York, N.Y.

Alpha Gamma . .. . ... . . . . University of Delaware ......... . .... .. . .. ......... Newark, Del.

Alpha Delta . ... . .... . . .. Case Institute of Technology ... .. .. . . . . . ...... Cleveland, Ohio

Alpha Epsilon ........ . ... Kansas State College . . ..... ... . . .. . .. . ...... Manhattan, Kansas

Alpha Zeta .. .. . . . . . ... . . Oregon State College ...... . ........ . . .. . . ..... Corvallis, Ore.

Alpha Eta . . ...... . . . .. .. University of Florida . .. ......... . ... . ........... Gainesville, Flo.

Alpha Theta . ... . .... . . .. Coll ege of William and Mary ... . ... . ...... . ... Willomsburg, Vo.

Alpha Iota . . ..... . ... .. . . University of Pennsylvania . . . .. . . ..... . ... . ... Philadelphia, Po .

Alpha Kappa . .. . . . ...... Washington State College ......... . .. . . . . ...... Pullman , Wash.

Alpha Lambda . .......... Alabama Polytechnic Institute ....... . ... . .. . ..... ~ . Auburn, Ala.

Alpha Mu . ... . ... . ... . .. Ohio Wesleyan University ....... . ... .. .. . . .. . .. Delaware, Ohio

Alpha Nu ..... ... ....... Iowa State College . ... . . ... .. .. ... ... ...... . ...... Ames, Iowa

Alpha Xi .... .. .. . •...... West Virginia University ... . . .. . ........ Morgantown, W . Vo .

Alpha Omicron ....... ... .Lafayette College ... . .. . ..... . ... . . . .. . ... .. .. . . . . . Easton, Po.

Alpha Pi ..... ....... . .. . . University of Washington .. .. .... . . ... .. . . . •..... Seattle, Wash .

Alpha Rho .... . .. . . . . .. . . Georgia School of Technology ....... . . . ... ... ... . Atlanta, Go.

Alpha Sigma ..... . .. .... .Colorado State A. &. M. College . . . .. .... . ... . Ft. Collins, Colo.

Alpha Tau ....... .. ..... . Cornell University ... . .. .. . .. .... . ... . ............ Ithaca, N. Y.

Alpha Upsilon . . . . . . .... . . Colgate University ...... . .. . . .. . ... . . .. .... . .. Hamilton, N. Y.

Alpha Phi ...... . . .. . . ... University of Akron ... . ... . .. . ...... ....... . .. . .... A~ron, Ohio

Alpha Chi ..... .. ........ Mississippi State College ........... ... . . . . . . State College, Miss.

Alpha Psi . .... .... . ..... .Texas College of Mines .. . .. .. ............ ...... . EI Paso, Texas

Alpha Omega . . .. . . .. .... Baldwin-Wallace College . .. . .. .. .. . .... . .. ... ... ... Berea, Ohio

Beta Alpha ... .. ... .... . . Unive rsity of Texas .. . . . .. . ......... . . · ·: · · · . . . . . . . Austin, Texas

Beta Beta ... . ........... Unive rsity of Louisville . . ........ . .. . .. .. , . . . . ... .. Louisville, Ky.

Beta Gamma .... . .. . .... . University of Idaho . ... . ............. . . . ... .. . . Moscow, Idaho

Beta Delta . .' ..... ......... Un ivers ity of Miami ... . . . ... . ......... . .. .. . . . . Miami, Florida

Colony ... . .......... . ... University of California at Los Angeles . . . .. ... Westwood, Calif.

Colony .................. Florida State Un ivers ity ... . ......... . . . ... .. Tallahassee, Florida

Colony .................. Mississippi Southern College . ..... . ... . . . ..... Hattiesburg, Miss.

Colony ..... . .. ... . . ..... New' Mexico State College . ........... . ... Las Cruces, N. M.

Colony ..... . . ... ... ..... University of New Mexico .. . . ... ......... ... Albuquerque, N. M.

Colony .. . . . ... ..... ..... Univers ity of Kansas ..... . .. . ..... . .. . . . .. . ... Lawrenc~Kcmsas

Colony ...... .. . ... . . .. . . Univers ity of Indiana ....... .. .. . , .. . .. . . . . . . Bloomington, Ind.

Colony . ... . . . . . ....... . . Un ive rsi ty of Georgia . ... . ... . . . ................... Athens, Ga.

Colony .. . ....... . .. . . .. .. University of Maryland . .................. .... College. Pork, Md.

Colony ... .. . ....... : .... Ke nt State Un iversity . . . . ... ........ ... . ...... . . . .. . . . Kent, Ohio

PHI KAPPA TAU STATISTICS

Active Chapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Total Men Initiated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,068

Total Living Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,427

Initiated Annually Approximately . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Pledged Annually Approximately . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,200

August-1948

L. G. BALFOUR COMPANY ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS

New 1949 BLUE BOOK Off the Press Early in the Fall. 48 pages of crested jewelry including rings, keys, billfolds, bracelets, etc. Reserve your copy now with post card request.

WRITE FOR FREE SAMPLES!

REGULATIONS

Official plain badg e ............. $5 .00 Official chased badg e ......... 6.00 Official crown set pearl

badg e with zircon star ...... 16.75 Officia l crow n set pea rl

badg e with d iamon d star . .. . 25 .00 Officia l crown set pearl

badg e with d iamond star, w.g. 27.50 Sister pin, crown se t pearl

wi th d iamo nd star .......... 16.75 Sis ter pin , crown se t pea rl

wi th diamond sta r, w.g ... .... 19.25 Alumni charm , no key ends ....... 5.50 Alumni charm, with key ends . . . . 6.50 Pl edg e button . . . . . . . . . .75

Recognition Buttons:

Official, gold plated .75 Coat-of-arms, gol d plated 1.00 Cofa, enam eled , gold plated ..... 1.25 Monog ram , I / 20th g.f .. ......... 1.25 Monog ram , enam eled ,

IOk gold ................... 2.25

GUARDS Singl e Letter

Plain gold . . .. . . .. .. ... $2 .25 Cl ose se t, whole pea rl . . . 5.00 Crown se t, whole pearl . . 6.00

Additional for White Gold:

Pla in gold ...... . ...... 1.00 Jeweled . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.50

Doubl e Letter $3 .50 8.00

10.00

2.00 2.50

Official approval is requir ed on all badg es . No approval required on sis te r pins, rings and novel ties. The only badg e furnish ed with zircon sta r is th e officia l yell ow gold crown set whole badg e. The white gold official pearl badg e o r th e sis te r pin cannot be furnish ed with th e zircon star , only th e d ia mond star.

All badg es must be en graved wi th th e member's initials, se rial numb er, and initiat ion date. Sister pins do not have to b e engraved.

TAXES- To th e prices listed must be add ed th e 20/'0 Fed eral Tax and any prevailing State Tax.

FACTORIES

SOLE OFFICIAL JEWELER TO PHI KAPPA TAU FRATERNITY

Branch offices are located in educational centers throughout th e United States f.or your convenience

L. G. BALFOUR COMPANY ATILEBORO, MASSACHUS EITS