The PIKE Pillars

Pikes are...

Pi Kappa Alpha is rooted in the concept of what are known as the Four Pillars of Pike: Scholars, Leaders, Athletes, and Gentlemen. We strive to recruit well-rounded and motivated men who exemplify these four values. Click on the pillars above to explore each value further.

What is Pi Kappa Alpha?

Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity is a Greek letter, secret, college, social fraternity. It is composed of men who share similar ideals of friendship, truth, honor, and loyalty. The Fraternity's ideals are expressed in the written words and symbols of a secret ritual. These ideals and members' ability to maintain the visions of the Fraternity's founders are the great moral legacy of Pi Kappa Alpha.

Pi Kappa Alpha was founded at the University of Virginia on March 1, 1868. At the time, the University of Virginia was the fifth largest school in the United States. Only Harvard, Yale, Cornell and Michigan were bigger. The University of Virginia is considered the first truly American state university because it was the first to be established totally free from religious control.

It all started in Room 47 West Range when Frederick Southgate Taylor turned to Littleton Waller Tazewell, his cousin and roommate, for help in starting a new fraternity. Also present was James Benjamin Sclater, Jr., a schoolmate of Tazewell, and Sclater's roommate Robertson Howard. Those four men voted to add a fifth to their group and chose Julian Edward Wood. Although history is unclear, William Alexander, probably a friend of Sclater, Jr., was proposed for membership and was admitted as a founder. The first initiate was Augustus Washington Knox.

The essence of the Founders' vision for Pi Kappa Alpha can be found in its Preamble. A committee was first suggested by Brother William Alexander "to draw up a statement of the origin and the organization of the Fraternity." The committee was composed of brothers Robertson Howard and Littleton Waller Tazewell. The resulting statement is now referred to as the Preamble:

For the establishment of friendship on a firmer and more lasting basis; for the promotion of brotherly love and kind feeling; for the mutual benefit and advancement of the interests of those with whom we sympathize and deem worthy of our regard; We have resolved to form a fraternity, believing that, thus we can most successfully accomplish our object.

Robertson Howard
Julian Edward Wood
James Benjamin Sclater, Jr.
Frederick Southgate Taylor
Littleton Waller Tazewell (Bradford)
William Alexander

RUSH PIKE

Letter from Rush Chairman:

Gentlemen,

Pi Kappa Alpha is built on what are known as the four Pillars of Pike: Scholars, Leaders, Athletes, and Gentlemen. We strive to recruit well-rounded and motivated men who exemplify these four values and will benefit from the experiences, opportunities, and personal development our Fraternity has to offer.

Pike offers a diverse network of men from all corners of the University. Pike takes pride in promoting the value of Individual growth to propel the chapter forward as a whole. We all work hard to better ourselves and each other. This in turn allows us to excel in Athletics, Academics, and Community service year in and year out. Our devotion and hard work have not only been recognized by University of Nebraska Fraternities, but have placed us among the top Pike chapters in the nation.

On a more personal level, Pike has played a huge role in making me the man I am today. Associating myself with these guys has driven me to push myself out of my comfort zone, and to be the best man I can be. It has given me strong friendships that I would not trade for the world. Overall, it has helped me maximize my college experience, and I know it has for many men before me. I strongly urge freshmen and sophomores to consider Greek life and Pike, for it can be a priceless experience.

We encourage and appreciate any recommendations for potential young men who you think would be good for Pike. Contact Dermot Pogson with any recommendations or questions about events.

Dermot Pogson
Rush Chairman
(717) 472-3634

Chapter Statement of Position on Hazing »

Each chapter of The Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity recognizes the Fraternity's Standards, which include a standard of absolutely no hazing.

Many have experienced hazing in high school, either as a new member of an athletic team, a school band or a school social group. Hazing is often glorified in movies, and can take many forms. The most serious is direct physical abuse, such as being paddled, to a milder form, such as push-ups, to subtler approaches, such as drinking games.

Each chapter is aware that hazing is not acceptable conduct for any members to inflict upon one another and that no one should submit to any form of hazing as a condition of membership. Every member should refuse to participate in any hazing activity and, as importantly, should refuse to permit hazing being inflicted upon them.

If a member is approached and asked to participate in an activity which may be considered hazing

The member should refuse to participate in hazing; and
Know that such refusal will not place his membership in Pi Kappa Alpha at risk; and
Immediately report it to a chapter officer.

The purpose in providing this information is not because any members intend to haze pledges. However, when there are several personalities in a chapter, there is a remote possibility that some individual may, on the spur of the moment, ignore the Chapter's prohibition on hazing, and attempt a hazing activity with a pledge. Everyone should understand their rights and not be intimidated.

Each member has a personal responsibility not to condone any sort of hazing.

Gamma Beta Chapter

Our History

The Bushnell Brotherhood of the University of Nebraska was founded as a local fraternity in September of 1910. It was a group of male students who came together with the goal of becoming better Christians and improving their living conditions. In October of 1910, the name of the organization was changed to the Bushnell Guild.

During its early years, the Guild thrived on campus and attracted more men to their cause. In 1915, a Congregational Guild in Illinois wanted to use the name of the Bushnell Guild. This permission was granted, and in 1918, the Lincoln chapter initiated the Champaign chapter, which adopted the then existent ritual and insignia. The Champaign chapter later became affiliated with Alpha Kappa Lambda, a national Christian fraternity on the Pacific Coast.

The Bushnell Guild rented a chapter house at 1701 L Street until the spring of 1922 when the fraternity purchased a residence at 1141 D Street. In that same year, the Bushnell Guild began negotiations with Pi Kappa Alpha for a national charter. The Guild was visited by the Grand President of Pi Kappa Alpha on April 10, 1922. On April 12, 1924, the fraternity was installed as the Gamma Beta chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, and the initiation of the actives and alumni of the Bushnell Guild into Pi Kappa Alpha took place on April 19.

More recently, the Gamma Beta chapter was rechartered in 1999. Since then, our chapter has won nine Smythe Awards. The Smythe Award recognizes overall chapter superiority and prominence and are given to the top 5% of chapters annually.