Phi Alpha Pi (ΦΑΠ) is a local fraternity at the University of Olivet in Olivet, Michigan. It was established as a literary society in 1861 and became a traditional social fraternity in 1887. It is the oldest social and literary fraternity at Olivet College. ^[1]

History

The fraternity originated as Olivet Lyceum literary society at Olivet College (now the University of Olivet) in 1847. ^[2] Its name changed to Philalethian in 1850. ^[2] The group was reorganized and became Phi Alpha Pi Society on March 20, 1861. ^{[3] [2]} Its founders were E. E. Benedict, G. W. Barney, S. F. Drury, George W. Keyes, N. J. Morrison, J. J. Scovel, S. F. White. ^[3] Morrison served as its first president. ^[4] Other original officers included Barney as vice president, Scovel as treasurer, Keyes as recording secretary, Drury as corresponding secretary, White as critic, and Benedict as librarian. ^[4] Meetings were held in the Chapel Recitation room on campus. ^[4]

The society hosted weekly literary sessions that were open to the public. ^[5] It held an annual exercise on December 3, 1873, that featured music, oratory, readings, and debate. ^[6] Phi Alpha Pi's members participated in Inter-Collegiate Society Oratorial Association's competitions in 1875. ^[7] It won Michigan's first inter-fraternity oratoritorical contest in 1877. ^[5] The society also competed with the Aldephic and the Soronian Societies from Olivet College. ^[8]

In 1887, the literary society changed its constitution to become a "secret fraternity". ^[5] However, it continued to host weekly literary sessions that were open to the public. ^[5] In September 1892, it changed its name from Phi Alpha Pi Society to Phi Alpha Pi Fraternity. ^[9] By May 1896, the Phi Alpha Pi annual reception was one of the top of the Olivet College social life. ^[10]

In December 1912, Phi Alpha Pi held its 51st annual public debates, with 24 students participating in the preliminary debates. ^[11] Students from Olivet competed with debaters from Alma College, Ferris Institute, Hillsdale College, and Hope College. ^[11]

Symbols

The motto of Phi Alpha Pi is "Progress, Truth, Friendship." ^{[3] [1]} This is the English translation of Φιλία, Αλήθεια, Πρόοδος (originally arranged as "Friendship, Truth, Progress") giving the Greek letter name of ΦΑΠ to the fraternity. ^[12]

The fraternity's colors are royal blue and white. ^[3] Its nicknames are Phi Alphs, Naples, and The Gentlemen. ^[3]

Chapter house

When Parson's Hall was constructed, the fraternity leased rooms on the building's fourth floor. ^[4] The group spent $2,000 upfitting their rooms with butternut and black walnut wood. ^[13]

The group laid the cornerstone of a chapter house on June 15, 1890, during the college's commencement week. ^[14] It was dedicated during commencement week on June 17, 1892. ^{[15] [16]} The chapter house is constructed of Lake Superior sandstone in Greek-Swiss or colonial style. ^{[13] [15] [16] [2]} It features a portico with eight red granite columns and a roof of red Spanish tiles. ^{[13] [16] [2]} Its first floor includes an auditorium, cloakroom, committee room, library, reception hall, and parlor. ^{[13] [15] [2]} The auditorium seats several hundred people. ^[2] Its second floor includes committee rooms, a dining hall, dressing rooms, a janitor's apartment, a kitchen, a pantry, and apartments for twenty members. ^{[13] [15] [2]} The chapter house cost around $24,000 to build ($813,867 in today's money). ^[13] I. C. Seely of Minneapolis was the major donor to the project; a tablet with his name and class year was placed at the house's entrance. ^[15]

The chapter house was listed on the Michigan Register of Historic Places. ^{[17] [18]} On November 2, 1978, the house was destroyed by a fire; forty firefighters fought the blaze for seven hours. ^{[17] [18]} The fire was cause by faulty wiring. ^[19] The only part of the historic structure that was undamaged was the portico and columns, stone walls, and chimney. ^{[17] [18] [1]} WIthin two weeks of the fire, the fraternity announced that it planned to restore the damaged chapter house. ^[20] However, the insurance company only paid $200,000 of the $500,000 needed to restore the structure. ^{[21] [1]} Part of the house was occupied in 1981. ^[22] By November 1985, the exterior restoration was completed, along with most of the interior. ^[1]

The house was damaged by arson on April 9, 1989. ^[22] The fire destroyed the third floor and roof; the second and first floors had water damage. ^[23]

The house is located on 504 S. Main Street on the Olivet campus. ^[22]

Philanthropy

The fraternity hosts an annual Christmas party for underprivileged children. ^{[24] [25]}

Scandals and controversies

• In 1973, the college announced plans to build a new conservatory after receiving a one million dollar gift; the chosen site included the property of the fraternity and its chapter house. ^[26] The fraternity started a campaign and petitions to save their house. ^[26] However, the college's board of trustees voted to relocate the conservatory and save the fraternity's house from demolition. ^[27]
• In April 1989, an arsonist set fire to the Phi Alpha Pi chapter house hours after placing four phone calls, saying "The house will burn". ^{[22] [28]} Four students and a firefighter were injured and there was $200,000 in damages ($491,597 in today's money) to the house that had just been restored from an electrical fire. ^[22] Three Olivet students admitted to making three prank calls did not make the fourth call that included the threat of fire. ^[29]
• In 1992, eight or nine members of Phi Alpha Pi were involved in a campus brawl between white and black students. ^[30] The incident started when a white female student called the fraternity house, asking for help because she was being threatened by several black male students who were outside of her room. ^{[31] [32]} Around seventy students were involved in the fight. ^{[31] [32]}
• In February 2003, police uncovered a hazing incident at the Phi Alpha Pi house; the fraternity was already on probation with the college for prior incidents. ^[33]

Notable members

• Hamilton King, Minister Resident/Consul General to Siam and Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Siam (1898-1903) ^{[5] [34]}
• Alexander Tison, lawyer and professor at Columbia University Law School ^{[5] [35]}

See also

• List of social fraternities and sororities
• List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Eaton County
• Soronian Society

References