Tau Phi Sigma, (ΤΦΣ), was a multicultural service-oriented college fraternity, founded in 1992 at the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It expanded to six chapters in Indiana and Illinois, all of which are now inactive.
| Tau Phi Sigma | |
|---|---|
| ΤΦΣ | |
 | |
| Founded | November 11, 1992 University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign |
| Type | Multicultural |
| Former Affiliation | NIC |
| Status | Defunct |
| Emphasis | Service |
| Scope | Regional |
| Motto | Como Humanos Siempre Unidos (As Humans Always United), Como Hermanos Jamas Vencidos (As Brothers Never Defeated) |
| Pillars | Equality, Respect, Unity, Loyalty, and Pride |
| Colors | Navy Blue Silver |
| Symbol | Gryphon |
| Flower | Don Juan Rose |
| Publication | Gryphon Gazette |
| Philanthropy | Fight 4 Life Initiative |
| Chapters | 6 |
| Headquarters | , Illinois United States |
History
editTau Phi Sigma is a multicultural college fraternity, founded on November 11, 1992, at the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The organization's primary purpose is to ensure its members reach higher states of education and progress the cultural awareness of humanity in all parts of the globe while maintaining the values of brotherhood, equality, loyalty, respect, and pride. Since then the fraternity has expanded to eight collegiate chapters and two alumni chapters in the Midwest.[1]
Founding
editOn the campus of University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, a group of thirteen students attending the university were unable to find a fraternity that satisfied their ideals of brotherhood. They intended to create a brotherhood that would encompass all ethnicities and backgrounds and make men of good character which would manifest itself in attaining a higher education, providing service to the community, and promoting social and cultural awareness.
The founding fathers of the organization devised a pledging process that would ensure fraternal bonds would develop and a true brotherhood would form. After twelve rigorous weeks of hard work, dedication, education, and discipline, ending on May 1, 1993, the first seventeen members of a fraternity they named Sigma Tau Phi emerged.
Another national fraternity had used the same name as early as 1918. As that group had merged into another NIC fraternity and was still known by them as a predecessor group, the new multicultural group at Illinois opted early to change its name from Sigma Tau Phi to Tau Phi Sigma to avoid any confusion.[2]
The objectives of Tau Phi Sigma were:
- To stimulate the ambition of its members
- To prepare them for the greatest usefulness in the causes of humanity, freedom, and dignity of the individual;
- To encourage the highest and noblest form of manhood;
- To aid humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic, and intellectual statues
Founding fathers
editTau Phi Sigma was founded by seventeen young men:
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Symbols
editThe fraternity's public or open motto was Como Humanos Siempre Unidos, Como Hermanos Jamas Vencidos (As Humans Always United, As Brothers Never Defeated). Its colors were navy blue and silver. Its symbol was the griffin. Its flower was the Don Juan rose. Its principles or pillars were Equality, Respect, Unity, Loyalty, and Pride.
Philanthropy
editTau Phi Sigma was a service-oriented fraternity. To further research and development of major diseases such as cancer, diabetes, epilepsy and cardiologic conditions Tau Phi Sigma established the "Fight 4 Life Initiative" as its national philanthropy to support the following organizations:
Chapters
edit| Name | Chartered | Institution | Location | Status | Notes | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | November 11, 1992 | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Champaign and Urbana, IL | Inactive | [3] | |
| Beta | February 17, 1996 | University of Illinois at Chicago, Dominican University, others | Chicago, IL | Inactive | [4] | |
| Gamma | July 26, 1997 | Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN | Inactive | [5] | |
| Delta | September 12, 1997 | DePaul University | Chicago, IL | Inactive | ? | |
| Epsilon | February 14, 1998 | Northern Illinois University | Dekalb, IL | Inactive | [6] | |
| Eta | June 13, 2009 | Purdue University Northwest | Hammond, IN | Inactive | [7] | |
| Zeta colony | Indianapolis Citywide | Indianapolis, IN | Inactive | ? | ||
| Theta colony | Chicago State University | Chicago, IL | Inactive | ? | ||
| Omega | Reserved | [8] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Formation at Illinois noted in the university's historical record, accessed 8 Nov 2020.
- ^ This was Sigma Tau Phi, which merged its seven chapters into Alpha Epsilon Pi in 1947. Similar situations arose with many fraternities over the years, as popular combinations of letters were tried, and often adjusted.
- ^ Alpha chapter is noted among dormant chapters at Illinois, as of 8 Nov 2020.
- ^ Beta chapter website, accessed 8 Nov 2020.
- ^ Gamma chapter university portal, accessed 8 Nov 2020.
- ^ Epsilon chapter is noted as a member of the NIU United Greek Council, accessed 8 Nov 2020.
- ^ Eta chapter university portal, accessed 8 Nov 2020.
- ^ Is this reserved as a memorial chapter or for honorary members?