Phi Sigma Phi

Phi Sigma Phi,(ΦΣΦ) is a national fraternity in the United States founded on July 30, 1988 in South Bend, Indiana by chapters formerly of Phi Sigma Epsilon that declined to participate in that fraternity's merger into Phi Sigma Kappa. There are currently 5 active chapters of Phi Sigma Phi nationwide. The current National President is University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Alumn Joshua Finch.[1]

Phi Sigma Phi
ΦΣΦ
FoundedJuly 30, 1988 (1988-07-30)
South Bend, Indiana
TypeSocial
AffiliationNIC
ScopeUnited States
MottoDo unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Colors Cardinal Red   Silver 
SymbolThe Phoenix
FlowerFire and Ice Rose
PhilanthropyPresident's Council On Service and Civic Participation Partnership
Chapters5 active, 20 inactive
ValuesHonor, Justice, and Wisdom
HeadquartersP.O. Box 307
Kingmont, WV 26578
USA
WebsiteOfficial website

History

The foundation for Phi Sigma Phi stems from the 1985 merger between Phi Sigma Epsilon and Phi Sigma Kappa.[2] After this merger, a small group of Phi Sigma Epsilon alumni and then-current undergraduate collegians decided not to participate with the new fraternity, instead electing to form their own national fraternity. Historically, ΦΣΦ was founded as an evolution of ideals and dedication to independence and freedom of choice. On July 30, 1988, in South Bend, Indiana, Phi Sigma Phi National Fraternity, Inc. was formally organized to serve as a national organization.

Leading this small group of chapters into the formation of a new national fraternity were former Phi Sigma Epsilon alumni who were elected to serve as Phi Sigma Phi's first National Council.

The current National Council of Phi Sigma Phi includes:

  • Joshua Finch (National President)
  • Aaron Bestul (National Vice-President)
  • Mike Brennan (National Vice-President)
  • Paul Jarosh (National Vice-President)
  • Joe Sharpe (National Vice-President)
  • Shawn Head (National Director of Crisis Management)
  • Nate Church (National Executive Director and Advisory Councilor)
  • Mark Helling (Advisory Council)
  • Harry Parker (Advisory Council)
  • Scott Wilson (Advisory Council)
  • John Sandwell (Advisory Council)
  • David Prueher (Advisory Council)
  • Shawn Head (Advisory Council)
  • Travis Steinke (Advisory Council)
  • Dustin Blankenshiip (Advisory Council)

In addition, longtime supporters and former Phi Sigma Epsilon National Presidents Dean Rockwell, (originally of Eastern Michigan's Lambda chapter '35 and ΦΣΕ's National President 1950–1958) and John Sandwell, (originally of Fort Hays State's Zeta chapter '71 and ΦΣΕ's National President 1978–1984) added their advice and experience to all areas of Phi Sigma Phi's new operations.[2][lower-alpha 1]

The foundation for Phi Sigma Phi stems from a desire to keep alive many of the ideals of Phi Sigma Epsilon, and chose to form the National Fraternity with founding Chapters, and not specifically Founding Fathers. Still, the creation of Phi Sigma Phi was driven by its Alumni volunteers. The chapters opposed to the merger determined which groups would form the new national fraternity. By 1988 there existed seven chapters which became the foundation of the new organization. These seven chapters are known by the Fraternity as the "Founding Seven" chapters:[2]

Although there was strong support for this new fraternity from many campuses and alumni, the first years of Phi Sigma Phi's existence were difficult. During the years of 1988 through 1990, the National Fraternity struggled for survival, and expansion was non-existent. Establishing new national programs, publications, visitations, and a new financial program were top priorities and took most of the new national Fraternity's energy and efforts. The dawn of the 1990s saw Phi Sigma Phi settle into its position as that of a strong and determined new national fraternity. The National Council and Staff of Phi Sigma Phi were determined to chart a course for this new national fraternity where the emphasis was on superior service and support for the membership. The initial turmoil of the late 1980s gradually settled, and the desire and drive for expansion was put into action.

Phi Sigma Phi became the 66th member fraternity of the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) in 1997.[2]

Mission and Philanthropy

Phi Sigma Phi is a partnering organization with the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. This partnership was first implemented by Doug Renshaw at the Epsilon Zeta chapter at Fairmont State University and was expanded to a national effort at the July 2015 National Leadership Development Academy in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Chapters

Active:

Inactive:

See also

Notes
  1. The Lambda chapter of ΦΣΕ created both ΦΣΚ's Epsilon Lambda chapter and the founding Lambda chapter of ΦΣΦ. --Lambda's actives in 1985-87 chose to merge into ΦΣΚ while a group of alumni, led by Rockwell, splintered off to become a new Lambda chapter of ΦΣΦ. In Sandwell's case, his dormant Zeta chapter post-merger would have been called Epsilon Zeta chapter of ΦΣΚ. But it had died in 1979 with no attempt made at recolonization since that time by either fraternity. More information on these chapters is on the Phi Sigma Epsilon page.
  2. Phi Beta chapter is now dormant.
  3. Phi Iota chapter is now dormant.
  4. Phi Kappa chapter is now dormant.
  5. Phi Sigma Phi's Sigma Zeta chapter is now dormant. In 1997 brothers of this chapter petitioned to re-join Phi Sigma Kappa, retaining the Sigma Zeta chapter name. They were active as a PSK chapter until 2005.
  6. "Founding Seven" chapter, established with the national July 30, 1988, but had previously been chartered as a Phi Sigma Epsilon chapter in 1952.
  7. "Founding Seven" chapter, established with the national July 30, 1988; had previously been chartered as a Phi Sigma Epsilon chapter in 1934.
  8. No closure date is listed for the Phi Beta chapter on the Phi Sigma Phi website, accessed 30 March 2015. A campus directory notes their existence in 2010, while the campus is an expansion target in a 2015 Facebook post.
  9. This now-dormant "Founding Seven" chapter was established with the national July 30, 1988, but had previously been chartered as a Phi Sigma Epsilon chapter in 1952.
  10. No closure date is listed for the Phi Iota chapter on the Phi Sigma Phi website, accessed 30 March 2015.
  11. The campus was listed as an expansion target in an October 2017 post to the College's alumni website by a 1990 grad.
  12. This now-dormant "Founding Seven" chapter was established with the national on July 30, 1988, but had previously been chartered as a Phi Sigma Epsilon chapter in 1968. It went on to secede from Phi Sigma Phi - the Baird's Archive notes this occurring in 1994, to re-join Phi Sigma Kappa as their Sigma Zeta chapter in 1998, but closed in 2005.
  13. No closure date is listed for the Epsilon Alpha chapter on the Phi Sigma Phi website, accessed 30 March 2015; Baird's Archive had this as 1997.
  14. The predecessor to this chapter was Delta Sigma Tau (local), formed in 1995, per Baird's Archive.
  15. No chartering date or closure date is listed for the Epsilon Delta chapter on the Phi Sigma Phi website, accessed 30 March 2015. Chartering date from Baird's Archive, but the reference listed no closure date.
  16. No chartering date or closure date is listed for the Epsilon Eta chapter on the Phi Sigma Phi website, accessed 30 March 2015. Baird's Archive indicates this was a 1995 closure, but may have occurred a year or two earlier.
  17. No chartering date or closure date is listed for the Epsilon Kappa chapter on the Phi Sigma Phi website, accessed 30 March 2015.
  18. No chartering date or closure date is listed for the Epsilon Xi chapter on the Phi Sigma Phi website, accessed 30 March 2015.
  19. No chartering date or closure date is listed for the Sigma Psi group on the Phi Sigma Phi website, which may have been a colony only, accessed 30 March 2015.
  20. No chartering date or closure date is listed for the Phi Pi colony on the Phi Sigma Phi website, accessed 30 March 2015.
  21. The Phi Sigma Phi website lists September 24, 2014 as the chartering date for the Epsilon Omicron chapter, accessed 24 May 2015. As of 2018 the chapter was removed from university student organization listings. National website lists the chapter name, but has no current content about them. Baird's Archive shows the start of the colony in 2011, with chartering in 2014.
  22. "Founding Seven" chapter, established with the national 30 July 1988, but had previously been chartered as a Phi Sigma Epsilon chapter in 1960.

References
  1. "Phi Sigma Phi National President".
  2. "The History of Phi Sigma Phi".
  3. Twenty six brothers of the Phi Kappa chapter left Phi Sigma Phi in 1997 and re-chartered as the Beta Nu chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity in 1998 according to the chapter's history Archived 2016-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 27 January 2016. This occurred just prior to the national fraternity's decision to join the NIC.
  4. Noted in the Baird's Manual archive, accessed 14 Jan 2021.
  5. The predecessor to this chapter was the Phi Sigma Pi (local), formed in 1969, according to the Baird's Archive. Colonized as the Sigma Epsilon colony, at chartering they took on the name Epsilon Nu chapter, according to the group's Facebook page, accessed 24 May 2015.
  6. Kappa Chapter Chartered on April 25, 2015, post accessed 24 May 2015. Baird's Archive notes the colony formed in 2012, with chartering in 2015.
  7. This now-dormant "Founding Seven" chapter was established with the national July 30, 1988, but had previously been chartered as a Phi Sigma Epsilon chapter in 1959.
  8. Chartered 19 Aug 1995. According to an article in the Detroit Free press, this chapter is banned permanently by the CMU administration for conduct and risk management issues, article accessed 6 Nov 2018. This issue is currently being legally challenged by Phi Sigma Phi. Until this matter is resolved, Phi Sigma Phi still considers Xi chapter an active chapter, will full operational rights and privileges.
  9. Chartered on 20 April 1996, according to the national website's Epsilon Beta chapter page, accessed 16 Dec 2016.
  10. https://www.facebook.com/UNLPhiSigmaPhi/
  11. PSU colony, as noted in the Onward State blog, accessed 14 Dec 2016. However, the chapter is no longer listed on the active chapter and colony list maintained by the PSU Office of Student Affairs, accessed 6 Nov 2018.
  12. Chartered in 2009, according to a university Greek system Facebook page, accessed 24 May 2015, where the Baird's Archive says this occurred in 2010. The university date seems more likely accurate.
  13. Chartered in 2000, per the 2015 Fairmont State recruitment brochure, accessed 23 Oct 2016
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