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Pi Delta Epsilon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pi Delta Epsilon
ΠΔΕ
Founded1909; 115 years ago (1909)
Syracuse University
TypeHonor society
AffiliationIndependent
StatusMerged
Merge DateJune 1, 1975
SuccessorSociety for Collegiate Journalists
EmphasisJournalism
ScopeNational
Colors  Olive green and   Gray
FlowerWhite Carnation
Chapters174
Members42,000+ lifetime
HeadquartersPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
United States

Pi Delta Epsilon (ΠΔΕ) was an American collegiate honor fraternity for journalism. It merged to form the Society for Collegiate Journalists in 1975.

History

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Pi Delta Epsilon was established in 1909 at Syracuse University by ten students who were on the staff of The Daily Orange.[1][2] The founders wanted to form a closer bond around their common interest in journalism.[2] The founders of Pi Delta Epsilon were:[2]

  • Sydney H. Coleman
  • Neil Dow Cranmer
  • Paul i. Benjamin
  • J. H. Lloyd Baxter
  • C. Earl Bradbury
  • William M. Kennedy
  • Willard R. Jillison
  • Philip S. Perkins
  • Wallace M. Williams
  • Donald J. Wormer

The purpose of Pi Delta Epsilon was to advance journalism, support student publications, foster a fraternal bond, encourage loyalty to the university, and reward journalistic accomplishments.[2] Its mission included "service and sacrifice of self".[1]

Pi Delta Epsilon expanded to include chapters across the United States, beginning with a chapter at the University of Nebraska in 1910.[2] It sponsored an annual national intercollegiate editorial and news story competition; winners received gold, silver, and bronze medals.[2][3] In later years, there was a prize and a trophy.[2]

Pi Delta Epsilon was governed by a grand council, elected at biennial grand conventions.[2] The fraternity changed its constitution at the 1937 convention to allow female members.[2] It merged with the women's journalism society, Alpha Chi Alpha, on July 1, 1944, accepting all chapters of the former women's recognition society.[4][2] By 1963, Pi Delta Epsilon had chartered 135 chapters (103 were active) and had initiated 42,000 members.[2]

In 1956, Louis Ingelhart, the president of a similar organization Alpha Phi Gamma, contacted Pi Delta Epsilon and other collegiate journalism organizations to propose a merger.[1] It merged with Alpha Phi Gamma to form the Society for Collegiate Journalists formed on June 1, 1975.[1] At the time of the merger, it was the oldest honorary collegiate journalism fraternity in the United States.[1]

Symbols

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The society's badge was a hexagonal gold key with a black enamel face.[2] The Greek letters ΠΔΕ were inscribed on its face as an inverted triangle, with ΠΔ above Ε.[2] Pi Delta Epsilon's colors were olive green and grey.[2] Its flower was the white carnation.[2] Its quarterly publication was The College Publisher.[2]

Membership

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Members of Pi Delta Epsilon were required to have served at least one year in the editorial or business department of an accredited campus publication.[2] Thus, membership was open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.[2] It had four classes of members: active (student), faculty, honorary, and associate.[2]

Chapters

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Pi Delta Epsilon chartered at least 174 chapters before its merger in 1975.[2][5]

Notable members

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "History". Society for Collegiate Journalists. 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Robson, John, ed. (1963). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 681-683
  3. ^ "Pi Delta Epsilon is Offering Prize Medals". The Davidsonian. Davidson, North Carolina. 1923-02-15. p. 4. Retrieved 2024-05-11 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Recognition societies are a variant of honor societies, apparently allowing prospective members to request membership rather than being tapped. Requirements varied, and appear to have had a scholastic component, but perhaps were less vigorous than regular honor societies. Where they still exist independently, the Fraternity and Sorority Project within Wikipedia groups them under the "honor" type.
  5. ^ Anson, Jack L. and Marchesani Jr. Robert F., eds. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 20th edition. Indianapolis: Baird's Manual Foundation, 1991, p. VII-56. ISBN 0-9637159-0-9
  6. ^ "Pi Delta Epsilon Reinstallation Recalls Alumni Who Have Earned Success in Newspaper World". The Coe College Cosmos. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 1938-12-14. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-05-11 – via Newspapers.com.