User:Smith120bh/Phi Tau

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Phi Tau is a coeducational fraternity at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA.

History[edit]

Phi Tau Coeducational Fraternity at Dartmouth College was founded as the Tau Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa in 1905. With the help of the national organization, a house for the fraternity was purchased on what was then the northern edge of the Dartmouth College campus. By the late 1920s, however, the house had begun to show its age, and a building campaign resulted in the construction of a new building during the 1927-28 academic year. This new house was three stories above ground with a basement, and included living quarters for approximately 18 brothers as well as a kitchen, a dining room, a library, three bathrooms, and several social rooms. Over the years, there were many changes to the building, including several different porches on the south side of the building, the finishing of rooms in the basement, and the movement of boiler rooms, social areas, and even staircases. In the 1980s, steel tie rods were added to provide structural support, leading to a tradition of referencing how the "north wall is still standing" in alumni newsletters. Over the years, Phi Tau has had a parking lot in at least three different locations on the property.

The old Phi Tau building at Dartmouth College, in the winter of 1997.

The brotherhood of the Tau Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa underwent a great transition in the years of World War II and immediately afterward. Many members of the classes of 1942 - 1945 were rushed through their academic studies and went off to war without so much as a graduation ceremony. At the same time, the U.S. Navy maintained a V-12 Program on the Dartmouth College campus. Many Phi Sigma Kappas from Dartmouth went off to war, and at least one spent time as a POW. When brothers returned to finish their education after the war, attitudes in the house were less innocent and many changes took place in how the brotherhood treated one another. Various pledge activities, for example, were completely eliminated, as their shock value no longer entertained anyone.

The Tau Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa has a history of being progressive about its membership. Although the Phi Sigma Kappa national organization never explicitly forebade membership to minorities in its charter or regulations, an informal "Gentleman's Agreement" encouraged local chapters not to admit minorities to membership. In the mid-1950s, the Tau Chapter began quietly ignoring this agreement, and admitted both African-American and Jewish men into the house. The Dartmouth Phi Sigma Kappas were exposed to the racist attitudes of the national organization when the national President and other officers visited the Tau chapter for a party celebrating the chapter's 50th anniversary in 1956. Shortly thereafter, and after three weeks of intense debate, the chapter voted to permanently separate from the national organization. They decided to name their new local house Phi Tau Fraternity. The history of the separation was chronicled by Dick Scobie '56, the then president of the house, for his senior thesis. This work has been published within Phi Tau ever since and is known to house members as the "Scobie Chronicles."

So things remained until Dartmouth College went coeducational in 1972. At that time, the brothers of Phi Tau voted to admit women as well. When the house constitution was rewritten to reflect the new local status of the brotherhood in 1956, gender references had been deliberately excluded from the text, making the house officially coed before Dartmouth College became coed. Phi Tau is the only coed Greek house at Dartmouth that has always had female members since first admitting them, and was the first fraternity to add gay rights to its non-descrimination clause.

In 2000, Dartmouth College unveiled a new Master Plan for the north side of the campus. This Master Plan called for the creation of a green on the northern side of the libraries in the center of campus, and anticipated the use of a portion of the property owned by Phi Tau. The fraternity entered into negotiations to sell 18,000 square feet of property to the College in exchange for the funds and construction support to build a new house to replace the existing building. The new structure was built during the summer and fall terms of 2002, for a sum in excess of $1.8 million. The new structure was located between North Main Street and the already existing house. Student members of Phi Tau continued to occupy the old house during construction of the new building. Phi Tau brothers began living in the new house in the winter term of 2003, and the old building was demolished in January, 2003.

Membership[edit]

The process of joining Phi Tau, called "rush," is done throughout the year, although there are specifically planned rush events each academic term. Students who are eligible can sign a rush book, effectively asking for a bid to join the house at any time. Members of the house then deliberate on the request at an official house meeting and decide whether or not to offer a bid to the prospective new member. Anyone offered a bid to join may "sink" the bid, and thereby join the house, whenever they wish to do so until they graduate. Traditionally, one attempts to sink his or her bid in as creative a manner as is possible. Phi Tau, like most other Greek organizations, has traditions of a "sink night" and a pledge period. Unlike most other coeducational Greek houses, members of Phi Tau continue to refer to one another as "brothers", regardless of their gender. At any one time, there are approximately 25 active brothers on-campus, a maximum of 15 of whom live in the house itself. Brothers may choose to go inactive, effectively relieving them of any responsibilities of brotherhood, should they require more time in their schedules while on-campus. Membership in the fraternity may not be revoked under any circumstance, except by the brother himself.

Activities[edit]

Like all Dartmouth College Greek organizations, Phi Tau holds its brothers-only weekly house meeting on Wednesday night. Like most other Dartmouth College Greek organizations, Phi Tau social activities include four weekly events, and other less organized social events. "Thursday Night Tavern" (T.N.T.) events feature assorted events decided upon by the organizer, "Friday Night Flix" normally includes two movies shown in the basement Tube Room, "Bucket" on Saturday evenings may host nearly any type of activity, and "Sunday Evening eXtravaganza" (S.E.X.) places large quantities of ice cream out for public consumption whilst socializing and preparing for Monday classes. Traditional activities for these events or other times include several variations of beer pong, slam pong, dance parties, barbecues, caffeine-related events near exam times, and extensive use of the board game Settlers of Catan. Phi Tau is known throughout campus for its quarterly "Milque and Cookies" party, featuring 3000 or more homemade cookies and many gallons of milkshakes.

Associations[edit]

Phi Tau Coeducational Fraternity is owned by the non-profit Tau Corportation of Hanover, New Hampshire. All past and present members of the fraternity are voting members of the corporation, which meets at least annually. Phi Tau Coeducational Fraternity is a recognized fraternal student organization of Dartmouth College and is a member organization of the Co-Ed Council. Phi Tau has a long-standing charitable relationship with the Karnak Shriners of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, supporting the Hospital for Burned Children. A major Phi Tau social event each summer is the Shriners Day Parade down North Main Street in front of the Phi Tau house. Another important charitable relationship for Phi Tau is the Upper Valley Humane Society.

Mottos[edit]

The house mottos are "Unitas in Diversitate" (Unity in Diversity) and "Malasinationes & Bellatore" (Hardcore and Battle-ready).

Location[edit]

Phi Tau Coeducational Fraternity is located at 31 North Main Street, Hanover, NH 03755. It is across the street from Gamma Delta Chi and next door to Alpha Theta.

External links[edit]

[[Category:1905 establishments]] [[Category:United States student societies]]