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Tau Epsilon Phi (TEΦ, commonly pronounced TEP) is an American fraternity with 14 active chapters, chiefly located at universities and colleges on the East Coast of the United States. The national headquarters is currently located in Voorhees, New Jersey and the official colors of the organization are lavender and white (although most chapters use purple instead of lavender).

Ideals

The organization's creed asserts its governing ideals as "friendship, chivalry, and service." TEP attracts and accepts brothers of all religions and ethnicities who agree to be bound by these ideals. Chapters uphold these ideals through participation in various social, academic, and athletic, and charity events.

History

The organization was founded on October 10, 1910, by ten Jewish men at Columbia University, as a response to the existence of similar organizations who would not admit Jewish members. The first pledge, Maximillian Nemser, was initiated in 1911, and in 1912, the first new chapter was founded at New York University. Continued expansion led to the adoption of a national constitution in 1916.

In 1920, the opening of a chapter at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec made TEΦ an international fraternity. The McGill chapter has since been disbanded. The oldest remaining chapter today is the Delta chapter at Cornell University. Beginning in 1923, the organization has published a nationally distributed magazine, The Plume.

TEΦ was initially exclusively Jewish, but began admitting non-Jewish members (predominantly Catholics) in the 1950s. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was inducted as an honorary member during his administration. Vincent C. Gray was the first black member of Tau Epsilon Phi and was elected president of his local chapter for two consecutive terms.

In 1986, Sidney Suntag, who served as Executive Secretary from 1946–1979, published the book The History of Tau Epsilon Phi: 75 Years of Friendship 1910-1985 recounting the national history of the fraternity.

Organization

Grand Chapter

As of 25 October 1997, the Constitution of Tau Epsilon Phi required that a Grand Chapter meeting be held every 2 years. The Grand Chapter consists of delegates from each local undergraduate and alumni chapter. The Grand Chapter serves as the supreme legislature with sole responsibility for electing the Grand Council. The Grand Chapter while in session also serves as TEP’s Board of Directors, authorizing or approving all fraternity business, including any modifications to the Constitution and Statutory Code.

The most recent Grand Chapter meeting was held on Oct 22-23, 2011.

Current Chapters who make up the Grand Chapter,

• City College of New York (ΦΧ),
• Clarkson (ΛΦΕ),
• Cornell University (Δ),
• Hofstra University (ΣΑΣ),
• Johnson & Wales University (ΩΑ),
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Ξ),
• Queens College (ΕΘ),
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ΕΙ),
• Rutgers University-Camden (ΣΕ),
• SUNY Binghamton (ΦΠ),
• University of Florida (ΤΑ),
• University of Georgia (Ν),
• University of Pennsylvania (Ρ),
• University of Rhode Island (ΤΩ),

Grand Council

A Grand Council serves as TEP’s Board of Directors. The Grand Council authorizes and/or approves all fraternity business between meetings of the Grand Chapter.

Chapters

Legal issues

In September 2010, a group of fraternity members filed a civil lawsuit against the national Tau Epsilon Phi organization. The plaintiffs alleged that George Hasenberg, then the national executive director of the fraternity, had been operating the fraternity for personal financial gain and drove chapters away by making unreasonable financial demands on them. They further argued that Hasenberg had failed to hold elections for his position for over 10 years despite a requirement in the fraternity's constitution requiring biannual elections. Hasenberg stated that he was unable to hold elections because none of the chapters were in good standing due to failure to pay dues, and thus there was no one who could legitimately vote. While the judge in that case ordered a new election overseen by an independent party, that order was automatically stayed after the national organization filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in January 2011. In May 2011, the parties settled all outstanding cases and the fraternity agreed to hold new national elections.

Notable alumni

Some notable alumni:

Arts/Entertainment:

• Jeff Altman - stand-up comedian
• Larry David - actor, writer, comedian, and television producer
• David Duchovny - actor, writer and director
• Benny Goodman - musician and bandleader
• Larry King - TV and radio host
• Jerry Springer - TV and radio host
• George Stephanopoulos - TV journalist
• Joseph Wapner - Judge, The People's Court

Sports/Athletics:

• Red Auerbach - General Manager, Boston Celtics
• Bryan Clark - professional wrestler
• Jared Ross - professional hockey player
• Eddie Fogler - college basketball coach

Politics/Government:

• Omar Bradley - General of the Army and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (accepted honorary membership)
• Dwight D. Eisenhower - 34th President of the United States (accepted honorary membership)
• Vincent C. Gray - Mayor, Washington, D.C.
• Louis Harris - founder, Harris Poll
• Irving R. Kaufman - Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• Elliott H. Levitas - U.S. Representative, Georgia's 4th congressional district
• Marvin Mandel - Governor, Maryland
• Kirill Reznik - State Delegate, Maryland House of Delegates
• Michael S. Steele - Lt. Governor, Maryland and Chairman, Republican National Committee
• Rick Santorum - U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania
• Leo M. Gordon - Judge, United States Court of International Trade

Business/Science/Engineering:

• Max Abramovitz - architect
• Samuel J. LeFrak - Chairman, LeFrak Corporation
• Jonas Salk - discoverer of polio vaccine
• Raymond Kurzweil - author and inventor
• Bernard Siegel - Director, Genetics Policy Institute
• Chad Trujillo - astronomer and co-discoverer of 12 trans-Neptunian objects, including Eris

References

1. ^ Constitution of Tau Epsilon Phi
2. . {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
3. ^ Suntag, Sid (1986). The history of Tau Epsilon Phi: 75 years of friendship, 1910-1985. TEP Foundation. ASIN B0006EW86Y.
4. G'Town Gravyboat. "Herb Miller says he wants to join Mayor Gray administration" in The Georgetown Dish, September 27, 2010.
5. ^ Eligon, John (November 21, 2010). "Tau Epsilon Phi, Founded 100 Years Ago at Columbia, Is Convulsed by a Lawsuit". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
6. Eligon, John (January 28, 2011). "A Fraternity's Fight Could Lead to Its End". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
7. "Notice of Settlement". Tau Epsilon Phi. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
8. Famous Alumni
9. Illio. Champaign, Illinois. 1929. p. 52.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

External links

• Official website

• Fraternities and sororities
• Jewish clubs and societies
• North-American Interfraternity Conference
• Organizations established in 1910
• Student societies in the United States
• Tau Epsilon Phi