|
Fraternity Motto: "To be leaders among men"
Fraternity Colors: Royal Blue & White
|
 |
|
Founding Fathers
Mister Hunter Chang
Mister Randy Fujimoto
Mister John Hanvey
Mister Craig Ishigo
Mister Jeff Kaku
Mister Bobby Kawai
Mister Dean Kumagawa
Mister Jim Lee
Mister Bruce Mau
Mister Ted Mihara
Mister Neal Miyazaki
Mister Daryl Mu
Mister Kelvin Sakai
Mister Kevin Shida
Mister Albert Sun
Mister Weyton Tam
Mister Jamie Watanabe
Mister Bennet Wong
Mister Fred Wong
|
National History
ΛΦΕ was founded in 1981 on the campus of University of California at Los Angeles by Mr. Craig Ishigo, the principal founding father, and eighteen other men. The goal of the fraternity was to transcend the limitations to which traditional Asian American organizations were subject. While traditional Asian campus organizations were often split along lines of national origins, the founders sought an organization that drew its membership equally from the different segments of the Asian American community. Their vision was that the members would eventually bridge the gaps fragmenting the Asian American community through their affiliation with a common organization.
The greatest hurdle in reaching this goal, however, was the membership discontinuity of traditional Asian campus organizations. Student associations provided at best a circle of friends spanning the four years of most undergraduates' college experience and at worst a group of familiar strangers encountered during periodic social functions. The yearly turnover of most organizations' officers made it nearly impossible to pursue any extended project as each new officer core set its own agenda. The founders' solution to this dilemma was the adoption of a fraternal structure. By forming ΛΦΕ as an Asian-American Interest fraternity, the founders formed a strong bond of brotherhood with each other during their undergraduate experience, and made a commitment to the organization as alumnus even after graduation.
In order to facilitate the process of rapid expansion and to seek standardization throughout the nation, the existing six chapters came together on Memorial Day, 1990, to form what is known as ΛΦΕ National Fraternity. At this conference, a national governing body was established to better coordinate each individual chapters efforts, a national philanthropy was adopted, national expansion policies implemented and Memorial Day weekend was designated as the official date for the annual convention of ΛΦΕ National. That fall, with the admittance into the National Interfraternity Council, ΛΦΕ became the first and only nationally recognized Asian-American Interest Fraternity.
In 1995 to better serve the fraternity as a whole, ΛΦΕ became a California non-profit corporation. It further divided into two divisions, Alumni and Active, each with its own officer CORPS, policies and procedures.
In the Active division, numerous programs were developed to address the needs of the collegiate brotherhood throughout the nation and abroad. The National Service Program adopted several national philanthropies. The most notable is the Asian American Bone Marrow Donor Program. To date, no other organization in the United States has enlisted more registrants to the Asian bone marrow donor library than ΛΦΕ. The National Academic Committee developed guidelines and scholarship programs to encourage academic excellence in our collegiate chapters. The National Expansion Committee developed formal procedures and a fair application process for all interest groups. The creation of the National Brotherhood Program sent national staff members to collegiate chapters to demonstrate different methods of building brotherhood and character. The National Brotherhood Program also established an Annual Brotherhood Showcase, where brothers from around the nation exemplify their understanding of brotherhood through artistic expression.
The alumni Division has also become a large part of ΛΦΕ National activities. Like the Active Division, the Alumni Division has its own officer CORPS and regions, including an international region in Japan. Regional Alumni Associations hold events, such as professional and community events, as well as, events which allow interaction between the active and alumni members.
Today, there are thousands of brothers in the United States and throughout the world. ΛΦΕ National Fraternity continues to strive to achieve its motto, "To Be Leaders Among Men," by providing services to assist brothers in achieving their fullest potential. Our Active Division continues to teach young men principles of leadership and strong moral character. Our Alumni Division then provides a forum in which brothers may apply these beliefs and become true leaders of their communities. Ultimately, it is the principles of ΛΦΕ that will inspire all brothers to lead their communities to a better, brighter way of life.
The fraternal structure has allowed ΛΦΕ to perennially maintain the leadership and quality of membership so that we may be able to meet our status quo as well as continually better ourselves as students and members of our society. With many social and service events planned throughout the year, we invite everyone to check out what ΛΦΕ has to offer. As you may already know, college is not only about improving your mind but also about personal growth and establishing oneself as an individual. Let ΛΦΕ help you in providing those resources.
Chapter History
ΛΦΕ at Carnegie Mellon University was established on March 24, 2002 by seventeen ambitious young men.
Frustrated with the fragmented Asian community in Carnegie Mellon University, the Tsung brothers in the summer of 2001 contacted several close friends in hopes of unifying the community by bringing ΛΦΕ to Carnegie Mellon University. Inspired by Simon/Beeker's (Alpha Alpha) presentation, BAM (Brotherhood of Asian-American Men) was created to do what the many student associations couldn't do: satisfy the student body's short-term interests while achieving the long-term goals of a community. Initially led by a group of close friends, BAM sought to accomplish this task by bringing ΛΦΕ - a nation-wide Asian interest fraternity - to Carnegie Mellon University. Organized by the original members and a few recent additions BAM quickly gained momentum with their first party HeatWave. The concept of a fraternity based on the ideals of brotherhood was more than compelling; soon fourteen other students joined BAM. The trips to Buffalo's annual Halloween Party and Penn State's Spin help fuel their determination. The group of nineteen men each believed that, despite the many setbacks, ΛΦΕ encompassed many of their own ideals: strength in friendship and more importantly, strength and love in brotherhood.
Working together, their tireless efforts were rewarded when the reverent Penn State University ΛΦΕ (Tau Chapter) agreed to take on the nineteen pledges, led by Pledge Master Michael ˇ°Covergirlˇ± Wong. The grueling nine-week affair took its toll, and not before long the pledge class was unfortunately reduced to 17 members. Nevertheless, their ambition was only surpassed by their sense of dedication. The idea of being a charter member was the proverbial light at the end of the long and arduous tunnel that is pledging. In fact, the Carnegie Mellon ΛΦΕ can now boast the largest charter class in the recent history of ΛΦΕ. It was 2:04 in the afternoon of March 24th, when the seventeen men crossed into Eternal Brotherhood. Witnessed by the brothers of Tau Chapter, their bond was molded and forged by the very foundations of a brotherhood: trust and sacrifice. The journey was long and hard, but they finally succeeded. The seventeen remaining were no longer a class of pledges or a group of friends who shared a common goal. They were now the seventeen founding fathers of the Carnegie Mellon chapter of ΛΦΕ, leaders among men. The goal they so fervently labored for - the title and respect that comes only with crossing ? was finally achieved. So what had held the seventeen individuals together for nine hellish weeks will now hold them forever together.
It's not a clique. It's not a crew. It's not your boys back home. It's not a social crutch, a result of some complex or an answer to your insecurities. It's not a best friend, because you don't even have to be friends. It's not someone to eat lunch with, because they don't even have to be there all the time. It's "I got your back, no matter what." It's family. It's respect. It's love. It's Eternal Brotherhood. -Gameboy
Headed by ex-president Darren 'El Baggo Crappo' Chan since 2002, CMU ΛΦΕ is driven by their dedication and love for the CMU community. Throughout the year, the brothers take part in many cultural and service events on campus, ranging from the annual Culture Night and Asian Heritage Week to Greek Week and Carnival Weekend. Their talents are almost as varied as their personalities; CMU ΛΦΕ has a unique mix of men of distinctive abilities. Now with a solid foundation after crossing nine classes and 60 brothers, ΛΦΕ at CMU has a bright future.
Greek History
Since the 1700's, secret brotherhood societies have been established to build character and nurture leadership qualities among their members. The concept of fraternity has inspired individual of great social conscience to make changes to benefit their fellow man. A fraternity ensures that no man stands alone; he is responsible to his brothers, and in times of needs, he will never be deserted.
The emergence of fraternity at the college level began with the founding of the Flat Hat Club at the College of William and Mary. Established to escape tight faculty control over student life, the original six member group hoped to bring more issues under direct student leadership. Within twenty years, however, the Flat Hat Club dissolved and was eventually replaced by P.D.A. Society.
The origin of Greek-letter organizations has a rich history that spans the decades of college life. Since their inception Greek Letter Societies have existed to serve the student and the host college or university. On December 5, 1776, the first Greek-letter fraternity was founded. Eight students from William and Mary, in Williamsburg, Virginia, the second oldest college in America, founded Phi Beta Kappa. Their motive was to arrange, within the bonds of strict secrecy and of tested friendship, for opportunities to discuss freely the exciting issues of their times, including the recently proclaimed Declaration of Independence. Phi Beta Kappa had all the characteristics of the present day fraternity: the charm and mystery of secrecy, a ritual, oaths of fidelity, a grip, a motto, a badge for external display, a background of high idealism, a strong tie of friendship and comradeship, an urge for sharing its values through nationwide expansion. It was formed for social and literary purposes and held regular meetings. Directly or indirectly, all present-day fraternities trace their origin to Phi Beta Kappa's example. Phi Beta Kappa now exists as an academic honor society.
Ethnic fraternities developed as a result of the need to share and celebrate cultural diversity. As fraternities and sororities began their expansion and development on American college campuses during the beginning of the 19th Century, minorities were not included in this process. When the presence of minorities becomes more prevalent the need for support became an increasing issue. In 1916, the first Asian fraternity was founded at Cornell as Rho Psi, which now exists as an alumni club with chapters in New York, Hawaii, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Hong Kong. Today, over 37 Asian fraternities and sororities have existed over time with 27 of them founded since 1970 in California and New York.
While the concept of brotherhood and unity isn't new, our dedication and commitment towards promoting it is.
Images
|
|
|
|