Pi Delta Psi
Encyclopedia
EWLINE
SUNY Binghamton |
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| Type | Social/Cultural Interest |
| Scope | National |
| Emphasis | |
| Scope | National |
| Chapters | 28 Active, 1 Alumni Branch |
| Colors | Red Red Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye... White White White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be... Black Black Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light... |
| Publication | The Dragon |
| Four Pillars | |
| Nickname | PDP, PDPsi |
| Philanthropy | |
| Address | P.O. Box 520269 Flushing Flushing, Queens Flushing, founded in 1645, is a neighborhood in the north central part of the City of New York borough of Queens, east of Manhattan.Flushing was one of the first Dutch settlements on Long Island. Today, it is one of the largest and most diverse neighborhoods in New York City... , New York New York New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... USA |
| Homepage | http://www.pideltapsi.com |
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Pi Delta Psi (ΠΔΨ) is an Asian-American Cultural Interest Fraternity founded at Binghamton University
Binghamton University
Binghamton University, also formally called State University of New York at Binghamton, , is a public research university in the State of New York. The University is one of the four university centers in the State University of New York system...
on February 20, 1994. The mission of Pi Delta Psi is to break down cultural barriers by fostering individual growth in the areas of "Academic Achievement, Cultural Awareness, Righteousness, Friendship and Loyalty". Today this organization consists of over 1,500 members spanning 28 undergraduate chapters and 1 alumni chapter.
This organization is a member of the National APIA Panhellenic Association
National APIA Panhellenic Association
The National APIA Panhellenic Association is an association of collegiate fraternities and sororities that was formally organized in 2006, although it began in 2005....
(NAPA).
History
Pi Delta Psi Fraternity was founded at Binghamton UniversityBinghamton University
Binghamton University, also formally called State University of New York at Binghamton, , is a public research university in the State of New York. The University is one of the four university centers in the State University of New York system...
(SUNY) on February 20, 1994.
| Mr. David Lee | Mr. Philip Hunt |
| Mr. Sammy Wong | Mr. Spencer Seto |
| Mr. Ronny Chow | Mr. Damien Lee |
| Mr. Thuan Luong | Mr. Chester Huang |
| Mr. Christopher Murata | Mr. Tracy B. Tabije |
| Mr. Michael Son | |
The founding fathers of Pi Delta Psi consists of 11 individuals from a variety of Asian ethnicities. These individuals saw that although Asian-American attendance in higher education institutions was gradually increasing in the early 1990s, they continued to lack unity on campuses throughout the country; where Asian-American subgroups tended to segregate amongst other ones whom did not share the same Asian ethnicity (ie Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Filipino, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese). These 11 individuals believed that this disunity amongst Asian-Americans was directly related to the level of awareness and understanding they had of each other's cultures. It was in this environment that the 11 founding individuals envisioned creating an Asian-American organization that could serve to educate its members in the area of cultural awareness
Awareness
Awareness is the state or ability to perceive, to feel, or to be conscious of events, objects or sensory patterns. In this level of consciousness, sense data can be confirmed by an observer without necessarily implying understanding. More broadly, it is the state or quality of being aware of...
, help bridge the gap between all various subgroups, and bring about Asian-American unity.
A year after its founding, Pi Delta Psi was officially incorporated in the State of New York on April 19, 1995.
After 5 years, the fraternity had expanded too large for the Pi Delta Psi National Council to maintain. Thus in 1999, it was decided by the National Council to restructure itself in an effort to grow in proportion to the fraternities expansion rate, standardize chapters nationwide, and increase inter-chapter cohesion. The National Council was also renamed the "National Executive Board" during this period.
After 16 years, this fraternity has expanded to 28 campuses spanning 12 States (New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, and Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.)
Mission statement
Pi Delta Psi and its members seek to bring about Asian-American unity by breaking down cultural barriers amongst Asian communities by upholding and/or instilling the Fraternities pillars: Academic Achievement, Cultural Awareness, Righteousness, and Friendship/Loyalty.
The mission of Pi Delta Psi Fraternity, Inc. is to maintain its Fraternal existence by instilling values that nurture and perpetuate the continual growth and development of the individual through Academic Achievement, Cultural Awareness, Righteousness, Friendship and Loyalty while fostering ethical behavior, leadershipLeadershipLeadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
, and philanthropyPhilanthropyPhilanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
.
Pi Delta Psi was founded on these principles to help promote Asian Awareness amongst ourselves and throughout the community. We envisioned this to be possible by going out of the boundaries of an organization and creating a FraternityFraternityA fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
on the basis of common goals and ideals in the form of a brotherhood. We believe that through educationEducationEducation in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, we can become more knowledgeable about the different Asian cultures, overcome obstacles of racismRacismRacism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and discriminationDiscriminationDiscrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
, therefore unifying us as a whole.
National Executive Board
The Pi Delta Psi National Executive Board is an annually elected group of Pi Delta Psi representatives whom are entrusted responsibility of the functionality and maintenance of the fraternity nationwide.National Executive Board 2010-2011
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Note: Positions on the National Executive Board not listed here includes the Undergraduate Advisory Board, Directors of Chapter Services, and National Board of Directors.
National Events
National Convention (Spring)
Career
Career is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a person's "course or progress through life ". It is usually considered to pertain to remunerative work ....
, and/or Leadership
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
workshops aimed at educating active members are often set up by the National Executive Board or the Host Chapter when meetings are not in session during the Convention. The location of each years National Convention is usually determined in the previous convention and is subject to change annually. The National Convention is a private event for Pi Delta Psi members and invitees only.
National Winter Conference
Pi Delta Psi holds an annual National Winter Conference during the month of January each year. The Winter Conference is a one day leadership retreat where the National Executive Board meets and discusses relevant fraternity issues with 2-3 representatives from each undergraduate chapters. Topics discussed during the Winter Conference are focused towards the goals of each chapter and individual leadership. The location of each years Winter Conference is usually located in the New York metropolitan area
New York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
. The Winter Conference is a private event for Pi Delta Psi members only.
National Summer Weekend
Pi Delta Psi holds an annual National Summer Weekend during the month of July each year. The National Summer Weekend is a 2-3 day series of events that includes the National Summer BBQ, National Summer Conference, and National Summer Banquet.
- National Summer BBQ
The National Summer BBQ is normally held at Alley Pond ParkAlley Pond ParkAlley Pond Park is the second-largest public park in Queens, New York. It occupies , most of it acquired and cleared by the city in 1929, as authorized by a resolution of the New York City Board of Estimate in 1927. The park is bordered to the east by Douglaston, to the west by Bayside, to the...
in QueensQueensQueens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
each year. Sporting events such as basketball, football, soccer, softball, and handball are often held during the BBQ. Many chapters fund raise during this event by setting up booths at the BBQ to sell fraternity related accessories and apparel. This event is the largest public gathering of Pi Delta Psi members and is open to the family and friends of the fraternity.
- National Summer Conference
The National Summer Conference is a half day event where the National Executive Board meets and discusses relevant fraternity issues with active members from all available chapters. Issues discussed during the National Convention are geared towards both active and alumni members and usually involve an annual review of the fraternity, national goals, national philanthropy, national expansion, and/or the promotion or demotion of chapters. Elections for the following year's National Executive Board also takes place during this event. The Conference is normally held in the New York metropolitan areaNew York metropolitan areaThe New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
. The National Summer Conference is a private event for Pi Delta Psi members and invitees only.
- National Summer Banquet
The National Summer Banquet is a formal dinner event for Pi Delta Psi members. Advanced reservations are usually required for members to attend. This event is normally held near the location of the National Summer Conference. National announcements such as awards and scholarships are presented during this event. The National Summer Banquet is a private event for Pi Delta Psi members, members dates, and invitees only.
Cultural Awareness
Pi Delta Psi's primary mission is to spread Asian-American Cultural Awareness in an attempt to bridge the gap between various Asian-American subgroups. As a cultural fraternity, Pi Delta Psi tries to educate the community so as to prevent future bias and judgmental conclusions. The fraternity believes that by promoting the education of different cultures,it can expand the horizons of its members and not only better the individual but future generations as well.At the Chapter level, each Chapter is required to host a set number of Cultural events on campus each year depending on the Chapter’s size; failure to achieve this annual criterion will result in the Chapter losing its Chapter status.
Along with hosting cultural events, many members are also leaders or supporters of various cultural student organizations. On top of this, the Pi Delta Psi National Executive Board sponsors and/or promotes a number of large scale cultural events each year that garner participation from chapters throughout the United States.
Examples of Chapter Cultural events
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Philanthropy
Pi Delta Psi is an organization that has committed itself to helping local communities and educating others. At a National level, the National Executive Board sponsors various annual philanthropy events that garner participation from chapters throughout the United States. The national philanthropy of Pi Delta Psi for 2009 was the March of Dimes, in which the fraternity is still an official team youth partner. Pi Delta Psi Fraternity was able to raise $18,718 in 2009 for the March of Dimes philanthropy.Currently, Pi Delta Psi's national philanthropy is the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is a 501 non-profit organization whose mission is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with mentors that try to have a measurable impact on youth....
program. With the new national philanthropy, all chapters are expected to work closely with the Big Brothers program in their own campus community and make a difference in children's lives. At the Chapter level, each Chapter is required to participate in a set number of philanthropy events each year depending on the Chapter's size; failure to achieve this annual criteria will result in the school losing its Chapter status. Pi Delta Psi is a long time sponsor and supporter of the APIA Vote campaign.
Aside from the philanthropies mentioned above, Pi Delta Psi nationally awards two scholarships per year for outstanding members. Some chapters also offer scholarship awards to students at their own universities that illustrates skills and promise that follows along the line of the fraternity's pillars.
Alumni Network
Pi Delta Psi has a young and growing alumni network that values entrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is the act of being an entrepreneur, which can be defined as "one who undertakes innovations, finance and business acumen in an effort to transform innovations into economic goods". This may result in new organizations or may be part of revitalizing mature organizations in response...
and career
Career
Career is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a person's "course or progress through life ". It is usually considered to pertain to remunerative work ....
orientation. After college, many members have chosen to continue their commitment to advocate their Asian-American heritage via these enterprises; whether it may be providing products and services to better communities or bringing Asian-American products, talent, and services to the American mainstream.