Type Social Symbol Maltese Cross | Colors Black
Old Gold | |
 | ||
Founded October 19, 1850; 166 years ago (1850-10-19)
University of Pennsylvania Scope International
Canada
United States Motto Stellis Aequus Durando ("Equal to the Stars in Endurance") | ||
Phi Kappa Sigma (ΦΚΣ) is an international all-male college secret and social fraternity. Its members are known as Phi Kaps, Skulls and sometimes Skullhouse, the latter two because of the skull and crossbones on the fraternity's badge and coat of arms. Phi Kappa Sigma was founded by Dr. Samuel Brown Wylie Mitchell at the University of Pennsylvania. Mitchell recorded the initial ideas and concepts of Phi Kappa Sigma on August 16, 1850. He then began to discuss the idea with other students, first Charles Hare Hutchinson, and then Alfred Victor du Pont (son of Alfred V. du Pont), John Thorne Stone, Andrew Adams Ripka, James Bayard Hodge, and Duane Williams. The seven men formally founded the fraternity on October 19, 1850 becoming the founding fathers of Phi Kappa Sigma Phi Kappa Sigma was a charter member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference, and is headquartered in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania.
Contents
Badge
The fraternity's badge was designed by its founder, Dr. Samuel Brown Wylie Mitchell. Outside of changes in size, its official design has remained the same. In the shape of a Maltese cross, the badge is old gold with black decoration. The center of the cross is anchored by a skull and crossbones. The four leaves of the cross display, individually, the Greek letters Phi, Kappa, and Sigma, starting at the left leaf and rotating counter-clockwise. The fourth and top leaf display a six-pointed star. The back of the badge has an engraved serpent echoing the serpent from the fraternity's coat of arms.
Controversy
In 2016, the fraternity chapter at Texas Christian University was closed down for heavy drug usage and repeated hazing violations.
Chapter listing
See List of Phi Kappa Sigma chapters