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 The
History of the Alpha Chapter
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Pi Delta Psi Fraternity was founded by eleven men from various
backgrounds (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino and Vietnamese).
Already established leaders within their own university sponsored
cultural organizations, these men assembled to devise a structure
that would create an understanding between the various Asian
cultures, build relationships extending beyond the academic
years and most importantly, finding and building an individual's
skill sets. These eleven men envisioned an infrastructure that
would continuously motivate and challenge individuals. This
infrastructure of a fraternal society, which has been around
since 1776 would become the building blocks of their endeavor.
Pi Delta Psi was founded on February 20, 1994 in Binghamton
University, State University of New York. The eleven men were
responsible for architecting the guiding principles, which have
now developed into one of the nation's largest Asian Cultural
Interest Fraternities. |
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The Alpha Chapter, Fall 2001 |
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Background: |
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The
Figures: |
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Binghamton University is one
of four university centers within the State University
of New York - and, as The Princeton Review's "The
Best 331 Colleges" points out in its 2000 edition,
our students like to call us "the Ivy of the SUNYs."
Overall, Bing enroll more than 12,000 students in programs
leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.
The curriculum, founded in the liberal arts, has expanded
to include selected professional and graduate programs.
The University consists of Harpur College of Arts and
Sciences, the School of Education and Human Development,
the School of Management, the Decker School of Nursing,
and the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied
Science. The Graduate School administers advanced-degree
programs in these schools, but both undergraduate and
graduate students are taught by the same outstanding faculty.
Nineteen specialized research centers attract scholars
from around the globe to Binghamton's modern campus.
The faculty and students come from many different cultures
and backgrounds and represent a wealth of ideas. Add that
to Binghamton's excellent research library, outstanding
computing facilities, superb performing-arts center and
a wide assortment of course offerings.
SUNY Binghamton is ranked under US News and World Report
28th in the top 50 public schools in the nation.
Ranked under top 15 in the nation for lowest debt after
graduation.
Kiplingers Money Finance Magazine ranks the school 5th
for best value of public universities in the nation. |
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Chapter:
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Alpha |
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School:
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SUNY at Binghamton |
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School Adress:
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P.O. Box 6000,
Binghamton, NY 13902 |
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University Website:
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www.binghamton.edu |
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Current University Population:
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12,820 |
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Current % Asian Population:
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23% |
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Current President:
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Jason "Screech"
Han |
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Mailing Address:
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Chapter Website:
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www.pideltapsi.org/alpha |
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Current # Undergrad Brothers:
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26 actives |
Old Old, very Old school Alpha Chapter. The first steps
of the greatest leap in Asian Fraternal History. |
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Our
Slice of the Pi
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The four pillars of Pi Delta Psi
are Academic Achievement, Cultural Awareness, Righteousness,
and Friendship/Loyalty. Briefly describe how your chapter has
upheld and promoted these 4 objectives since inception. |
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Academic Achievement
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One goal our fraternity strives
for is academic achievement. This is a goal every brother
can achieve regardless of field of study in hopes of a
successful future. Coming out of an institution with notable
academics, these brothers will take with them a fortified
knowledge base that is essential to their careers. We
have brothers who are consistently noted on the Dean’s
List for academic achievement and brothers who are in
national honor societies such as Phi Eta Sigma, Eta Kappa
Nu, and Tau Beta Pi, all of which recognize those who
have the will to succeed and deserve to be respected and
recognized for their continuing commitment to their education
and their future. However, personal achievement is not
all that exists in our minds. As a brotherhood, we help
each other achieve our individual goals. Through our various
academics, we pool our education and resources together
to aid each other to raise our knowledge and understanding
to a higher level. We have many brothers who seek various
careers in fields such as business, law, engineering,
computer science, etc. With all this commonality, it is
to the advantage of all brothers to share information
and ideas with each other. |
Cultural Awareness
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The Alpha Chapter and Company back in the day. |
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Pi Delta Psi recognizes that
it is our culture that brings us together. Although we
come from a diverse array of ethnic backgrounds, what
we share is the longing to learn more about each other's
culture, as well as our own. As a cultural fraternity
we also try to educate others around us. These two aspects
fuel our drive to maintain self-education, and cultural
involvement in our community. As an example, we feel that
Asians, especially males, lack realistic representation
in mainstream media.
In mainstream Western media, Asian males are usually portrayed
as old men working in some restaurant or dry cleaner,
or some guy jumping around doing flying spin kicks, or
some insane gangster in a suit that is good with a gun.
These characters are always one-dimensional and do not
represent most of the average Asian males in this country.
In reaction to this, we held several movie nights that
portrays Asians in a manner that step past the boundaries
of these Western stereotypes.
Although the cultural aspects of our fraternity may sometimes
be overshadowed by the social aspect, we feel that every
little bit helps. As long as we continue to educate ourselves
and those around us, we will continue to make a difference. |
Righteousness through Philanthropy
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We are all very fortunate
to have the things we do: a brotherhood, a good upbringing
by our families, the ability to attend a great institution
to enhance our academic careers, a home to return to at
night to rest from a long day’s work, money to pay
for our meals, clothes, entertainment, and our general
well being. While we may be privileged to have all these
commodities, we do not forget that we should not take
any of it for granted. There are many people who are not
so fortunate. Even though we may have other important
concerns, such as our academic careers, we take the time
to try to help others. We strive to help and give back
to society. Understanding that we cannot completely wipe
out every single problem people face, we know that every
little thing we can do counts. Alpha Chapter participates
in a variety of community service programs and charitable
fundraisers. We not only raise money for CHOW in order
to help buy and deliver food to those in need, but we
show our continued support by participating in the numerous
other events such as the hunger walk. We also go to soup
kitchens to help distribute food to those less fortunate.
Pi Delta Psi has also raised money with the Ring-A-Bell
events set up by the Salvation Army. Realizing that the
children are the future of this world, we know that it
is important that they have a positive and encouraging
influence at their young age to ensure a successful future.
That is why we also volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club.
We go there with a positive attitude to interact with
the children, to become their ‘big brother’
during that time, to encourage and help them with their
schoolwork or to entertain them so that they do not feel
alone, in hopes that they will grow up to be a positive
influence on society. We also sponsor an Adopt-A-Highway
program. Litter is a negative influence on the community;
therefore we do what we can to keep our streets clean
to keep our community thriving. |
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Philanthropy through the years. |
Friendship/Loyalty through Brotherhood
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Alpha Chapter and Cornell Gammas outside the old Fraternity
Mansion, Fall 1999.
Brother Unity event. |
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Throughout college, friends
come and go. We can make friends with others who share
similar interests, or with the guy down the hall. But
who knows how well or how long those friendships will
last. With the brotherhood here at SUNY Binghamton, we
create a bond with others who are not only similar, but
with others who are different as well. We do not discriminate.
We look beyond our differences and are able to build friendships.
We have a very diverse group of brothers here at Binghamton,
but yet we still hold a strong bond and friendship between
us.
Every semester, we’ve always done many things together
as a fraternity. We have specific brother unity events
outside the usual time spent between brothers. Weekly,
we eat together at various places such as the dining halls,
buffets, or restaurants. On the weekends, we may make
trips to other schools or go to a bar for some quality
brother unity time. Our most important event that almost
every brother participates in, including alumni, is our
annual banquet. The banquet brings brothers together for
a time to enjoy themselves with dinner and entertainment.
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Chapter
Goals
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Describe what goals the chapter wishes
to achieve this semester and how it hopes to achieve them. |
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Participating in community service, holding Asian awareness
events, and holding social events can describe the goals
of any chapter, but the Alpha Chapter hopes to achieve
more than that during the coming semesters. By performing
these tasks, we hope to gain extensive recognition from
the university, its students, the brothers, and anyone
else to be known. Through that, we hope to find new potential
brothers with leadership qualities that can carry on the
goals of the chapter. |
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Notable
Achievements
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The founding fathers, for creating a unique and distinguished
brotherhood that has grown exponentially within the past 8 years.
Helping in founding the Asian and Asian-American Studies degree
program with a $1.75 million grant mostly by the early Alumni.
Alumni Kenny Eng spoke at Albany’s Asian Occasion Forum
about promoting Asian unity.
Holding an annual social event, going 5 years strong. |
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