Tau Epsilon Phi
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Tau Epsilon Phi (TEΦ, commonly pronounced TEP) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
with 14 active chapters, chiefly located at universities and colleges on the East Coast of the United States
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
. The national headquarters is currently located in Voorhees
Voorhees Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 28,126 people, 10,489 households, and 7,069 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,424.0 people per square mile . There were 11,084 housing units at an average density of 955.2 per square mile...
, 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...
and the official colors of the organization are lavender
Lavender (color)
Lavender is a pale tint of violet. It applies particularly to the color of the flower of the same name. The web color called lavender is displayed at right—it matches the color of the very palest part of the lavender flower; however, the more saturated color shown below as floral lavender more...
and 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...
(although most chapters use purple
Purple
Purple is a range of hues of color occurring between red and blue, and is classified as a secondary color as the colors are required to create the shade....
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 UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, 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
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. Continued expansion led to the adoption of a national constitution in 1916.
In 1920, the opening of a chapter at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
made TEΦ an international fraternity. The McGill chapter has since been disbanded. The oldest remaining chapter today is the Delta chapter at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. 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
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
was inducted as an honorary member during his administration. Vincent C. Gray
Vincent C. Gray
Vincent C. Gray is an American politician who is currently serving as the seventh Mayor of the District of Columbia. Prior to his inauguration as mayor in January 2011, Gray served as Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia, and as Councilmember for Ward 7...
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.
In the 1990s TEP and the Fraternity system in general went into decline. Some chapters were financially unable to survive however they survive online today thanks to the internet.
Grand Chapter
, 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 last 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
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.Current Board as of October 22, 2011
- Consul, Lane Koplon (Ν)
- Vice-Consul, Donald J. Anspauch, Jr. (ΕΦ)
- Vice-Consul, A. Scott Lakernick (ΣΕ)
- Vice-Consul, Charles Wolf (ΕΝ)
- Undergraduate Vice-Consul, Oscar Amigon (ΦΧ)
- Quaestor, Ted Panczyszyn (ΛΦΕ)
- Tribune, Timothy Smith (ΕΙ)
- Praetor, Kenneth Hurtado (ΦΧ)
- Member-at-large (undergraduate), David Cass (ΕΙ)
- Member-at-large (undergraduate), David Malkiewich (ΣΑΣ)
- Member-at-large (undergraduate), Matt Rosenthal (Ν)
- Member-at-large (undergraduate), Nevin Xavier (ΩΑ)
- Member-at-large (alumnus), Christopher Bisciotti (ΩΑ)
- Member-at-large (alumnus), Nathaniel Broughty (ΦΧ)
- Member-at-large (alumnus), David Caplan (ΤΑΚ)
- Member-at-large (alumnus), Glenn Dewar (ΕΘ)
- Member-at-large (alumnus), Greg Fischer (ΡΒ)
- Member-at-large (alumnus), Aneel Nazareth (Ξ)
- Member-at-large (alumnus), Brian Neltner (Ξ)
- Member-at-large (alumnus), Paul Schwartzberg (ΦΧ)
- Member-at-large (alumnus), Marc Tolman (ΕΘ)
- Member-at-large (alumnus), Eric Alexie Cruz (ΦΧ)
National Chancellors Compliance Meeting
The National Chancellors Compliance Meeting, or "NCCM", is where local chapter Presidents had the opportunity to meet the Executive Board of the Fraternity. Also, mandatory FIPG training and guidance on how to better manage local chapters.Notable alumni
Some notable alumni:Arts/Entertainment:
- Jeff AltmanJeff AltmanJeff Altman is an American stand-up comedian who has appeared as a guest on Late Show with David Letterman 40 times, most recently on October 7, 2011. He has also had numerous acting roles in movies and television such as Dr...
, Comedian - Larry DavidLarry DavidLawrence Gene "Larry" David is an American actor, writer, comedian and producer. He is best known as the co-creator , head writer, and executive producer of the television series Seinfeld from 1989 to 1996, and for creating the 1999 HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, a partially improvised sitcom in...
, Actor - David DuchovnyDavid DuchovnyDavid William Duchovny is an American actor, writer and director. He has won Golden Globe awards for his work as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files and as Hank Moody on Californication.-Early life:...
, Actor - Mike FarrellMike FarrellMichael Joseph "Mike" Farrell is an American actor, best known for his role as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt on the television series M*A*S*H . He is an activist for politically liberal causes....
, Actor - Benny GoodmanBenny GoodmanBenjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
, Musician - Larry KingLarry KingLawrence Harvey "Larry" King is an American television and radio host whose work has been recognized with awards including two Peabodys and ten Cable ACE Awards....
, TV and Radio Host - Raymond KurzweilRaymond KurzweilRaymond "Ray" Kurzweil is an American author, inventor and futurist. He is involved in fields such as optical character recognition , text-to-speech synthesis, speech recognition technology, and electronic keyboard instruments...
, Author
- Jerry SpringerJerry SpringerGerald Norman "Jerry" Springer is a British-born American television presenter, best known as host of the tabloid talk show The Jerry Springer Show since its debut in 1991...
, TV and Radio Host - George StephanopoulosGeorge StephanopoulosGeorge Robert Stephanopoulos is an American television journalist and a former political advisor.Stephanopoulos is most well known as the chief political correspondent for ABC News – the news division of the broadcast television network ABC – and a co-anchor of ABC News's morning news...
, TV Journalist - Judge Joseph Albert WapnerJoseph WapnerJoseph Albert Wapner is a former American judge and TV personality of the real-life courtroom-style show The People's Court, which ran in syndication from 1981 to 1993 for 2,484 episodes....
, The People's CourtThe People's CourtThe People's Court is a US television court show in which small claims court cases are heard, though what is shown is actually a binding arbitration....
Sports/Athletics:
- Red AuerbachRed AuerbachArnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach was an American basketball coach of the Washington Capitols, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks and the Boston Celtics. After he retired from coaching, he served as president and front office executive of the Celtics until his death...
, General Manager of the Boston Celtics - Bryan ClarkBryan ClarkBryan Emmeth Clark, Jr. is a American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling.-Early career:...
, Wrestler - Jared RossJared RossJared Ross is an American professional ice hockey center who plays for ERC Ingolstadt of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga . When he debuted with the Philadelphia Flyers at the beginning of the 2008–09 season, he became the first player born and trained in the state of Alabama to play in the NHL...
, Hockey player - Eddie FoglerEddie FoglerEddie Fogler was a college basketball player from the University of North Carolina from 1967-1970 where he played as a point guard on two NCAA Final Four teams. Fogler was an All-City guard from Flushing High School in Flushing, New York....
, Basketball coach
Politics/Government:
- Omar BradleyOmar BradleyOmar Nelson Bradley was a senior U.S. Army field commander in North Africa and Europe during World War II, and a General of the Army in the United States Army...
(accepted honorary membership) - Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight D. EisenhowerDwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
(accepted honorary membership) - Vincent C. GrayVincent C. GrayVincent C. Gray is an American politician who is currently serving as the seventh Mayor of the District of Columbia. Prior to his inauguration as mayor in January 2011, Gray served as Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia, and as Councilmember for Ward 7...
, Mayor, Washington, DC - Louis HarrisLouis HarrisLouis Harris is an American opinion polling entrepreneur, journalist, and author. He ran one of the best-known polling organizations of his time, Louis Harris and Associates, which conducted the Harris Poll.-Life and career:...
, Public opinion analyst and founder of the Harris Poll - Judge Irving R. Kaufman
- Elliott H. LevitasElliott H. LevitasElliott Harris Levitas is a former U.S. Representative from Georgia's 4th Congressional District.Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Levitas graduated from Grady High School in 1948. He attended Emory University, where he was a member of the secret honor society D.V.S.He earned a J.D. from the Emory...
, Former congressman of Georgia's 4th congressional districtGeorgia's 4th congressional districtGeorgia's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Georgia. The majority African American district includes parts of Dekalb, Rockdale, and Gwinnett counties in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, including North Atlanta, Decatur, and Lilburn... - Marvin MandelMarvin MandelMarvin Mandel , a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 56th Governor of Maryland in the United States from January 7, 1969, to January 17, 1979. He was Maryland's first, and, to date, only Jewish governor.- Early life :...
, former Governor, MarylandMarylandMaryland 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... - Kirill ReznikKirill ReznikKirill Reznik is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. He is one of three members of the Maryland House of Delegates from District 39...
, State Delegate, Maryland House of DelegatesMaryland House of DelegatesThe Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis... - Michael S. SteeleMichael S. SteeleMichael Stephen Steele is an American politician who served as the first African-American chairman of the Republican National Committee from January 2009 until January 2011. From 2003 to 2007, he was the seventh Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, the first African American elected to statewide...
, former Lt. Governor of MarylandMarylandMaryland 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...
and former Chairman of the Republican National CommitteeRepublican National CommitteeThe Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is... - Rick SantorumRick SantorumRichard John "Rick" Santorum is a lawyer and a former United States Senator from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Santorum was the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference -making him the third-ranking Senate Republican from 2001 until his leave in 2007. Santorum is considered both a social...
, Former Senator for PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe 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... - Judge Leo M. Gordon, United States Court of International TradeUnited States Court of International TradeThe United States Court of International Trade is an Article III court, with full powers in law and equity. The Customs Court Act of 1980 replaced the old United States Customs Court with the United States Court of International Trade. The Court has nine sitting Judges, as well as Senior Judges...
- Steven Van Grack, Mayor, Rockville, MarylandRockville, MarylandRockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
, 1985-1987
Business/Science/Engineering:
- Samuel J. LeFrakSamuel J. LeFrakSamuel J. LeFrak was a noted landlord who chaired a private building firm, the LeFrak Organization. The LeFrak Organization was also ranked 45th on the Forbes list of top 500 private companies. The development firm is best known for major development projects in Battery Park City, LeFrak City in...
, Chairman LeFrak Corporation - Dr. Jonas SalkJonas SalkJonas Edward Salk was an American medical researcher and virologist, best known for his discovery and development of the first safe and effective polio vaccine. He was born in New York City to parents from Ashkenazi Jewish Russian immigrant families...
- Bernard SiegelBernard SiegelBernard Siegel is the Executive Director of the nonprofit Genetics Policy Institute based in Wellington, Florida. A graduate of the University of Miami undergraduate and law, he is an attorney and member of the Florida Bar since 1975...
, Director of the nonprofit Genetics Policy InstituteGenetics Policy InstituteThe Genetics Policy Institute is a 501 nonprofit organization that educates the public and promotes supportive public policy for stem cell research and other forms of cutting-edge medicine.... - Chad TrujilloChad TrujilloChadwick A. "Chad" Trujillo is an astronomer and the co-discoverer of the dwarf planet Eris.Trujillo works with computer software and has examined the orbits of the numerous trans-Neptunian objects , which is the outer area of the solar system that he specialized in. In late August 2005, it was...
, co-discoverer of ErisEris (dwarf planet)Eris, formal designation 136199 Eris, is the most massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the ninth most massive body known to orbit the Sun directly...
and 11 other trans-Neptunian objects
Broughty v. Hasenberg
On Tuesday, September 1, 2010, a civil lawsuit titled Nathaniel Broughty v. George Hasenberg was filed in New York against the national organization's leadership by 100 fraternity members. The suit alleges that the executive director, George Hasenberg, awarded himself pay raises and hired his son without a proper vote and that the current board of directors has failed to schedule meetings preventing board elections since 1999. Nathaniel Broughty, a former member of the City College of New York chapter and one of the plaintiffs in the suit opined that the closing of chapters across the country may lack legitimacy if the court rules against the current leadership. The suit also alleges that the board of directors does not have the seven members required to do business. Fraternity lawyer James Skelly responded that executive director George Hasenberg took a reduction in pay due to the fraternity not doing well financially and that claims were exaggerated.On November 17, 2010 New York Supreme Court Judge Melvin Schweitzer ordered that an election be held. An independent third-party would be appointed to oversee the election process.
Broughty v. Tau Epsilon Phi, Inc.
On January 24, 2011 the current board members filed for Chapter 7Chapter 7, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 7 of the Title 11 of the United States Code governs the process of liquidation under the bankruptcy laws of the United States...
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
, less than a week after a New York State judge had appointed an independent lawyer to organize a national election. According to the most recent New York Times article from January 28, 2011, Judge Schweitzer ordered that former New York Attorney General Robert Abrams
Robert Abrams
Robert Abrams is an American lawyer and politician.-Life and career:He graduated from Columbia College and the New York University School of Law. He is considered a member of the reform wing of the Democratic Party.Abrams was a member of the New York State Assembly representing the Bronx from 1966...
be appointed receiver
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
over Tau Epsilon Phi. The bankruptcy filing effectively suspends the court's other actions.
On March 1, 2011 Broughty et al filed a motion in the federal court of New Jersey (Camden) titled Nathaniel Broughty v Tau Epsilon Phi to have the bankruptcy dismissed.
Tau Epsilon Phi, Inc. v. Broughty I (New Jersey)
On July 9, 2010 a lawsuit was filed in New Jersey Superior Court against Nathaniel Broughty by Tau Epsilon Phi to prevent a scheduled protest against the president and executive director of Tau Epsilon Phi. Tau Epsilon Phi's leadership alleged that the defendants should not be allowed to protest at the private residence of the TEP leadership. The Defendants claimed they had a right under the US constitution’s freedom of assembly. The defendants claim they wanted to exercise their right to come together and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests.Judge Mary Colalillo ruled that the defendant’s right of assembly and freedom of expression had to be upheld. Judge Colalillo also put restrictions on the amount of protesters (no more than twenty (20) persons at one time) and also limited the time of the event because of the residential area.
The protest occurred under the court stipulations on July 10, 2010.
Tau Epsilon Phi, Inc. v. Broughty II (Federal)
On Monday, August 30, 2010 a lawsuit was filed in Federal Court against Nathaniel Broughty, Kenneth Hurtado and 25 others for trademark infringementTrademark infringement
Trademark infringement is a violation of the exclusive rights attaching to a trademark without the authorization of the trademark owner or any licensees...
and tortious interference
Tortious interference
Tortious interference, also known as intentional interference with contractual relations, in the common law of tort, occurs when a person intentionally damages the plaintiff's contractual or other business relationships...
. Tau Epsilon Phi's leadership alleged that the defendants improperly represented themselves as members of Tau Epsilon Phi Fraternity.
The defendants filed counter suit claiming that TEP had no legal authority to remove their chapter charter and that the leadership of Tau Epsilon Phi was illegitimate.
On March 8, 2011 Federal Judge Susan D. Wigenton dismissed the action in its entirety ordering the court clerk to administratively terminate the action from his records. The ruling was a victory for Nathaniel Broughty, Kenneth Hurtado and 25 others.