Lambda Phi Epsilon
Encyclopedia : L : LA : LAM : Lambda Phi Epsilon
ΛΦΕ (Lambda Phi Epsilon) (also LPhiE, LAMBDAS) is a nationally recognized Asian-Interest fraternity based in the United States. Lambda Phi Epsilon is dedicated to contributing community service (particularly the local Asian community), increasing Asian awareness, promoting academic scholarship, strengthening Asian-American voice on campus. Lambda Phi Epsilon is the largest Asian-Interest fraternity at 46 chapters in the United States and is one of the fastest expanding fraternities in the nation [[Citing sources citation needed]].
Contents
Service and philanthropy
Among the fraternity's many philanthropies is the Asian American Bone Marrow Donor Program (AADP) [link], Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches (A3M) [link] on the West Coast and the Cammy Lee Leukemia Foundation [link]. The philanthropy became a defining part of the fraternity nationwide after one of its brothers developed leukemia and wrote an open letter to Lambdas nationwide encouraging them to participate.Members of the fraternity are also involved in many other national and local community services all over the country, as service is one of the pillars of Lambda Phi Epsilon.
Convention
Lambda Phi Epsilon has an annual gathering known as Convention during Memorial day weekend held at a location designated at the previous Convention. Convention is a national event for members to get together for business and pleasure, and is one of the largest Asian-American gatherings in the United States. Parties and after-parties are held all weekend as well as Brotherhood showcases where members from their respective chapters can perform a dance or step. The winning chapter is awarded Keight, a sword passed down from the previous year's winner. Board members are also elected at meetings during this weekend as well.Convention 2006 will mark the silver anniversary of Lambda Phi Epsilon and will be held in the fraternity's founding city, Los Angeles. Over 90% of the original founders have been confirmed to attend.
History
National
Lambda Phi Epsilon was founded at University of California, Los Angeles on February 25, 1981. Soon after the inception of Lambda Phi Epsilon, the fraternity chartered to Universities in Texas, the Midwest with the University of Michigan - Xi Chapter and the East Coast with the University at Buffalo - Nu Chapter being the first. In 1990, the organization was recognized by the North-American Interfraternity Conference, being the first Asian Interest fraternity to do so. The fraternity has since expanded to all corners of the United States and beyond.Expansion
Nu Chapter was the first Asian-Interest chapter chartered on the American East Coast. Starting as Delta Gamma Tau, on September 15, 1992 Delta Gamma Tau merged with Lambda Phi Epsilon (effectively taking on Lambda Phi Epsilon's letters) to unify organizations with identical purposes and to strengthen the Asian voice in the school community.In Fall 2004, Lambda Phi Epsilon added University of Toronto, thereby granting Lambda Phi Epsilon unofficial status as an international fraternity.
Founding fathers
The founding fathers of Lambda Phi Epsilon
- Mr. Hunter Chang
- Mr. Randy Fujimoto
- Mr. John Hanvey
- Mr. Craig Ishigo (Principal founder)
- Mr. Jeff Kaku
- Mr. Bobby Kawai
- Mr. Dean Kumagawa
- Mr. Jim Lee
- Mr. Bruce Mau
- Mr. Ted Mihara
- Mr. Neil Miyazaki
- Mr. Darryl L. Mu
- Mr. Kelvin Sakai
- Mr. Kevin Shida
- Mr. Albert Sun
- Mr. Weyton Tam
- Mr. Jamie Watanabe
- Mr. Bennett Wong
- Mr. Fred Wong
Chapters
Active chapters
- Α - University of California, Los Angeles [link]
- Β - University of California, Davis [link]
- Γ - University of California, Santa Barbara [link]
- Δ - University of California, Berkeley [link]
- Ε - University of California, Irvine
- Ζ - University of Texas, Austin
- Η - University of California, Riverside [link]
- Θ - Stanford University [link]
- Ι - University of California, San Diego [link]
- Κ - University of California, Santa Cruz [link]
- Μ - California State University, Sacramento [link]
- Ν - State University of New York, Buffalo [link]
- Ξ - University of Michigan [link]
- Ο - California State University, San Francisco [link]
- Π - University of Houston [link]
- Ρ - California State University, San Jose
- Σ - University of Pennsylvania [link]
- Τ - Pennsylvania State University [link]
- Υ - Johns Hopkins University [link]
- Φ - California State University, San Luis Obispo [link]
- Χ - University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign [link]
- Ψ - University of Chicago [link]
- ΑΑ - State University of New York, Binghamton [link]
- AΒ - New York University [link]
- AΓ - Baylor University [link]
- ΑΔ - St. Johns University [link]
- ΑΕ - State University of New York, Stony Brook [link]
- ΑΖ - University of Washington [link]
- ΑΗ - Northwestern University [link]
- ΑΘ - Rutgers University [link]
- AI - Purdue University [link]
Associate chapters
- Boston University [link]
- Cornell University [link]
- Columbia University [link]
- University of Virginia [link]
- Carnegie Mellon University [link]
- University of Kansas [link]
Colony chapters
- University of Georgia [link]
- Michigan State University [link]
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst [link]
- Duke University [link]
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) [link]
- City University of New York - Baruch [link]
- University of Toronto [link]
- University of Texas, Dallas
- Florida State University
Controversial deaths
UC Irvine
In 2005, the UC Irvine chapter was officially suspended due to an open investigation surrounding the death of a Cal Poly Pomona pledge. On August 8 2005, pledges attempting to establish a chapter of Lambda Phi Epsilon at Cal Poly Pomona were participating in a football game with actives from UC Irvine. One pledge, Kenny Luong, was injured and died in the hospital on August 30 2005. The game was played without pads and actives reportedly outnumbered pledges by fifteen to thirty men. [link] Police reported they had no evidence of any criminal activity that led to Luong's death [link], but still decided to conduct an investigation [link]. Its current status is unknown.University of Texas at Austin
In December 2005, a new member of Lambda Phi Epsilon died at the University of Texas at Austin. Reportedly, it was the night of "initiation," a post-crossing celebration. One new member, Phanta "Jack" Phoummarath, died of alcohol poisoning. The Houston Chronicle reported that Jack's oldest brother, Ted Phoummarath said that his body was drawn on with marker, apparently after he had passed out at the party. [link]The university cancelled the group's status as a student organization until 19 December 2011. UT administrators cited multiple examples of hazing as justification for the university's action. Officials with Lambda Phi Epsilon's national organization have not commented on the incident. The Austin Police Department is conducting a separate investigation to see if hazing did occur--hazing is illegal in the state of Texas. The Phoummarath family has also filed a lawsuit against Lambda Phi Epsilon and its various members. [link]
San Jose State University
In January 2003, Lambda Phi Epsilon member Alam Kim was killed in a bloody brawl between Lambda Phi Epsilon and Pi Alpha Phi. Alam Kim was an alumni of Lowell High School in San Francisco, where he commanded the Lowell Boys Drill Team. He was a junior at SJSU and a loyal Lambda. Friends say Alam was trying to stop the fight between the two fraternities before he was killed by a stab wound through his heart. [link]External links
- [Lambda Phi Epsilon National Website]
- [Lambda Phi Epsilon - Nor Cal Regional Website]
- [Lambda Phi Epsilon - Northeast Regional Website]
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