Pan Sophic
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The Pan Sophic Club is the oldest fraternity at Grove City College. Established in 1911 by ten Grove City College men, Pan Sophic is the oldest independent fraternity in Pennsylvania and one of the longest-standing in the nation.
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\"Pan\" Heritage
Historical Context
The Pan Sophic Fraternity[link], was established in the winter term of the 1911-1912 school year at Grove City College. The fraternity was originally called Pansophics Club in 1911. In 1913, the "s" was dropped, and by 1915 the current name, Pan Sophic, was in official use. In 1911 there were only a few organizations on campus, the Webster Debating Society and the Shakespeare Club and two girls clubs. When paying tuition one had to sign a card which stated that he would not join or start a fraternity with Greek letters. That is why the fraternity is called the Pan Sophic Club which was thought of while the young men were studying the Greek Sophists in Dr. Ketler’s philosophy class.Independence
Founded in 1911 and recognized as a fraternity by college administration in 1913, Pan Sophic is the longest-running organization of any kind at Grove City College. The fraternity is independent, meaning it is unaffiliated with any national society or organization. It is the oldest independent fraternity in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and one of the oldest local fraternities in the United States.
The patch formerly worn by "Pans" on navy blue blazers for semi-formal functions and photos (ca. 1940s-1960s)
The "Pans" have traditionally been involved with campus life in nearly every aspect, but the fraternity has been maintained as a separate entity in and of itself.
Local Origins
Originally, there were no dining halls on the campus of Grove City College. Students ate together at various private boarding homes in Grove City. "Pans" dined in at one particular house, where the cost for two weeks’ board was $4.50 to $5.25. Each week one man would be in charge of buying all the food and then collecting the money from the rest of the fellows. Most of the original members lived at the same house, ate together and had classes together. The first meetings were held at the house, but the constitution was drawn at Orman Dean’s room on North Main Street. The meetings were simple but there were ceremonies of initiation.The National Scene
Although a local club, Pan Sophic has been petitioned several times by national fraternities to establish a chapter as a national organization. Yet each offer has been refused because the "Pans" valued their role on campus, tradition, and history, and did not want to lose these elements, which would have resulted from merging with a national fraternity.Pan Sophic and the Greek System
Pan Sophic was the first organization of its kind at Grove City College. Almost immediately after the club became officially recognized by the college as a fraternity in 1913. other "Greek" organizations began to appear on the college's campus. The first all-female Greek organization at the college was Sigma Sigma Sigma (later changed to Zeta Zeta Zeta after a lawsuit involving the nearby Gamma Zeta chapter of the national Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority at Slippery Rock University). The Tri-Sigs were founded in 1917. Other Greek-letter organizations emerged between 1913 and 1966. Because of Pan Sophic's precedence, the original brothers of the club are seen as the initiators of Grove City College's Greek system. An unofficial motto for the fraternity has been, "The First and the Best."
The traditional symbol of the Pan Sophic Club. The first recorded use of the Pan Sophic Triangle is from a 1913 Spring Party program
Philanthropy
Each year, Pan Sophic contributes to numerous philanthropic endeavors and the fraternity is credited with starting the campus-wide Relay For Life fundraiser. Pan Sophic also sponsors a teddy bear sale with the Gamma Sigma Phi Sorority and, since 1992, has participated in the Teeter-Totter-A-Thon fundraiser with the Tri-Zeta Sorority.Today, the group remains of a smallish size due to its selective membership requirements, yet the brothers of Pan Sophic have left an indellible positive impact on the College which belies the size of their organization.
The official campus charity of Pan Sophic is keeping time in the annual P.A.C. swimming tournament each February.
Terminology and Symbolism
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Colors
The colors of Pan Sophic are blue and white. These are the same colors as the fraternity's sister sorority, Gamma Chi.Mascot
The Pan Sophic fraternity animal is the hog, or pig. This is the animal used as mascot for Pan Sophic intramural and interfraternity sports teams. The "Hogs" compete in intramural football, basketball, and softball and interfraternity football, basketball, volleyball, and softball teams.Songs
The fraternity has five traditional songs which are associated with the organization; these are known only to initiated "Pans" and are rarely heard in public.Names and Symbols
The symbols of Pan Sophic are the griffin, the torch, the helmet, and the pan (a large silver dish). These symbols are sacred to the fraternity and are featured on the shield of the Pan Sophic crest. The crest also features a bent blue stripe and three stars. Below the shield is a banner on which is written the name of the fraternity. To the left and right of the shield are the fraternity letters.A brother of the Pan Sophic Club is called a Pan.
The body of initiated "Pans" who have since graduated from college is referred to as the Old Guard. The Old Guard currently includes over 400 living Grove City College alumni.
Letters
The letters T and B have special importance to the brothers of the Pan Sophic Club. While these letters are displayed on the Pan Sophic Crest and sometimes on the brothers' clothing, they have a secret meaning known only to initiated "Pans".The Pan Sophic Gentleman
Pan Sophic brothers claim to aspire to live their lives in accordance with the standard of the complete gentleman. The fraternity ideal supposedly encompasses the ideals of community, chivalry, and adherance to tradition. Toward this end, "Pans" generally strive to participate in many on-campus activities, organizations, and groups, with the proclaimed end of bettering Grove City College and furthering the name and power of the fraternity on campus.Notable alumni
- Milford McBride: Grove City College Trustee and MacKenzie Award Winner
- Richard Morledge: Former Dean of the Chapel at Grove City College
- James E. Longnecker (honorary): Namesake of the annual Longnecker swimming tournament
External links
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