Tau Kappa Epsilon

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Tau Kappa Epsilon - TKE
The official coat of arms of Tau Kappa Epsilon
Founded January 10, 1899 (1899-01-10) (age 108)
Illinois Wesleyan University
Type Social
Scope International
Colors Crimson Lake and Pure Silver.
Symbol Equilateral Triangle
Flower Red Carnation
Publication The Teke
Chapters 263 active
Total Initiates 242,610
Headquarters 8645 Founders Road
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Homepage http://www.tke.org/

Tau Kappa Epsilon (ΤΚΕ or Teke, pronounced T-K-E or IPA: /ˈtiːk/, as in teak wood) is a college fraternity with chapters in the USA, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent (WSC). There are currently 263 active TKE chapters and colonies throughout the United States and Canada. Tau Kappa Epsilon was founded on January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois. The Five Founders of TKE are Charles Roy Atkinson, Clarence Arthur Mayer, James Carson McNutt, Joseph Lorenzo Settles, and Owen Ison Truitt.

Tau Kappa Epsilon was originally named the Knights of Classic Lore, with the goal of establishing a fraternity where membership is based on personal worth and character rather than wealth, rank, or honor.

Contents

The mythological ideal or patron of Tau Kappa Epsilon is Apollo, one of the most important of Olympian divinities. The Grecian god of music and culture, of light and the ideals toward which all Tekes must constantly be striving. Typifying the finest development of manhood, the selection of Apollo is most appropriate.

The official membership badge, made of gold and adorned with three white pearls, is by far the most important item of TKE insignia in general use. This badge may only be worn by initiated undergraduate members. Jeweled badges, crown set with pearls, diamonds, rubies or emeralds, according to choice, may be worn by alumni members. Frequently the standard membership badge is used as a token of engagement. Miniature badges are also available for mothers, sisters, wives, chapter sweethearts or for engagement purposes. The TKE 'badge of gold', unique in its design and distinctiveness, has never been changed since its adoption.

The triangular badge is worn at an angle so that the left side of the triangle appears vertical. This is done to reflect the geographic positions of the three original chapters.

The red carnation is the flower of the fraternity. From this flower the color for the coat-of-arms, flag, and other symbols. Red carnations are also worn during initiations and at TKE banquets. The Red Carnation Ball is a dance that many chapters celebrate, and is named after the flower.

Office Titles
Prytanis: President
Epiprytanis: Vice-President
Grammateus: Secretary
Crysophylos: Treasurer
Histor: Historian
Hypophetes: Chaplain (Academics)
Pylortes: Sgt. at Arms (Risk Management)
Hegemon: Educator

The heraldic definition of the TKE Coat-of-Arms is "A shield of a Norman form, upon which has a bend with five equilateral triangles, surmounting a scroll bearing five Greek letters, and surmounted by a skull, or death's head, three-quarters profile. This assemblage is done in the official colors, cherry red and gray, properly mantled." It may be used only by official members of the Fraternity on stationery, jewelry, and other personal effects. It is used by the Fraternity upon its official stationery, membership certificates, and other documents. Modified slightly several times during the early years of Tau Kappa Epsilon, the present Coat-of-Arms, adopted in 1926, was designed by Dr. Carlton B. Pierce and Ms. Emily Butterfield.

The present design of the TKE flag, as adopted at the 1961 Conclave, features five voided triangles, in cherry red, on a gray bend surmounting a red field. Because it is patterned after the shield of the fraternity Coat-of-Arms, the flag is readily associated with Tau Kappa Epsilon. Individual chapters may also purchase and use pennants and wall banners of various designs. These usually employ the name or Greek letters of the fraternity and chapter, and may incorporate the basic TKE insignia. TKE insignia may only be purchased from the Offices of the Grand Chapter or a merchant licensed by the fraternity headquarters.

On or near January 10th of each year, undergraduate and alumni chapters of Tau Kappa Epsilon celebrate the founding of our Fraternity and honor the five Founders. This day, known as Founders' Day, is usually celebrated by a traditional banquet. At this celebration, contributions are collected for the Founders' Student Loan Fund, and the Grand Prytanis sends a subtle message to each chapter to be read as part of the program.

In April 1921, members of the Fraternity at The Ohio State University made their way to the Conclave in Madison, Wisconsin. At the conclusion of the vote granting their charter as Omicron Chapter, one of the members pulled from his pants pocket a rusty horseshoe which the fraters had picked up along the way. Believing that the horseshoe had granted the chapter good luck, the tradition began to pass the horseshoe down to each chapter. The original horseshoe was lost during WWII at the Alpha-Chi Chapter, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky (it was replaced with a new horseshoe to continue the tradition).

In mid-1995, the original horseshoe was discovered by Past Grand Prytanis Rodney Williams among some artifacts belonging to Alpha-Chi Chapter, which had been held for years by a charter member of the chapter. At the 49th Biennial Conclave, the original TKE horseshoe from Omicron Chapter was displayed, and the story behind its loss explained.

  • To Believe in love and loyalty to my College, my Fraternity, my Country, and my God;
  • To Believe in the worthiness and dignity of my fellow man, and judge him solely upon his personal worth and character;
  • To Believe with fidelity in the traditions and ideals of my Fraternity, and upon my sacred honor, to uphold them;
  • To Believe in the constant search for truth, and through it, to seek the goal of wisdom;
  • To Believe in the life based upon integrity, justice, sincerity, patience, moderation, culture, and challenge in order to serve as a responsible, mature member of society;
  • To Believe in the cardinal principles of Love, Charity, and Esteem and to use them to guide my life;
  • To Believe in my Fraternity as a brotherhood of gentlemen in perpetual quest of excellence as a way of life.

Grand Officers

  • Grand Prytanis (president) - Mark K. Johnson
  • Grand Epiprytanis (vice-president) - Dr. Herbert L. Songer
  • Grand Grammateus (secretary) - Kevin H. Pollard
  • Grand Crysophylos (treasurer) - Edmund C. Moy
  • Grand Histor (historian) - Charles J. Trabold
  • Grand Hypophetes (chaplain) - Rodney G. Talbot
  • Grand Pylortes (parliamentarian)- Robert A. Jarred
  • Grand Hegemon (educator) - Christopher Hanson

Professional Staff

  • Chief Executive Officer - Kevin Mayeux, CAE

The eight Grand Officers along with the CEO act as members of the executive board of the fraternity. Their titles are derived from the titles given to the officers of undergraduate chapters. With the exception of the Grand Prytanis (president) the honorific titles do not necessarily reflect the duties of these officers. The CEO handles day-to-day operation, finances and the administration of the international organization.

Main article: List of chapters and colonies of Tau Kappa Epsilon

To find a TKE chapter, use the TKE Locator

Tau Kappa Epsilon is also affiliated with the German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent(WSC). The WSC includes the Corps Franconia zu Darmstadt, Corps Vitruvia Munich, Corps Montania Clausthal and other fraternities.

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North-American Interfraternity Conference

Acacia • Alpha Gamma Rho • Alpha Gamma Sigma • Alpha Delta Gamma • Alpha Delta Phi • Alpha Epsilon Pi • Alpha Kappa Lambda • Alpha Sigma Phi • Alpha Tau Omega • Alpha Phi Alpha • Alpha Phi Delta • Alpha Chi Rho • Beta Sigma Psi • Beta Theta Pi • Beta Chi Theta • Delta Kappa Epsilon • Delta Sigma Phi • Delta Tau Delta • Delta Upsilon • Delta Phi • Delta Chi • Delta Psi • FarmHouse • Zeta Beta Tau • Zeta Psi • Theta Delta Chi • Theta Xi • Theta Chi • Iota Nu Delta • Iota Phi Theta • Kappa Alpha Order • Kappa Alpha Psi • Kappa Alpha Society • Kappa Delta Rho • Kappa Delta Phi • Lambda Theta Phi • Lambda Sigma Upsilon • Lambda Phi Epsilon • Lambda Chi Alpha • Pi Kappa Alpha • Pi Kappa Phi • Pi Lambda Phi • Sigma Alpha Epsilon • Sigma Alpha Mu • Sigma Lambda Beta • Sigma Nu • Sigma Pi • Sigma Tau Gamma • Sigma Phi Delta • Sigma Phi Epsilon • Sigma Phi Society • Sigma Chi • Tau Delta Phi • Tau Epsilon Phi • Tau Kappa Epsilon • Triangle • Phi Gamma Delta • Phi Iota Alpha • Phi Kappa Theta • Phi Kappa Sigma • Phi Kappa Tau • Phi Kappa Psi • Phi Lambda Chi • Phi Mu Delta • Phi Sigma Kappa • Phi Sigma Phi • Chi Phi • Chi Psi • Psi Upsilon
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