Fraternity History
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY by the seven visionary founders known to us as the Seven Jewels:
The Fraternity initially served as a study and support group for minority students who faced racial prejudice, both educationally and socially, at Cornell. The Jewel founders and early leaders of the Fraternity succeeded in laying a firm foundation for Alpha Phi Alpha’s principles of scholarship, fellowship, good character, and the uplifting of humanity.
Alpha Phi Alpha chapters were developed at other colleges and universities; many of them historically black institutions, soon after the founding at Cornell. While continuing to stress academic excellence amongst its members, Alpha recognized the need to help correct the educational, economic, political, and social injustices faced by African-Americans.
Chapter History
Since being chartered on Wednesday, February 23, 1983, the Pi Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has excelled in the service, scholastic, and social aspects of college life. What some may not realize, however, is that the light of Alpha has been being held high on the campus of Clemson University since 1981. That year, M.I.A., or Men Interested in Alpha, was founded for the purpose of chartering a chapter of Alpha at Clemson, and to help young men learn more about Alpha Phi Alpha. Under the tutelage of late Professor Clarence L.B. Addison, a former member of the Gamma Gamma Lambda Chapter in Greenville, now a distinguished brother of our Omega chapter, initiated numerous community service projects and laid the foundation for the annual Martin Luther King celebration.
During the Fall semester of that year, Brothers Anthony Bird and Kenneth Gandy, the Golden Knights Premier, were initiated through the Gamma Gamma Lambda Chapter. The following semester, the men who would become known as the Royal Octad, Brothers William Keith McCall, Kenneth Robinson, Michael Ferguson, Norman D. Hall, Charles P. Hill, Don Weston, and Antonio Pinckney, followed the lead of Bird and Gandy and were also initiated through the Gamma Gamma Lambda Chapter. These trailblazers, along with Brother Neil Phillips, a graduate student from Tuskegee College, would become the charter members of the Pi Alpha Chapter.
Since then, fifty-three lines have been initiated through Pi Alpha, starting with the Pi Debut of Spring 1983 and, most recently, Apostles of P.A.I.N of Spring 2023. The 730th House of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has exemplified the high standards of the fraternity at every level, winning numerous awards from the Clemson community, and competing and winning at every level of competition among undergraduate chapters of Alpha, most recently winning the fraternity’s District Chapter (3x) and Outstanding College Brother of the Year award (2x). The brothers of the Pi Alpha Chapter, both past and present, have made an indelible impact in every way imaginable, and will continue to light a path for others to follow as first towards excellence.
National Programs
Brother’s Keeper
This service program developed with the mission of advocating and improving the quality of life for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.’s senior brothers, their spouses and widows; brothers who are retired and have disabilities or ailments; and vulnerable community members.
A Voteless People is a Hopeless People (VPHP)
Initiated as a National Program of Alpha during the 1930’s when many African-Americans had the right to vote but were prevented from voting because of poll taxes, threats of reprisal, and lack of education about the voting process. The focus shifted to include political awareness and empowerment, delivered most frequently through town meetings and candidate forums.
Register Today: https://vote.gov/
Go-To-High School, Go-To-College
Established in 1922, concentrates on the importance of completing secondary and collegiate education as a road to advancement.
Project Alpha
Is designed to provide education, motivation, and skill-building on issues of responsibility, relationships, teen pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases for young males ages 12-15 years.
Lineage
- Golden Knights Premier – Fall 1981
- Royal Octad – Spring 1982
- Pi Debut – Spring 1983
- Entity Six – Spring 1984
- Two Below – Spring 1985
- Sons of Egypt – Spring 1986
- Sands of Time – Fall 1986
- Majestic Trio – Spring 1987
- Ice Men – Fall 1988
- Strictly Business – Spring 1989
- Believe It or Not – Fall 1989
- Back to Ice – Spring 1990
- Business as Usual – Fall 1991
- Cold By Nature – Spring 1992
- Six Seconds from Death – Spring 1993
- Epitome of Blackness – Fall 1993
- 8 Pieces of the Pi – Fall 1994
- Pandemonium – Spring 1995
- Storms of Egypt – Fall 1996
- 2 Cold to Hold – Spring 1997
- The First Knight – Spring 1997
- Cold as Ice – Spring 1998
- Resurrection – Fall 1998
- 3 Degrees Above the Rest – Spring 1999
- Four Pharaohs of the Apocalypse – Spring 2000
- The Ice Cold Saga – Spring 2001
- Army of One – Spring 2002
- Organized Confusion – Fall 2002
- Frozen Reign – Spring 2003
- The Golden T.R.I.A.D – Fall 2003
- PHIVE Weapons of Mass Destruction – Fall 2004
- The Triumvirate – Spring 2005
- The Phrozen Trilogy – Fall 2005
- The Cold Awakening – Spring 2006
- The Guardians – Fall 2006
- The Next Episode – Spring 2007
- Phrozen S.O.U.L.S – Fall 2007
- State of Emergency – Fall 2008
- The Golden R.U.L.E – Fall 2009
- The Last of a Golden Breed – Spring 2010
- The Last Man Standing – Fall 2011
- N2 D.E.E.P – Fall 2012
- The Lone Survivor – Spring 2014
- 16 L.O.R.Ds – Fall 2014
- S.O.S – Fall 2015
- 3 S.E.A.S.O.N.S – Spring 2017
- G.G.G. ( Grandmasters of the Golden Guild) – Fall 2017
- F.O.R.C.E.S. – Spring 2018
- 12 Burning Shadows – Spring 2019
- 10 Kings of a Golden Realm – Fall 2020
- SEAL Team Six – Spring 2021
- N.W.A (Notoriously Withstanding Adversity) – Spring 2022
- A.O.P Apostles of P.A.I.N (Persevering through Adversity while Instilling Nobility) – Spring 2023
Alpha Phi alpha Fraternity inc., Pi Alpha Chapter 