Gamma Phi Gamma
American collegiate fraternity at Wilmington College From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gamma Phi Gamma (ΓΦΓ) is a local social fraternity at Wilmington College in Ohio. It was established in 1907.
| Gamma Phi Gamma | |
|---|---|
| ΓΦΓ | |
 | |
| Founded | 1907 Wilmington College |
| Type | Social |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Status | Active |
| Scope | Local |
| Colors | Blue and White |
| Chapters | 1 |
| Members | 1,200+ lifetime |
| Nickname | Gobblers |
| Headquarters | 673 Fife Ave Wilmington, Ohio 45177 United States |
History
Summarize
Perspective
In 1907, college student Herbert Hayes had the idea of starting a secret society for the male students of Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio.[1] Hayes shared his idea with John Carey, Henry J. Linton, and Charles Starbuck who were Wilmington, Ohio residents.[2][1][3] Gamma Phi Gamma was established at Wilmington College in 1907.[4][5] It was one of the first secret societies or fraternities acknowledged by Wilmington College.[6]
The membership of Gamma Phi Gamma was originally limited to four people.[1] When Hayes graduated in 1909, Charles Doan became the campus leader of the fraternity.[1] Later members included Herbert Sanders and Edwin J. Bath.[1] Bath was responsible for getting Wilmington College president Albert J. Brown to recognize the fraternity as a campus organization.[1]
Gamma Phi Gamma had initiated more than forty members by 1917.[1] During World War I, the fraternity helped raise money to support soldiers.[7][8] After the war, the fraternity continued to grow.[1] It went temporarily inactive during World War II, reactivating in the fall of 1944.[9]
By 1945, it was the oldest and largest fraternity at Wilmington College.[3] The fraternity moved to a house at 403 East Locust Street in 1945.[3]
The fraternity established the Gamma Phi Gamma Foundation, run by fraternity alumni.[1][10] Gamma Phi Gamma initiated its 1,000th member in 1992.[2][1]
For its 85th anniversary in 1992, the fraternity published a book about its history.[10] As part of its anniversary celebration, the fraternity installed a 23 feet (7.0 m) flag at its chapter house.[11] The flag pole's foundation included a time capsule and the names of seven alumni.[11] Its first flag flown was provided by Congressman Bob McEwan.[11]
On April 26, 1999, the fraternity's house was significantly damaged by fire.[10] It was reopened In March 2000.[10]
The fraternity has initiated more that 1,200 members by 2013.[5] Gamma Phi Gamma was banned from the Wilmington College campus in January 2014 until at least 2019 for a 2013 hazing incident.[12][13][14] Gamma Phi Gamma was reinstated at the college in 2022.[15] It claims to be America's oldest surviving local fraternity.[4]
Symbols and traditions
The nickname of Gamma Phi Gamma is The Gobblers.[5] The fraternity's off-campus chapter house is called the "Gobbler House".[16][17] The house includes a time capsule within its stone fireplace with a time capsule; engraved on the time capsule is "East West Home is Best".[10] It is located at 673 Fife Avenue in Wilmington.[11]
The fraternity's mission is "To pledge men who would promote their core values: brotherhood and sociability."[5] The fraternity's colors are blue and white.[18]
Misconduct and scandals
- In May 1922, the fraternity's pledges walked the streets of Wilmington in costume as part of their "pledge term workouts".[19] They were dressed as ditch diggers, waiters, and Russian Cossacks.[19]
- In 2000, the college suspended the fraternity for a hazing incident.[4]
- In 2013, Tyler Lawrence, a Gamma Phi Gamma pledge, was injured in a Halloween hazing incident, resulting in the loss of a testicle.[4][13][12] Court testimony indicated that the pledges were "blindfolded, told to strip, had their mouths stuffed with limburger cheese and [were] hit with “towels and shirts that had the ends balled up in knots” or which had items tied inside to inflict pain".[17] The naked pledges were also "covered in an Icy-Hot-like substance and told to make sexually explicit motions while being whipped with towels."[20] Gamma Phi Gamma was banned from the Wilmington College campus in January 2014.[12][13][4] In May 2014, fourteen members of the fraternity were arrested for their involvement in the hazing incident.[21][14] However, Lawrence stated that this was a "freak accident", not hazing.[22][23] Seven fraternity members pled guilty to the hazing charges.[24]
See also
References
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