BRICK BY BRICK – SHAPED BY THE PAST, ADAPTING FOR WHAT'S NEXT

BRICK BY BRICK

SHAPED BY THE PAST, ADAPTING FOR WHAT’S NEXT

by Rachel Greene

For the first time in history, five generations coexist, not just in the workplace, but within Pi Kappa Phi. From undergraduates to alumni volunteers, national staff to chapter advisors, our Fraternity is a rare space where men from five distinct generations continue to grow, lead and learn from one another. Nowhere are the distinctions between these generations more visible than in their motivations for attending college and for joining a fraternity.

Each generation has had its reasons for stepping onto a college campus. Some came seeking opportunity or independence. Others hoped college would offer direction or even purpose.

What was once a rare privilege for a select few has become, for many, a complex and pressure-filled rite of passage. The cost of higher education has skyrocketed, and its purpose has fractured into an uncertain mix of academics, career prep, social life and survival. Mental health challenges, shifting societal values and questions of belonging have redefined what college means to today’s students.

And yet, some things haven’t changed.

Students still arrive on campus hoping to find their people, their purpose and a place to grow, lead and be known. Pi Kappa Phi has offered that kind of space for more than a century. But what each generation sought when they joined, and what they found, has looked different in every era.

The French lexicographer Émile Littré once defined a generation as “all people coexisting in society at any given time.” Later, sociologist Karl Mannheim offered a more layered theory: that we are shaped not only by when we were born, but by what we lived through when it mattered most.

Since 1904, Pi Kappa Phi has welcomed students shaped by different eras, different expectations and different dreams. Stepping foot on campus, some men searched for leadership, some for stability and others for belonging. These young men came from cities and farms, from military families and first-generation college households, from poverty and prosperity. No matter where they came from, they arrived carrying the quiet question: “Will I find what I’m looking for here?”

Throughout the years, brotherhood has offered more than friendship; it has provided purpose. Brotherhood teaches members responsibility, empathy, resilience and the value of being a part of something bigger than yourself. It shapes lives. So, let’s look back, one generation at a time, at what young men hoped to find when they arrived at college and what they discovered when they found Pi Kappa Phi.

THE LOST GENERATION

(1883–1900)

At the turn of the 20th century, higher education was reserved for the few — usually white, wealthy men who came from prominent families. College wasn’t about exploring your passions or networking; it was about assuming your place in a system built for you. Even then, some men enrolled not because they had to but because they wanted something more: a way to move up in the world and create something for themselves. Andrew Alexander Kroeg Jr., Simon Fogarty Jr. and L. Harry Mixson were among those men. They came to the College of Charleston not with a legacy behind them, but with ambition in front of them. They wanted access to leadership, campus life and, eventually, influence. This did not come easily, and they were disillusioned by fraternities on campus shutting them out and monopolizing campus organizations. Turning their disappointment into resolve, the three men formed Nu Phi to fight for student government roles and, when betrayed, shifted once again. On December 10, 1904, they founded Pi Kappa Phi, rooted not in wealth or pedigree but in a belief that belonging should be earned through character, not status.

When Theodore Barnwell Kelly took the Fraternity west to Berkeley, California, he wasn’t just opening a chapter. He was carrying the values of a small Southern group of brothers across the country, once again exhibiting the resilient nature of this generation despite the adversity thrust upon them.

By the time World War I erupted, Pi Kappa Phi had established a network of brothers. The war scattered them, interrupting college journeys and threatening the fragile structure they’d built. Even on battlefields, though, Pi Kapps stayed connected. In the face of death, they knew fraternity mattered, and kept fighting, for not just their country, but for their beloved Pi Kappa Phi.

These men didn’t go to college because it was what everyone else was doing. They went to find a foothold in the world and left having done that and so much more, building a brotherhood that would last far beyond their lifetimes.

THE GREATEST GENERATION

(1901–1927)

Many of the men in this generation didn’t go to college immediately after high school, not for lack of interest, but because they couldn’t. The Great Depression left families across the country struggling to afford basic necessities, and on the heels of the economic downturn came World War II, pulling millions of men across the nation into military service. Higher education was put on hold, if it was ever an option.

The 1944 GI Bill changed everything, making college accessible to working-class veterans, men who served their country and now sought stability and a fresh start. They didn’t attend college to explore but with a mission: to secure a future, provide for their families and reshape their lives that had been put on hold for so long.

For returning soldiers, fraternity life wasn’t a social luxury; but a support system. Pi Kappa Phi offered something familiar after years in the service: structure, purpose, discipline and brotherhood. For men who relied on one another in the trenches, belonging to a group focusing on loyalty, honor and shared values wasn’t just attractive; it was second nature.

Chapters dormant during the war reopened with renewed energy and intent. In 1946, there were just 33 active chapters. By 1950, there were 44, filled with men not looking to coast by or wear letters to fit in on campus, but to lead. These brothers led with humility, showed up early and made things work, even when it took extra time and effort.

These men didn’t pledge Pi Kappa Phi to party; they sought a brotherhood to lean on as they transitioned from war to peace and hardship to hope. In doing so, they filled Pi Kappa Phi with a quiet strength, a sense of sacrifice and feelings of loyalty and commitment that shaped the Fraternity’s culture for decades to come.

THE SILENT GENERATION 

(1928–1945) 

Born into the Great Depression and coming of age during World War II, the Silent Generation grew up valuing security and loyalty, while forming attitudes of quiet resilience. Many watched their families lose everything, recognizing from an early age that nothing in life was guaranteed. For them, college was not just a rite of passage; it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a different future, a way out of turmoil and into the promise of the American Dream. 

This highly self-aware generation of men enrolled in college not to find themselves but to establish themselves, feeling a drive to prove their worth in a world that often felt unstable. They approached college with humility and seriousness as a pathway to upward mobility, to a respectable career and a future they could count on. For those who found Pi Kappa Phi, the Fraternity offered something else: not status, celebration or wealth, but structure, purpose and a set of values they could depend on. 

These men weren’t looking to make waves, but to make progress and do a respectable job. They brought a steady hand and a quiet, humble confidence to their chapters. When the Silent Generation joined Pi Kappa Phi, they believed that responsibility should be shared among all brothers and that leadership should be earned through service, hard work and climbing the ladder one rung at a time. 

In the 1950s and early 1960s, the Fraternity expanded rapidly, thanks to this generation’s commitment to building an organization that could last. Durward W. Owen, Xi (Roanoke), who became executive director at 24, embodied his generation’s mindset: thoughtful, dependable and determined. Under his guidance, Pi Kappa Phi grew in both numbers and infrastructure. Educational programs became formalized, policies were standardized and the groundwork was laid for decades of success. 

Owen and his generation weren’t flashy leaders, they were builders in every sense of the word. They laid the systems, expectations and ideals that made the future of Pi Kappa Phi possible and sustained the Fraternity through challenging times and a changing college landscape. 

THE BABY BOOMERS

(1946–1964) 

For the Baby Boomers, college was both an expectation and a way to explore life’s possibilities. Many brothers in this generation were first-generation college students, propelled by a booming postwar economy and a culture that placed education at the center of the American Dream. College wasn’t just a place to get an education; it was a launching pad, a place to gain independence, earn a degree and equip themselves with the skills to step confidently into adulthood. 

Arriving on campus, many of these men turned to fraternities for direction. In Pi Kappa Phi, they found tradition, hierarchy and structure, things that made sense in a world where order still felt reliable. Brotherhood gave them rituals to rely on, friendships to lean on and leadership roles to work toward and step into. 

But, as the 1960s and 70s unfolded, the world outside the chapter house shifted dramatically. In the face of Civil Rights protests, the Vietnam War and the counterculture movement, college students everywhere began to question the systems they had inherited. Some Pi Kapps did, too. 

While many Boomers embraced the Fraternity for the leadership and structure it offered, others began to question it. Could it become more inclusive? More engaged in service? More forward-thinking? Was Fraternity life for them, or was it a concept of the past? 

By the 1970s, Pi Kappa Phi was growing rapidly. Programs like Pi Kapp College were launched to invest in student leadership, the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation began to expand its reach and fundraising efforts and The Ability Experience (then called PUSH) was founded by Baby Boomer generation brother Thomas Sayre, Kappa (UNC-Chapel Hill), who introduced brothers to a mission that aligned with their generation, one that was increasingly drawn to purpose-driven work. 

The Boomers were builders, helping to grow the modern framework of Pi Kappa Phi while being the first to ask, in meaningful ways, “Could Pi Kappa Phi be something more?” Rather than dismissing fraternity as an outdated concept, they then committed to making their brotherhood relevant to modern life. While they were the first to take a hard look at the Fraternity and its purpose, they certainly weren’t the last.

GENERATION X

(1965–1980)

For Generation X, college was a means to an end. Raised in the wake of Watergate, economic recession and the cultural comedown of the 1970s, many Gen X brothers came from homes with two working parents or divorced households, where independence was not optional; it was the requisite for survival. Heading to college, they weren’t chasing an idealistic dream of discovery — they had been long disillusioned by that. Instead, they had their sights set on outcomes: financial security, professional preparation and personal autonomy.

Gen X saw college as a requirement, not a lifestyle. So, when they chose to join a fraternity, it was less about tradition and more about utility, asking, “What will Pi Kappa Phi do for me?” Pi Kappa Phi offered tangible value, leadership opportunities, chances to sharpen practical skills and an established network, especially as they prepared to enter the job market. The Fraternity gave them access to structured leadership roles, national leadership programs like Pi Kapp College and hands-on opportunities to lead events and manage real budgets. These tools mirrored the real-world responsibilities they would soon face. Running their chapters was like running a business; they loved the experience they gained without the high stakes of being in the “real world.”

In chapter meetings, these brothers prioritized efficiency, structure and accountability, spending time revising bylaws, tightening up budgets and professionalizing officer expectations. It wasn’t just internal systems that Gen X helped evolve; their clear-eyed vision for the future reshaped The Ability Experience, too. They expanded its scope, pushed for efficiency in fundraising and helped elevate it from a feel-good project to a nationally respected service project. To them, giving back wasn’t a box to check; it was a responsibility to uphold, a way to channel their practical mindset into lasting social impact.

Gen X was skeptical of fluff and allergic to performative leadership, expecting results without seeking praise. By holding the Fraternity to a higher standard, they quietly reshaped Pi Kappa Phi into an efficient, stronger and more mission-aligned organization.

MILLENNIALS

(1981–1996)

Millennials were the generation raised on promise and humbled by reality. Raised to believe anything was possible, Millennials entered college burdened by crisis after crisis: 9/11, a recession and soaring student debt.

They came to college for more than an education; they sought belonging and purpose. When these brothers found Pi Kappa Phi, for many of them, it wasn’t the organization’s prestige or popularity that drew them in; it was a brotherhood where they believed they could find purpose.

Millennials were also the first generation to grow up alongside the internet, watching it evolve from dial-up to Smartphones, from chat rooms to social media. Their college experience and their fraternity experience were shaped by the rise of connectivity. Chapter announcements moved online, recruitment videos were shared on YouTube and chapters began launching their first websites. Brotherhood could now be nurtured across campuses, states and time zones. Millennials inherited a Fraternity on the cusp of its digital revolution. They had to learn to balance the Pi Kappa Phi of the past with present technological advances.

These brothers brought new language into the Fraternity: mental health, inclusivity and authenticity. Millennials didn’t just want to serve; they wanted to connect, volunteering to lead Ability Camps and Build America crews, staff Journey of Hope vans and pushing for philanthropy to be something you live, not just events you scheduled. These brothers pushed Pi Kappa Phi to live up to its mission.

By default, these men were tasked with helping Pi Kappa Phi find its digital voice through websites, social media, online fundraising and storytelling that reached thousands. Their fluency in mission and message transformed how the Fraternity communicated, connected and built community.

For Millennials, brotherhood wasn’t about tradition for tradition’s sake. It was about alignment between values and actions. These brothers redefined what fraternity could look like in a global, complicated world.

GENERATION Z

(1997–2012)

Generation Z has never known a world without Wi-Fi or without crisis. Growing up surrounded by economic instability, school shootings, climate anxiety and political division, Gen Z came of age during a global pandemic that erased graduation ceremonies, shifted classrooms onto screens and left many wondering whether the world they were promised was still worth believing in.

With childhoods shaped by algorithms, social media and a constant stream of content, Gen Z is more connected to information than any generation before it but also more exposed to comparison, pressure and uncertainty. Connection has been readily available to them for most of their lives, but real belonging has been more challenging for them to come by. They came to college not looking for status, but looking for substance.

For many Gen Z students, the decision to attend college has been a thoughtful debate, drafting kitchen table “pro/con” lists and conducting ample research before submitting their online applications. Is it worth the cost? Will it pay off? Is it still a place to find opportunities? Or is college just a stepping stone in a broken system? The choice to enroll has been one of skepticism and hope that the experience will offer something real, meaningful and transformative; more than the world has provided them so far.

Fraternity life, too, has been met with caution. Gen Z doesn’t assume these organizations are right for them; they need to see fraternities in action, living their values before they consider walking through the door of a rush event.

Those who do choose Pi Kappa Phi find a brotherhood ready to evolve.

They arrive on campus with a deep sense of urgency and a low tolerance for institutions that fail to meet the moment. In Pi Kappa Phi, they find both a challenge and an opportunity. They see a brotherhood with deep roots and ask how they could help it grow.

Gen Z wants brotherhood to mean action, not just identity. They expect transparency in leadership, inclusivity in membership and a lived commitment to values like mental health, equity and service.

These men are redefining leadership, stepping up in ways that reflect empathy, authenticity and collaboration. They ask tough questions, but don’t walk away when the answers are tough to hear. They’re pushing Pi Kappa Phi to be more responsive, intentional and aligned with the world young men are living in, not the world the men before them once knew.

They’ve built online communities that transcend campus borders, engaging with brothers and alumni nationwide. They organize around causes, seek opportunities to make a real impact and crave mentorship that feels mutual. Gen Z brothers are fluent in digital tools but less fluent in what came naturally to generations before them: human connection. Despite that, they desire connection just as much as every generation of Pi Kappa Phi has. Gen Z brothers are rewriting the fraternity experience to reflect the complexity — and the possibility — of the world they’ve inherited.

Gen Z wants to build the future, and to keep earning their trust, we must remain committed to growth, not just in numbers, but in authenticity.

GENERATION ALPHA

(2013–PRESENT)

These future Pi Kapp brothers are still in middle school, but growing up fast. Generation Alpha, the children of Millennials, is already demonstrating the hallmarks of a generation shaped by rapid innovation, global connectivity and cultural transformation.

Born into a world shaped by Smartphones, smart homes and smart everything, their earliest formative years were shaped by a global pandemic, full of isolation, uncertainty and adaptation. Their lives have been lived online as much as offline, with school, friendships and family time shaped by devices and platforms. With technology and lives that have been everchanging, they’ve learned to go with the flow but have also developed a desire for stability and lack trust in what comes next because they have never been able to know what is coming next.

By the time Gen Alpha steps onto college campuses in the 2030s, they’ll bring a digital fluency that will make email feel old-fashioned. However, they’ll also bring more profound questions about identity, justice, the future of work and what it means to belong in an increasingly fragmented world.

Like their Gen Z predecessors, college will be more intentional than automatic for Gen Alpha. They’ll weigh whether it’s worth the cost, whether it aligns with their goals and whether it fits into a tech-driven future. They’ll seek institutions that embrace flexibility, foster belonging and help them develop emotionally and intellectually, making up for the isolation felt in their formative years.

They will not default to fraternity life; instead, they will evaluate and scrutinize it. Generation Alpha will choose to join a fraternity if it offers authentic growth, service and community. They’ll look for spaces where leadership is taught through experience, not hierarchy, organizations where friendships are grounded in vulnerability and mission matters more than image.

To remain viable, Pi Kappa Phi must become relevant and essential. We must speak Gen Alpha’s language, not just through digital platforms, but through the values they will care about: authenticity, empathy, equity and action. We must rethink how we deliver leadership development, engage through service and build a culture that mirrors the world they’re growing up in while providing what the world has failed to deliver.

The Fraternity’s legacy and longstanding success will not be enough to earn Gen Alpha’s trust; we must earn it in real-time through innovation, inclusion and impact.

Pi Kappa Phi has always been a brotherhood of builders. Gen Alpha will bring new materials; it’s up to brothers and Fraternity leaders to ensure the foundation is ready.

Each generation came to college with its own hopes and its own questions. The Founders created their own opportunities. The Greatest Generation found brotherhood after war. The Silent Generation built quietly. Baby Boomers expanded. Generation X streamlined. Millennials asked us to live our values. And Gen Z? They are asking us to evolve, fast.

Each generation came searching for something different: identity, purpose, connection, leadership or meaning. And each one found it, in one way or another, within the letters of Pi Kappa Phi.

That’s the power of a brotherhood that adapts to the times without losing itself. Pi Kappa Phi has shown that it is a brotherhood that can grow across centuries without outgrowing the values it was built upon.

But that legacy is not self-sustaining.

Generation Z, the men leading our undergraduate chapters today, need more than tradition. They need to know that Pi Kappa Phi sees them, hears them and trusts them. They’re not just looking to be led; they’re ready to lead and want to shape what comes next. To engage them, we must offer more than talking points and positions. We must create space for them to co-author the future, which means reimagining our programs to feel more collaborative and relevant, putting mental health and well-being at the center of our member experience, building systems that reduce burnout and amplify impact and letting our youngest brothers take the lead. When it comes to service, inclusion and purpose-driven action, we must prioritize them not as a side project or as a function of the Fraternity but as central to who we are.

Generation Alpha, the next wave of college students, will be more connected, diverse and values-driven than any previous generation. They won’t join just for good times; they’ll join only if they see purpose, progress and real brotherhood in action.

So, how do we prepare Pi Kappa Phi for Gen Alpha?

We start by designing a fraternity that meets Gen Alpha where they are, reimagining leadership development as experiential, inclusive and future-ready, not as traditions from the past, being recycled for today’s students because they’ve always worked. We win over Gen Alpha by treating service as a culture, embracing technology as a bridge and ensuring the voices of our youngest brothers are valued and elevated. The next generation will not join just because fraternities exist or because they are bored. They will join if they feel like fraternities matter and decide that Pi Kappa Phi matters.

It cannot be safely assumed that Pi Kappa Phi’s future is guaranteed. It must be built the same way every generation before did — together. Why brothers went to college may have changed, but what they found in Pi Kappa Phi? That is timeless. What the Fraternity builds next is up to every Pi Kappa Phi brother, regardless of your generation. The future of Pi Kappa Phi may be in the hands of Gen Z and Gen Alpha on college campuses, but the future of this brotherhood? That’s still very much up to you.