CEO CORNER Authentic. Caring. Exceptional. Uncommon.
Mark E. Timmes
SUBMISSIONS Materials for publication should be sent directly to the managing editor at the address or email address shown below. Letters to the editor will be printed at the discretion of the editors. With the print and online STAR & LAMP, we accept materials on an ongoing basis. PARENTS The STAR & LAMP is being sent to your address while your son is in college. Please feel free to read through the magazine as we hope it is a publication you will enjoy too. If your son is no longer in college or is no longer living at home, please send his new contact information to the address or email address below. PUBLISHER STAR & LAMP (USPS 519-000) is issued two times a year by Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity at 2015 Ayrsley Town Boulevard, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28273 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER Send address changes to:
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Mark E. Timmes MANAGING EDITOR & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Todd Shelton
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Victor Tran
COMMUNICATION TEAM
John Andrews Justin Horne
CONTRIBUTORS
Kate Andrews Justin Angotti Brandon Belote Greg Buehner Marvin Hackney Basil Lyberg C. Brad Middleton Beau Samples Chris Shade Terrie Smith DeVin Taylor
Across higher education, the past few months have been a challenging time for fraternity/sorority life. In February, 19-year-old Timothy Piazza, a new member of another fraternity at Penn State, died following a hazing incident. Security footage from the chapter house that evening shows him lying injured for more than 12 hours while men who called themselves his future brothers failed to seek help. This inhumanity has led to a claxon call for the banishment of the fraternity system. In the wake of his death, leaders across the industry have been critically examining the future of fraternities and sororities and what we can do differently to prevent another tragedy. Pi Kappa Phi is doing the same. Please allow me to share a small part of what we are doing now to renew our hope in the future of fraternity and, especially, Pi Kappa Phi. Around this time each year, I have the privilege to meet both the graduates of Pi Kapp College for Emerging Leaders and the team members who dedicate their summer in service to others on Build America, Gear Up Florida and the Journey of Hope. These are the men who will become the future leaders of our chapters, our fraternity and our society. These are the men who give me hope. Just a few weeks ago, our emerging leaders succinctly described the obligations we each undertook during our initiation into Pi Kappa Phi: Be authentic and be caring. To their list, I would offer only two additions: Be exceptional and be uncommon. In the midst of a crucible moment for the American fraternity, I truly believe that those four words — authentic, caring, exceptional and uncommon — will, as they always have, guide Pi Kappa Phi through this time of great uncertainty. Forty years ago, a fraternity great envisioned a national service project that would help our brothers exemplify this commitment. Today, we continue to celebrate Durward Owen’s vision and the uncommon opportunities provided by The Ability Experience. As we look to the future, we are, once again, providing you with a snapshot of our chapters’ achievements and the collective successes of the Greater Fraternity. This issue also celebrates the accomplishments of another class of Thirty Under 30 award recipients and the commitment of our donors who supported the future of Pi Kappa Phi through the Common Loyalty campaign. While some may question the future of fraternities, I am confident that I have already seen it. Our journey is far from over, but our students give me hope that Pi Kappa Phi is closer to building the ideal fraternity today than we were yesterday. Anchored in our commitment to be authentic, caring, exceptional and uncommon, we should expect nothing less. I hope you enjoy this issue of the Star & Lamp. Yours in the brotherhood of Pi Kappa Phi, Mark E. Timmes Chief Executive Officer mtimmes@pikapp.org
STAR & LAMP 2015 Ayrsley Town Blvd, Ste 200 Charlotte, NC 28273 EMAIL ADDRESS letusknow@pikapp.org
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Correction: Alpha Psi Chapter was noted incorrectly in the Fall 2016 issue. The chapter is at Indiana University. We apologize for the error.
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