Alpha Phi Delta (), commonly referred to as APD, is an American collegiate fraternity. Alpha Phi Delta was established at

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York, United States. It was established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church but has been nonsectarian since 1920 ...

in 1914 as an Italian-heritage fraternity.

History

In 1913, Syracuse University student Nicholas Frunzi had the idea to start a society for Italian students. He recruited six other students who formed an exclusive Italian society known as ''Il Circolo Italiano'' ("The Italian Circle") on November 5, 1913. The seven members of ''Il Circolo Italiano'' met on October 14, 1914, to discuss becoming a Greek letter organization; they selected the name Alpha Phi Delta. On November 5, 1914, the seven founders met and swore an oath to Alpha Phi Delta, an Italian-heritage fraternity. The fraternity's founders were: Frunzi was elected the fraternity's first president. During its first few weekly meetings, the fraternity's members adopted a constitution and ritual and also selected its banner, charter, coat of arms, handshake, motto, oath, pin, pledge, and whistle. DiBartolo was charged with approaching the university for official recognition, successfully making the case that Alpha Phi Delta's Italian members were prohibited from joining the existing campus fraternities. When Frunzi transferred to

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

in 1916, he became friends with members of the local Italian heritage fraternity Sigma Gamma Phi. Frunzi convinced the founding members of Sigma Gamma Phi to merge with Alpha Phi Delta. Sigma Gamma Phi became the ''Beta chapter'' of Alpha Phi Delta, making the latter a national fraternity. As time passed, Alpha Phi Delta chartered additional chapters. It began publishing its magazine, ''The Kleos of Alpha Phi Delta''.Shepard, Francis W., ed. (1927)
''Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities'' (11th ed.)
Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Publishing Company. p. 44 – via Google Books. Alpha Phi Delta became a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference. On September 2, 1965, the fraternity began accepting members of all ethnic backgrounds. In 2015, the fraternity reached 20,000 lifelong members. At the February 27, 2016, annual meeting in

New Haven, Connecticut New Haven is a city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. With a population of 135,081 as determined by the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, New Haven is List ...

, the National Council of Alpha Phi Delta voted to leave the North-American Interfraternity Conference due to concerns over NIC's near-quadrupling of fees, its stripping of smaller fraternities from having voting privileges, and other grievances. In March 2022, Jaxon Marzec and Mark Krolczyk founded the Alpha Phi Delta athletics organization, a group within the fraternity focused around the values of sportsmanship. In the first season of IM Football, Jaxon Marzec, now referred to as “Coach” received the game winning touchdown and the championship. Everyone shouted “Hooray!”.

Symbols

The fraternity's colors are royal purple and white. Its symbol is the

Fasces A fasces ( ; ; a , from the Latin word , meaning 'bundle'; ) is a bound bundle of wooden rods, often but not always including an axe (occasionally two axes) with its blade emerging. The fasces is an Italian symbol that had its origin in the Etrus ...

. Its flower is the white carnation. The Alpha Phi Delta motto is "Faciamus!" The Alpha Phi Delta badge is a shield with a black background bisected by a gold key. Across the shield and key is a white scroll and the letters . The shield is rimmed with gold and pearls, with a diamond star above its top and flaming torch at an angle behind the shield. The fraternity's pledge pin is in the shape of a shield that is divided at an angle between the colors purple and white.

Chapters

Alpha Phi Delta has more than 100 chapters at various colleges across the United States.

Notable members

References

External links