Delta Phi Epsilon (professional)
| Delta Phi Epsilon | |
|---|---|
| ΔΦΕ | |
| Founded | January 25, 1920 Georgetown University |
| Type | Professional |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Status | Active |
| Emphasis | Foreign service |
| Scope | National |
| Motto | λατρεύω Latreuo "I Serve" |
| Colors | Black and Gold |
| Flower | Morning glory |
| Chapters | 12 active |
| Headquarters | 3401 Prospect Street, NW PO Box 25401 Washington, D.C. 20007 United States |
| Website | www |
Delta Phi Epsilon (ΔΦΕ) or Delta Phi Epsilon Foreign Service Council the largest national American professional foreign service fraternity and sorority. Founded on January 25, 1920, it was the first fraternity dedicated to careers in foreign diplomacy in trade.[1] Its Alpha chapter went on in the first half of the twentieth century to colonize new chapters at many other universities throughout the country, although most chapters went defunct in the latter half of the century. In 1973 Delta Phi Epsilon Foreign Service Sorority was founded, with its Alpha chapter at Georgetown University. As of 2021, there remained ten active collegiate chapters, half of which were created between 2016 and 2018.
History
[edit]Fraternity
[edit]The fraternity was founded in the wake of World War I, in a time of increased interest in world politics and solving global issues with diplomacy. In 1919, Fr. Edmund A. Walsh, S.J. at Georgetown University founded the School of Foreign Service (SFS) and in 1924, the Rogers Act formed the basis of the United States Foreign Service. During this time, other groups with similar missions, such as the Council on Foreign Relations, were founded, along with international bodies such as the League of Nations.
The four founders of the fraternity were Alfred O. Arseneau, Wesley O. Ash, Samuel C. Bartlett, and T. J. Patrick O'Connell. At first, three of them, all undergraduates in Georgetown's SFS living together on 10th Street, held in common only their experience in overseas military service and their interest in foreign service careers. Soon they met the fourth, Pat O'Connell, who thought of founding a foreign service fraternity independently. They were drawn together by their common vision for a professional foreign service fraternity for future graduates of the School of Foreign Service and others in the field.
Later these men joined with seven other interested undergraduates (future brothers Sandager, Butts, Ash, MacKenzie, Brooks, Sullivan, Scott, and Bates) and signed the Articles of Agreement. After choosing a name and nominating officers, Delta Phi Epsilon Foreign Service Fraternity was formally founded at the Catholic Community House at 6th and E Streets, NW, on January 25, 1920. The group was incorporated in the District of Columbia on April 20, 1920. Early expansion focused on both East and West Coast schools. The fraternity's activities and expansion ceased during World War II.[2]
After the war, the fraternity saw even greater expansion into institutions across the United States. and by the 1960s, the fraternity began to see a decline in the number of its chapters.[3] During the 1970s most of the fraternity's collegiate chapters went inactive, leaving only the original Alpha. This decline is attributed to two major factors: a national decline in professional fraternities and a negative perception generally of foreign service. During the Vietnam War, foreign service was closely associated in many minds with current United States foreign policy, which was protested against at many member institutions.[3]
After some attempts during the 1990s, several of these defunct chapters were revived in the 2000s. The Alpha chapter at Georgetown University went defunct but was revived in 1990 after ten years of inactivity and revived again in 1998 after another five years of inactivity.[4] In the summer of 2003, the first reactivation of a inactive chapter, Epsilon chapter at UC Berkeley, occurred. In 2016, the first co-ed chapter, Delta chapter, was founded at USC by Jacob Lokshin and eleven other USC students.[5] This was soon followed by the creation of Pi, Psi, Chi, Eta, Gamma, and Mu chapters.
Alpha chapter was the longest-lived collegiate chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon; its undergraduate officers all resigned in 2018 and suspended all chapter activities in protest to actions of national leadership.[6] The chapter three successive one-person initiations over the succeeding eighteen months. In late February 2020, Alpha initiated the chapter's 200th line of ten initiates, just before the fraternity's 100th Founders' Day Banquet.
Sorority
[edit]In the 1950s, some members suggested that the fraternity accept women.[4] Gregory Creutz (Alpha 1921), national general secretary led the way to a compromise.[4] In 1956 the National Board of Directors of the fraternity created the Delta Phi Epsilon International Society of Business and Foreign Affairs which was to be open to both men and women.[7][4] However, that society failed to develop,[8]
Another movement to make the fraternity coed emerged in the late 1960s.[4] During the 1972 National Convention, members voted to amend the bylaws to admit female members.[4] However, the amendment ultimately failed because the members did not approve it a second time at either of the next two conventions.[4]
In June 1972, the Alpha chapter at Georgetown changed to include both a fraternity and a sorority of the Delta Phi Epsilon Professional Foreign Service.[4] The two groups operated separately when it came to recruiting and initiating members.[4] However, the two groups worked together for professional and social programs.[4]
The Alpha chapter of the sorority held its first initiation on February 24, 1973.[9] A second chapter of the sorority, Epsilon chapter, was founded at UC Berkeley in 2003.
In January 2021, the American University chapter withdrew from the national organization, saying that the national board "was unrepresentative of its values."[10] The group continued as the local organization Sisterhood for International Engagement.[10]
Co-educational
[edit]In 2016, the fraternity's National Convention endorsed a proposal for joint fraternity-sorority projects, including publishing a peer-reviewed Delta Phi Epsilon Journal of Foreign Affairs, operating a scholarship competition for students who had been initiated into Delta Phi Epsilon, and holding an annual symposium promoting alumni and student international relations research. This project developed into the Delta Phi Epsilon Foreign Affairs Council, incorporated and recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization in 2016.[11] The council originally selected its leaders from Delta Phi Epsilon members to support international relations education, promote public engagement in foreign policy, and provide career development tools to Delta Phi Epsilon brothers and sisters.[12]
In 2016, the first co-ed chapter, Delta chapter, was founded at the University of Southern California by Jacob Lokshin and eleven other USC students.[5] The Gamma chapter also merged the sorority and fraternity into a single co-ed chapter in 2016.[13] However, some of the national fraternity's leadership continue to oppose the admission of women.[14]
Symbols
[edit]Delta Phi Epsilon's motto is λατρεύω or "I Serve". Its colors are black and gold. Its flower is the morning glory.
Chapter house
[edit]The fraternity purchased the former Seymour House in Georgetown as a chapter house for $27,500 in 1940.[1] Constructed in 1869 by merchant William E. Seymour, 3401 Prospect Street Northwest was home to the Alpha chapter until 2020.[1] The three-story brick chapter house had fifteen rooms.[1] It is a contributing property to the Georgetown Historic District and became a National Historic Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1967. For decades, the Alpha chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon was the only fraternal organization at Georgetown University with its own house. It was used for keg parties and social events.[1]
During the February 2020 annual meeting of Delta Phi Epsilon, its members voted to sell 3401 Prospect Street for as much money as possible. Alpha chapter's historic house purportedly had to be sold because it was believed that Georgetown University implemented a rule requiring undergraduates to live on campus for four years. A new house might be purchased by the foundation, not the fraternity or the Delta Phi Epsilon corporation. It would be based on a clubhouse model and would be owned by the foundation. It would not be a boarding house and would not be owned by the Delta Phi Epsilon corporation, which had owned 3401 Prospect Street.
Organizational structure and litigation
[edit]Several distinct and separate corporations use the name Delta Phi Epsilon.
Delta Phi Epsilon, Incorporated is a professional foreign service fraternity that is a 501(c)(7) nonprofit corporation. This corporation is a member-based nonprofit corporation. Delta Phi Epsilon is rare, and perhaps unique, among American fraternal organizations in that its membership as a whole does not elect the members of its board of directors. The board is self-appointed. Sitting board members select replacements to fill board seats as seats become vacant.
The Delta Phi Epsilon Foundation for Foreign Service Education is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1960.[1] Its purpose is to give scholarships to students.[1] The foundation raised money from the public but never gave any money for scholarships. In 1990, the Foundation's Treasurer, Terrence J. Boyle, took $150,000 in scholarship funds and used the funds to purchase a house for himself in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. In September 2021, The Washington Post reported about the Attorney General's litigation against the Foundation and its treasurer, Terrence Boyle. The lawsuit was filed before D.C Superior Court. Judge Matini presided over the case. Judge Matini issued an Order on Summary Judgment finding that Boyle and the Foundation violated D.C. nonprofit law.[15] The case settled on November 30, 2023.[16]
Chapters
[edit]In the following list, active chapters are listed in bold and inactive chapters are in italics.[17]
- ^ This chapter was male-only when established. Now, the fraternity and sorority operated as a single co-ed entity.
- ^ The sorority consolidated with the fraternity to form a co-ed chapter.
- ^ Originally formed from the local Seven Seas Club
- ^ Chartered as a male-only chapter. It became co-ed when it was re-established in 2016.
- ^ Originally formed from the local Pacific Foreign Tradesmen organization
- ^ This chapter was established as male-only. It became co-ed sometime after 2003.
- ^ This chapter merged with the fraternity to create a co-ed chapter.
- ^ This chapter was formed from the local organization, the Cosmos Club of the University of Detroit
- ^ This chapter was created from the local fraternity Delta Phi.
- ^ This chapter ceased operations during World War II.
- ^ This chapter began as the local group American Institute for Foreign Trade, also known as the Foreign Trade Club.
- ^ This chapter disaffiliated from the national organization in 2021, becoming the local group Sisterhood for International Engagement.
Notable members
[edit]The fraternity initiates Line Brothers, those who pledge when they are students, and National Brothers, mostly those already out of school who only go through the required final initiation ritualistic ceremonies.
Member misconduct
[edit]Scandals
[edit]In July 2018, The Chronicle of Higher Education published several accounts of student and alumni fraternity members, accusing Terrence Boyle of sexism and bigotry.[14] Boyle has served as the fraternity's general secretary for nearly 40 years, controlled the alumni newsletter, and oversaw pledge recruitment for the Alpha chapter.[1] Charges included making the sorority members clean the bedrooms and wash the socks of the fraternity members.[14] In addition, no females had held national leadership positions.[6] In the article and in a petition shortly following it, leaders from most fraternity chapters, along with many non-DPE Fraternity members, called for Boyle's resignation.[78][79] In August 2018, the Alpha chapter officers resigned and closed the chapter's activities after Georgetown University's student newspaper, The Hoya, published an opinion piece authored by presidents of Eta, Chi, and Pi chapters calling for Georgetown students to boycott Alpha chapter.[80][81] Boyle appointed new student leadership for the Alpha chapter from outside of Georgetown; however, several of the fraternity's other chapters indicated that they would not recognize this new leadership.[6]
D.C. attorney general litigation
[edit]On June 1, 2020, Terrence J. Boyle, the Treasurer of DPE, Inc., donated Alpha House to a separate corporation named the Delta Phi Epsilon Foundation for Foreign Service Education. In 2021, the District of Columbia Attorney General, Karl Racine, filed a case against Mr. Boyle, the Foundation for Foreign Service Education and the Delta Phi Epsilon corporation.[1] The complaint alleged that Mr. Boyle unlawfully used charitable funds belonging to the Foundation for Foreign Service Education to buy a house on 34th Street NW in 1990.[82][1] In addition, Boyle sold the fraternity's chapter house for $2.6 million when it was appraised for $4 million.[1] Mr. Boyle, the Treasurer of DPE, and Matthew W. Schmidt, the President of DPE, secretly transferred ownership of the fraternity house from the fraternity to the Foundation. Mr. Boyle was the treasurer of both organizations. This was deemed a conflict of interest.
Journalists Fredrick Kunkle and Jonetta Rose Barras published several articles about the scandals. In January 2022, Brian Schwalb become the second elected attorney General of the District of Columbia. In April 2022, the Office of the Attorney General filed a motion for summary judgment in the case. In September 2021, D.C. Superior Court issued an Order for Partial Summary Judgment. The court ruled that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties. The Order was signed by D.C. Superior Court Judge, Judge Shana Frost Matini.
On November 30, 2023, the D.C. Office of the Attorney General and the three defendants signed a Consent Judgment, which was approved by the D.C. Superior Court. Under the terms of the Consent Judgment, Mr. Boyle was required to make a restitution payment in the amount of $100,000.[83] Mr. Boyle was barred for 10 years from being an officer, director, trustee or employee of any nonprofit organizations operating in the District of Columbia. Matthew W. Schmidt was barred from being a director of DPE in the future.[16]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kunkle, Fredrick (September 14, 2021). "D.C. attorney general accuses Delta Phi Epsilon member of using group's charitable funds for himself". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Part IV of Delta Phi Epsilon History". www.deltaphiepsilon.net. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ a b "Our History". Delta Phi Epsilon Epsilon chapter- UC Berkeley. February 11, 2009. Archived from the original on December 26, 2008. Retrieved February 26, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Sorority". Delta Phi Epsilon Alpha chapter. November 2008. Retrieved February 26, 2009.
- ^ a b "USC Delta Phi Epsilon — Background".
- ^ a b c Doherty, Erin; Paz, Christian (September 7, 2018). "After DPE Resignations, Leader Withholds New Board Names". The Hoya. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ "Inter Society". Deltaphiepsilon.net. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "History". DPE Sorority. 2015. Archived from the original on August 22, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
- ^ "Sorority". Deltaphiepsilon.net. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ a b c Bell, Zoe (February 23, 2021). "AU Delta Phi Epsilon members disaffiliate, establish nonprofit chapter". The Eagle. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
- ^ "About the Society | Delta Phi Epsilon Foreign Affairs Council". www.dpeforeignaffairs.org. Archived from the original on December 31, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ "Our Work | Delta Phi Epsilon Foreign Affairs Council". www.dpeforeignaffairs.org. Archived from the original on December 31, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ a b c "ΔΦΕ". ΔΦΕ. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ a b c "No 'Frasorority' for Him: Citing Sexism, Members of Foreign-Service Fraternity Rebel Against Leader". The Chronicle of Higher Education. July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
- ^ "Judge Rules Against Delta Phi Epsilon, Terrence Boyle | The Georgetowner". October 11, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
- ^ a b "Attorney General Schwalb Resolves Three Cases Involving Violations of DC Nonprofit Laws". oag.dc.gov. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
- ^ Delta Phi Epsilon Chapter Roll
- ^ "Delta Phi Epsilon History Part I". www.deltaphiepsilon.net. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Delta Phi Epsilon Professional Foreign Service Sorority". www.deltaphiepsilon.net. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ "Delta Phi Epsilon". Delta Phi Epsilon. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ "Our Story and Lines". Delta Phi Epsilon. Archived from the original on August 22, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ "Delta Phi Epsilon History Part II". www.deltaphiepsilon.net. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Delta Phi Epsilon History Part III". www.deltaphiepsilon.net. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ "USC Delta Phi Epsilon — Background". USC Delta Phi Epsilon. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ "Epsilon_VI_Directory". www.deltaphiepsilon.net. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ a b "Delta Phi Epsilon | UC Berkeley". June 25, 2022. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Eta_VI_Directory". www.deltaphiepsilon.net. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ "Who We Are". DPE Professional Foreign Service Fraternity at GWU. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ "About Us: History". Delta Phi Epsilon Foreign Service Sorority. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ "Delta Phi Epsilon Professional Foreign Service Sorority Mu Chapter, Michigan State University". deltphie. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ "Welcome to DPE at JMU!". DPE - Chi Chapter. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
- ^ "Alpha Alumni Directory II". Deltaphiepsilon.net. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Bob Barr for Congress | Georgia's 11th District". Bobbarr.org. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Derek Bok | Harvard University". Harvard.edu. Archived from the original on August 13, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Hevesi, Dennis (2007-12-18). "St. Clair Bourne, Filmmaker, Dies at 64". The New York Times
- ^ "Charles Coulombe". McAlister Arts. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Michael R Czinkota". Explore.georgetown.edu. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Roderic H. Davison, 79, Dies; Professor of History at GWU". The Washington Post (HighBeam Research). 26 March 1996. Retrieved 2012-07-30
- ^ "Delta_II_Directory". Deltaphiepsilon.net. Archived from the original on October 31, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "James F. Dobbins - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". History.state.gov. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Lev E. Dobriansky, 89; Professor and Foe of Communism". Washingtonpost.com. February 6, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Thomas J. Dodd - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". History.state.gov. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Walter Joseph Donnelly - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov.
- ^ "Alpha Alumni Directory I". Deltaphiepsilon.net. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Doug Sterner. "Photo of Medal of Honor Recipient Don Carlos Faith". Homeofheroes.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Evan Griffith Galbraith - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". History.state.gov. July 15, 1985. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ a b "Eta_VI_Directory". Deltaphiepsilon.net. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Edward William Gnehm - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". History.state.gov. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "The American Academy of Diplomacy - Holmes". Academyofdiplomacy.org. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "President Emeritus of Mount St. Mary's University Dies". Emmitsburg.net. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "John, Eric G". State.gov. June 26, 2013. Archived from the original on July 13, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Alpha Alumni Directory II". Deltaphiepsilon.net. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "President Obama Announces Jan Karski as a Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom | The White House". whitehouse.gov. April 23, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2014 – via National Archives.
- ^ "Alpha Alumni Directory IV". Deltaphiepsilon.net. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "KNOWLAND, William Fife - Biographical Information". Bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Flashpoint". Flashpoint-intel.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Lavin, Frank L". 2001-2009.state.gov. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Edward Burnett Lawson - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". History.state.gov. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Cordwainer Smith and His Remarkable Science Fiction". Cordwainer-smith.com. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Eric Pace (November 17, 1997). "Douglas MacArthur 2d, 88, Former Ambassador to Japan". The New York Times. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "MACHROWICZ, Thaddeus Michael - Biographical Information". Bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Office of the Vice President : Meeting with United States Ambassador to Mauritius, Philip W. Manhard" (PDF). Fordlibrarymuseum.gov. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Deltaphiepsilon.net. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Thelema Lodge Calendar for August 1999 e.v". Billheidrick.com. September 2, 1908. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Nicholas Onuf | Department of Politics & International Relations". Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- ^ "O'TOOLE, Donald Lawrence - Biographical Information". Bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "The Homepage of Dr. Ibrahim M. Oweiss". www9.georgetown.edu.
- ^ "Faculty". explore.georgetown.edu.
- ^ "Earl C. Ravenal | Cato Institute". Cato.org. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Best Sellers Plus". The New York Times. January 24, 1999.
- ^ "Former Ambassador Claude G. Ross, 88". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Abdul Aziz Said (April 3, 2012). "Profile Abdul Said". American.edu. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "SANDAGER, Harry - Biographical Information". Bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "News - Robert Scalapino, In Memoriam - Institute of East Asian Studies, UC Berkeley". Ieas.Berkeley.edu. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ [1] Archived January 31, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "ASU Directory Profile: Mark Von Hagen". Webapp4.asu.edu. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ UPI (July 10, 1964), Dr. Vonkleinsmid of U.S.G., 79, Dead; President, 1921-46, Was an Expert on World Affairs. The New York Times.
- ^ "Foreign service fraternity members accuse national leader of sexism". The GW Hatchet. July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
- ^ "Official Updates". Delta Phi Epsilon Pi chapter. Archived from the original on July 28, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
- ^ Lama, Andrew; Shaver, James; Wani, Shima; Young, Stephen (August 29, 2018). "LAMA, WANI, SHAVER & YOUNG: Don't Join Our Fraternity". The Hoya. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- ^ Doherty, Erin; Paz, Christian (September 1, 2018). "Georgetown DPE Board Resigns in Protest of Boyle's Leadership". The Hoya. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
- ^ Attorney General, District of Columbia (June 3, 2021). "Press Release: AG Racine Sues Officer of Two Nonprofits for Abusing His Authority for Decades & Diverting Charitable Funds for Personal Benefit". TheDCLine.org. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
- ^ "Attorney General Settles With Former Georgetown Frat Boss for $100K | The Georgetowner". December 18, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
- Student organizations established in 1920
- Professional fraternities and sororities in the United States
- Georgetown University student organizations
- New York University
- George Washington University
- University of the Pacific (United States)
- University of California, Berkeley
- American University
- 1920 establishments in Washington, D.C.