83 years of Pi Alpha Phi
February 1st, 2012 
Today on February 1st, 1929, six young Chinese American men, Elmer Leong, George Lee, D. Wing Tom, Tim Jang, Wing Chan, and Chack Chan signed their names in both English and Chinese onto the Pi Alpha Phi charter and became Founding Fathers of our great fraternity.
The Founding Fathers of Pi Alpha Phi were all born in America with the exception of Wing Chan, who came from China at an early age. In 1928, these men faced many challenges because of their Asian heritage. It was then that these enterprising men conceived the idea to form a fraternity to serve the several hundred students of Chinese descent at the University of California, Berkeley.
Discrimination was prevalent against those of Asian descent. Asians were prohibited to rent or buy property in the neighborhoods surrounding the UC Berkeley campus. The group eventually found Mary “Mother” Tusch, an elderly German immigrant sympathetic to their situation. She rented them a small, obscure cottage behind her home on Union Street, across the street from campus.
It was at this cottage that the initial meeting took place. Dong Wing Tom was chosen as the Charter President. Wing C. Chan was elected Treasurer. Chack W. Chan became the first House Manager. George Y. Lee was elected Secretary. Elmer Leong was designated Student Counselor and Charter Historian.
As Charter Historian, it was Elmer Leong’s responsibility to name the fraternity. In keeping with the traditional practice of using Greek letters for all fraternities, he chose Pi Alpha Phi, which was derived from the initials of a Greek phrase, which loosely translated means: “To advance through brotherly ties, the thirst for learning”.
Several of the early symbols of the fraternity were agreed upon:
The six stars represent the six charter members.
The interlocked crescents represent the perpetuation of fraternal bonds.
The sword and book reminds us that although we are primarily scholars, the sword is the symbol of power. Combined with knowledge, working together in any common worthwhile goal, we have power.
“The Purpose of the Fraternity is to encourage higher scholastic achievements in the Light of Truth, and to promote that Bond of Brotherhood.”
On February 1, 1929, the six men signed their names in both English and Chinese onto the Pi Alpha Phi charter and became Founding Fathers of the fledging fraternity.
The Pi Alpha Phi Legacy was Born. 83 years and strong.
Berkeley alumnus Richard Din has been researching the fraternity’s history and unearthing interesting stories and clues to the fraternity’s past.