(Left to right) Jack Fitzpatrick and Nico Blanco study on the porch of the Phi Tal fraternity house, at the University of Mississippi, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014. DM photo |Payton Teffner
Members of the dissolved Sigma Phi Epsilon were able to disaffiliate from their fraternity and join other fraternities on campus following the closure of the Mississippi Alpha Chapter last spring. Many of the members chose to join Phi Kappa Tau, a fraternity that, before this year, had been one of the smallest fraternities on campus.
President of Phi Kappa Tau Jake Martin said he knew many of the Sig Ep members who were not involved in the issues that closed the fraternity house’s doors last year.
“Like many fraternities on campus, Phi Kappa Tau actives knew many of the Sig Ep members who had not been involved in the incident on campus that caused the charter to be revoked,” Martin said. “Conversations between the friends led to the opportunity for these men to become associated with Phi Tau.”
The university was informed of the possibility of many of the former members moving to Phi Tau, and details were worked out between the Phi Tau National President and the National Sig Ep organization to release any person from the organization seeking to do so. This provided former members the opportunity to join Phi Tau.
According to Martin, there is no concern about having former members from a chapter which was closed on campus for events infamous nationally.
“None of those now associated with Phi Tau were involved in the actions of February 2014,” said Martin. “However, that experience has served as a wakeup call to members of our fraternity, as it should to all on this campus, and moved us closer as a group.”
Conner Skufca is one of the former Sig Eps who joined Phi Tau and said he’s enjoyed the transition so far.
“We all obviously miss a lot of the older guys who chose not to join in for their respected reasons,” Skufca said. “The big thing, however, was keeping most of us together, which we achieved.”
He also noted that they have received a lot of support from current members, alumni and nationals.
With direction from alumni and parents organizations, Martin said Phi Tau is implementing a series of program topics designed to address issues that are seen every day on campus. These will include racial and gender discriminations, alcohol and substance abuse and suicide prevention.
