1. Why should I join TKE?
2. How can I become a member of TKE?
3. What kinds of leadership positions are available for Freshmen?
4. What makes TKE different from other Fraternities?
5. What does TKE do for community service? Is it mandatory?
6. Will the Fraternity take up a lot of my time?
7. Does TKE participate in any sports as a Fraternity?
8. Does TKE socialize with Sororities?
9. Does TKE practice hazing?
10. I’ve heard that my grades will deteriorate once I join the Fraternity. Is this true?
11. Does TKE receive a lot of support from its alumni?
12. Do the guys in TKE party all the time?
Have a question you don’t see in the list above? Don’t be shy to ask.
Six Reasons to Join the TKE Nation
Scholarship Tau Kappa Epsilon expects serious attention to academic performance. A strong academic record not only prepares members for success after graduation, but it also helps them strengthen their mind to the world. TKE will help its members excel in their academic life and assist in their pursuits afterward.
Character TKE teaches the basic principles of effective living such as integrity, honesty and patience, which are core values in Tau Kappa Epsilon. Generations of men have become successful in life through their experiences in Tau Kappa Epsilon.
Leadership TKE offers your men the opportunity to develop as leaders and prepares them to use those leadership skills during their lifetime. Tekes are encouraged to take an active leadership role in community, campus, and chapter activities.
Teamwork Tau Kappa Epsilon believes that the backbone of a successful team is based on building relationships, and developing strong interpersonal ties. TKE helps our members reach their full potential, and achieve a level of excellence in every activity in which they engage.
Service TKE is committed to instilling a sense of responsibility and contribution in all of our members. The Fraternity encourages members to provide service to their campus and community through philanthropic activities.
Brotherhood In Tau Kappa Epsilon more than 245,890 men have established solid friendships that last a lifetime. Tekes around the world act as a network of friends, which can be very beneficial both personally and professionally to our members.
Beginning Wednesday, August 20th prospective members will have a unique opportunity to experience “the row” (28th Street). In these first few days known more casually as “Pre-rush” prospective members will enjoy nightly social events and gain an understanding of what TKE is all about. The first week of school is official Rush week. Rushees will have the opportunity to learn more about TKE brotherhood off the USC campus in fun social events. This week culminates in a “blue chip” dinner and finally a bid night. Current TKE members evaluate which prospectives best have the potential to embody TKE values and character and those individuals receive a bid. Then begins the pledge semester in which we individually and collectively pledge our unreserved allegiance.
TKE offers men the opportunity to develop as leaders and prepares them to use those leadership skills during their lifetime. During the pledge semester the pledge class elects their pledge brothers to hold positions that mirror the positions of active brothers of TKE. This includes President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Sergeant-at-Arms.
Since our founding in 1899, Tau Kappa Epsilon has always seen itself as different from other social fraternities. This perception has led TKE to become the world’s largest international fraternity. Our founders felt that fraternities had degenerated from institutions of scholarly attainment to mere social clubs. Our founders started an organization whose avowed purpose was to aid college men in mental moral, and social develpment, and that is a mission we have not strayed from. Our mission is no different than it was in 1899 and the challenge is no less intimidating. Building better men is what TKE has always been about. For nearly 100 years, Tau Kappa Epsilon has been building better men. Taking young men and building them into young leaders. Leaders who are prepared to face the world complete with a set of values and beliefs that add a distinctive advantage to a man’s efforts throughout his life. We have always based our membership not for wealth, rank, or honor, but for personal worth and character. One only needs to read the Declaration of Principles to understand what Tau Kappa Epsilon stands for.
Each year, TKE holds a major philanthropy event on the USC campus that benefits a charity. The entire fraternity partakes in the event. Past events include sorority volleyball tournaments, and Dribble for the Cure, a charity event held by the USC Men’s Basketball Team to benefit the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. Furthermore, TKE joines forces with the rest of the Greek community in events throughout the year, namely, the annual spring beach cleanup day.
Time management takes on a completely different meaning in college.You now have so much available time on your hands that you can either use or waste. TKE’s new member program not only teaches you how to manage that time, but also how to get the most out of every day. As with any organization you will get out of it what you put into it, and the rewards will vary depending on the drive that you have. Our goal is to make you a better man. The time you spend perfecting that goal will not be taking up time, but will instead be the most important time you’ve ever spent.
Over the course of each school year, TKE participates in an all-row Inter-Fraternity athletic competition called Ironman, which consists of a variety of major and minor sports that are each scored based on each Fraternity’s final rank. The Fraternity with the most overall points at the conclusion of the school year is crowned Ironman Champion. TKE has won this competition 12 out of the last 14 years, and prides itself on the success herein. Major sports such as Basketball, Flag Football, Volleyball, and Soccer, are played over the course of several weeks, concluding in a playoff and subsequent championship game, while minor sports, like Dodgeball and Ultimate Frisbee, are played in a single-day tournament.
Tau Kappa Epsilon is greatly involved with interacting with Sororities on Campus. There are a multitude of events that allows our pledges to meet sorority girls. We have biweekly barbeques, invites, and exchanges. Each semester we hold 2-3 exchanges, during which our entire house “asks out” a sorority and goes to a spectacular venue somewhere in the greater Los Angeles area for a meal, socializing, dancing and an awesome time. We also participate in a competition each year called Songfest, for which we also pair with a single sorority and practice together for weeks leading up to the competition.
No. Tau Kappa Epsilon’s new member program teaches new members about the history of the Greek system, the history of TKE, the history of Beta Sigma Chapter, and how we fit into this system. It allows young men to become young leaders through motivational and instructional programs and activities. The Apollo Program gets you on your way to success and facets of it will continue with you for the rest of your life. Tau Kappa Epsilon Sponsors the Greek Anti-Hazing Hotline: 1-888-NOT-HAZE
The academic success you make in your first few semesters at college will largely limit or expand your future options. It’s always easier to maintain a GPA than to raise one. TKE provides academic support from the very start with the New Member Program, your Big Brother, Chapter and Academic Advisors, Chapter Chaplain and Educator, tutoring sessions, and much more. Along with all the adjustments you’ll be making during your first few months at college the last thing you want to worry about is poor academic performance. If you want to know where TKE is going then look at where it’s been. The Beta Sigma Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon has maintained a superb academic record in the past, and will continue to do so in the future. Academic success is simply opportunity meeting hard work, and TKE will give you that opportunity.
The Beta Sigma (USC) chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon is consistently ranked in the top ten of the Fraternity’s 444 chapters, thus receiving immense national, and local alumni support. Currently, the alumni are funding the construction of an enormous additional house east to our original house. We will be able to enjoy the unsurpassed amenities and luxuries of TKE East in September of 2008. Additionally, the Beta Sigma alumni association funds a “Teke Tent” for each home football game, at which active members can enjoy an amazing pre-game meal and network with fellow Teke’s.
Because Tau Kappa Epsilon is a “social” fraternity many people have taken that to mean simply “partying.” Part of becoming a socially mature adult involves interaction with those around you, and TKE holds several social events throughout the course of the school year to aid in that development. You don’t have to belong to a fraternity to party, but the risk you take by mixing people in unfamiliar and uncontrolled environments can be costly. The rumors that you have heard or clips from Animal House simply do not exist within our chapter. We follow specific Risk management guidelines which are designed to allow everyone to have fun, but without any unfortunate side effects. TKE has created a social fraternity that defines “social” not simply as parties and celebration, but rather one in which celebrations and parties are the rewards for our successes. We hold several dances and formal events which have taken Teke’s and their dates from Riverboat cruises to Hotel Ballrooms. Each social event we hold optimizes enjoyment and reduces risk.