TKE Opens New Chapter

Founded in 1899, Tau Kappa Epsilon is an international fraternity which is now making its way onto the University of Tampa campus this semester.

According to their website, the fraternity was created for men to be able to “come together for their mission of helping each other’s mental, moral and social development for life.”

In their pamphlet they also mention that the fraternity is based on the “six pillars of scholarship”: character, leadership, teamwork, service and brotherhood.

According to TKE expansion coordinator Aaron Pattison, who is working on building the local chapter here at UT, “It was started… by five guys who had no money or prestige.”

With 274 active chapters in America and Canada, Pattison says it is the world’s largest international fraternity.

The fraternity is “about people who are morally sound” and it “provides guys an opportunity for their life after college.”

Pattison believes that one of the greatest things about the fraternity is the people.

“We want a different variety of people,” said Pattison. “We want to be different.”

One of the benefits of having a variety of people from different races, ages, majors, etc. is that they can all help one another become well-rounded and be there to help any of the members.

The Director for Programs for TKE, Donnie Aldrich added, “It is a great opportunity to find out what it is like in the ‘real world’ and for anyone who wants to build a life. It is a great way for people to learn from each other.”

Aldrich explained that two of the main focuses of TKE are service and philanthropy.

Their national philanthropic organization is St. Jude’s Hospital. They plan on participating in any and all philanthropic events hosted by campus organizations that are open for participation and plan on developing their own events.

They began recruiting members at UT on January 14 and will continue doing so for six weeks.

After recruiting the chapter organization, training and initiation will begin. They will talk with interested members and set up interviews.

“We plan on officially colonizing in early February and to charter as an organization in record time,” said Pattison.

“Professional staff will be on campus all semester at different times.

“We want our organization to have the best possible start on campus.”

Austin Talley is a member of the chapter and a transfer student to UT.

“It helps to have someone with a little bit of experience when creating a new chapter,” said Aldrich.

Pattison is optimistic about the new chapter. “Their chapter is a blank canvas. They can make it whatever they want it to be.”

For more information about Tau Kappa Epsilon, log on to http://www.jointke.org and to learn more about the chapter at UT, contact Aaron Pattison at apattison@tke.org.

Shivani Kanji can be reached at shivani.kanji@spartans.ut.edu.