Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawai'ian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Pi Alpha Phi, first Asian American fraternity

Pi Alpha Phi Fraternity, established February 1, 1929 at the University of California at Berkeley, was the first Asian American interest fraternity.  At the time, UC-Berkeley fraternities typically discriminated against men of color, so three students decided to start a fraternity for the several hundred students of Chinese descent enrolled there. 

The fraternity encouraged its members to learn Asian-American culture, heritage, and history.  Pi Alpha Phi became national when Beta chapter was established at Stony Brook University in 1990.  By 2014, it had expanded to ten chapters, an associate chapter, and six colonies.

Unfortunately, in 2020, its National Board of directors put a moratorium on chapter activities after multiple reports of sexual misconduct.  In November 2021, a pledge died after a hazing incident and three people were hospitalized.  The fraternity announced the closure of all chapters in August 2023.