Tau Kappa Epsilon

Websites

UCB Chapter: www.tkenu.com

Year Founded

UCB Chapter: 1919

Additional Information

Chapter Summary/Information: Tau Kappa Epsilon was founded on the principles of Love, Charity, and Esteem for fellow brothers in the Bond. What that means is that we work together to model the six pillars of our fraternity. We believe that an undergraduate can exceed later in life if he focuses on Scholarship, Character, Leadership, Teamwork, Service, and Brotherhood. These six pillars are guide the undergraduate members of our fraternity to become well rounded individuals that are better prepared for the future. Our creed is “Not for Wealth, Rank, or Honor but for Personal Worth and Character.” We do believe that wealth, rank, or honor is any basis on which to judge and individual and their background or prestige has no bearing on the qualities of an individual. Tau Kappa Epsilon was the first fraternity to not include a discrimination clause in its founding Constitution. We believe that all men are equal and have the right to not be judged based on their wealth or the color of their skin. Our Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon was the first Chapter established west of the Mississippi. Our Chapter was founded in 1919. We have a lot of history in our house from which we constantly are learning from and more importantly it gives us a huge alumni network with alumni being involved since establishment in 1919. What sets TKE apart from other fraternities is that TKE seeks to aid men in the mental, moral, and social development throughout their lifetime. Tau Kappa Epsilon gives its members the opportunity to expand mentally through seminars about leadership and resume building. TKE offers moral development through the encouragement of community service. TKE gives its members the ability to grow socially by learning how to communicate with other men and women to build friendships and relationships.. We hold socials and brotherhood events to help build bonds that will last. These are only some of the ways that TKE can help develop its members into better men and improve their quality of life.

Message from the President: Greetings to all UC Undergraduates! I am guessing that many of you don’t have the best perception of fraternities. And I believe that you probably have good reasons for that, too. However, I would urge you to take a look at the Greek system at UC Berkeley and hopefully some of those stereotypes will be turned around. The Greek community as a whole is a largely proactive community when it comes to community service and philanthropy. Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity prides itself on helping the community or raising money for our philanthropy, The Alzheimer’s Association. TKE is not the typical fraternity that you see in the movies. Our members are not looking to get drunk every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. Our members care about their scholastics and we are looking for new members that can bring something to our chapter. That something could be outstanding academics, or a heavy background in leadership, or it could be someone that is involved in a big brother program. TKE might be the most diverse house on campus and we love the fact that our members come from different backgrounds and are pursuing different majors and aren’t all of the same mold. We are looking for new men that can help our chapter grow. New men that can bring their experience to the table and teach others that experience. If you aren’t sold on the idea of fraternities, all I am asking is that you stop by TKE during Rush Week or at some point during the semester, grab a free meal and meet the guys that make up the house. If by that point you still think it is not for you then we won’t come chasing after you. But I am confident after meeting any of our members you might think twice about the stereotypes of fraternities that even I once believed were true. Feel free to contact me, Dustin McKenzie, at dmckenzie@tkenu.com or either Rush Chair, Drew Flood or Ryan Jensen, at rush@tkenu.com. I hope to see you soon. Best regards, Dustin McKenzie President, TKE

Annual Events: Battle of the Bands for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | The Decline of Western Civilization Halloween Party | Red Carnation Ball Formal

Chapter Philanthropy: Our primary philanthropy is St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Their mission is to find cures to the most catastrophic diseases affecting children and to treat them under the same roof, regardless of their family's ability to pay for treatment. We also volunteer weekly at the Berkeley Food and Housing Project.

Chapter History: The beginnings of Tau Kappa Epsilon’s long presence at the University of California, Berkeley, can be traced back to November 17, 1913, when a group of Cal students organized the Sequoyah Club “to promote such educational and social activities as are synonymous with the best that a University education should afford.” Gentlemen’s clubs were popular at the time, and following a brief period when its members served in World War I, the Sequoyah Club grew to a large and prosperous organization. In the spring of 1919 its members, led by the legendary Sophus C. Goth, decided to petition a National Fraternity for a charter. Because Tau Kappa Epsilon appeared the hardest to get, the members decided it was the one they should go for. At the time, all twelve TKE chapters were located in the Midwest, and Sequoyah’s first two petitions were rejected on grounds that it was simply too far away to be governed properly by National. But the California men persisted and were rewarded with victory on their third try. On October 4, 1919, their club became Nu chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon, the first on the West Coast.

Contact Information: President: Curtis Hendrickson, chendrickson@tkenu.com | Recruitment Chairman: Eric Tye, Andrew Henning, and Barrett Glasauer, rush@tkenu.com

Address: 2725 Channing Way Berkeley, CA 94704

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