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Gamma Phi Gamma
ΓΦΓ
Founded1907; 117 years ago (1907)
Wilmington College
TypeSocial
AffiliationIndependent
StatusActive
ScopeLocal
Colors  Blue and   White
Chapters1
Members1,200+ lifetime
NicknameGobblers
Headquarters673 Fife Ave
Wilmington, Ohio 45177
United States

Gamma Phi Gamma (ΓΦΓ) is a local social fraternity at Wilmington College in Ohio. It was established in 1907.

History

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In 1907, college student Herbert Hayes had the idea of starting a secret society for the male students of Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio.[1] Hayes shared his idea with John Carey, Henry J. Linton, and Charles Starbuck who were Wilmington, Ohio residents.[2][1][3] Gamma Phi Gamma was established at Wilmington College in 1907.[4][5] It was one of the first secret societies or fraternities acknowledged by Wilmington College.[6]

The membership of Gamma Phi Gamma was originally limited to four people.[1] When Hayes graduated in 1909, Charles Doan became the campus leader of the fraternity.[1] Later members included Herbert Sanders and Edwin J. Bath.[1] Bath was responsible for getting Wilmington College president Albert J. Brown to recognize the fraternity as a campus organization.[1]

Gamma Phi Gamma had initiated more than forty members by 1917.[1] During World War I, the fraternity helped raise money to support soldiers.[7][8] After the war, the fraternity continued to grow.[1] It went temporarily inactive during World War II, reactivating in the fall of 1944.[9]

By 1945, it was the oldest and largest fraternity at Wilmington College.[3] The fraternity moved to a house at 403 East Locust Street in 1945.[3]

The fraternity established the Gamma Phi Gamma Foundation, run by fraternity alumni.[1][10] Gamma Phi Gamma initiated its 1,000th member in 1992.[2][1]

For its 85th anniversary in 1992, the fraternity published a book about its history.[10] As part of its anniversary celebration, the fraternity installed a 23 feet (7.0 m) flag at its chapter house.[11] The flag pole's foundation included a time capsule and the names of seven alumni.[11] Its first flag flown was provided by Congressman Bob McEwan.[11]

On April 26, 1999, the fraternity's house was significantly damaged by fire.[10] It was reopened In March 2000.[10]

The fraternity has initiated more that 1,200 members by 2013.[5] Gamma Phi Gamma was banned from the Wilmington College campus in January 2014 until at least 2019 for a 2013 hazing incident.[12][13][14] Gamma Phi Gamma was reinstated at the college in 2022.[15] It claims to be America's oldest surviving local fraternity.[4]

Symbols and traditions

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The nickname of Gamma Phi Gamma is The Gobblers.[5] The fraternity's off-campus chapter house is called the "Gobbler House".[16][17] The house includes a time capsule within its stone fireplace with a time capsule; engraved on the time capsule is "East West Home is Best".[10] It is located at 673 Fife Avenue in Wilmington.[11]

The fraternity's mission is "To pledge men who would promote their core values: brotherhood and sociability."[5] The fraternity's colors are blue and white.[18]

Misconduct and scandals

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  • In May 1922, the fraternity's pledges walked the streets of Wilmington in costume as part of their "pledge term workouts".[19] They were dressed as ditch diggers, waiters, and Russian Cossacks.[19]
  • In 2000, the college suspended the fraternity for a hazing incident.[4]
  • In 2013, Tyler Lawrence, a Gamma Phi Gamma pledge, was injured in a Halloween hazing incident, resulting in the loss of a testicle.[4][13][12] Court testimony indicated that the pledges were "blindfolded, told to strip, had their mouths stuffed with limburger cheese and [were] hit with “towels and shirts that had the ends balled up in knots” or which had items tied inside to inflict pain".[17] The naked pledges were also "covered in an Icy-Hot-like substance and told to make sexually explicit motions while being whipped with towels."[20] Gamma Phi Gamma was banned from the Wilmington College campus in January 2014.[12][13][4] In May 2014, fourteen members of the fraternity were arrested for their involvement in the hazing incident.[21][14] However, Lawrence stated that this was a "freak accident", not hazing.[22][23] Seven fraternity members pled guilty to the hazing charges.[24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j McNemar, Bob (1992-04-24). "Gobblers to Celebrate 85th Anniversary". Wilmington News-Journal. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-03-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "A Few Subjects". Wilmington News-Journal. 1992-04-09. p. 4. Retrieved 2024-03-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c "Social Happenings". The Press Gazette. Hillsboro, Ohio. 1945-01-12. p. 4. Retrieved 2024-03-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d e Kingkade, Tyler (3 January 2014). "'Nation's Oldest Local Fraternity' Permanently Banned By Wilmington College After Pledge Lost Testicle". Huffington Post. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d Pant, Meagan (November 29, 2013). "Debate rages over hazing incident at Wilmington College". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  6. ^ "History and Tradition". Wilmington College (Wilmington, Ohio). Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  7. ^ "Money Donated to Xmas Fund; More to Come". The Cincinnati Post. 1917-12-15. p. 10. Retrieved 2024-03-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "On Thanksgiving". The Cincinnati Enquirer. 1917-11-18. p. 53. Retrieved 2024-03-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Gobblers Plan Banquet for Alumni, Actives". Wilmington News-Journal. 1946-04-17. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-03-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Gobblers Open House April 8". Wilmington News-Journal. 2000-03-30. p. 15. Retrieved 2024-03-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b c d McNemar, Bob (1992-09-01). "New Sight at Gobblers". Wilmington News-Journal. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-03-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b c Pant, Meagan. "Historic fraternity no longer recognized following hazing incident". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  13. ^ a b c Associated Press (2015-03-20). "Ohio fraternity booted for hazing incident that required surgery". Fox News. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  14. ^ a b "14 charged in Ohio fraternity hazing incident". Times Recorder. May 30, 2014. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  15. ^ "Greek Life". Wilmington College (Wilmington, Ohio). Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  16. ^ Kimble, Julian (May 31, 2014). "Over a Dozen Fraternity Members Charged for Incident That Left Pledge Without a Testicle". Complex. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  17. ^ a b Strauss, Valerie (November 12, 2013). "Fraternity pledge loses testicle in hazing stunt". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  18. ^ "Gamma Phi Gamma". Wilmington News-Journal. 1923-03-31. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-03-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b "No, the Circus Isn't in Town". Wilmington News-Journal. 1922-05-16. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-03-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Westerholm, Russell (2014-01-04). "Wilmington College's 106-Year-Old Gamma Phi Gamma Fraternity to Permanently Lose Recognition Following Hazing Incident". University Herald. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  21. ^ "Authorities: 14 people facing charges in fraternity pledging incident". WLWT 5. 2014-05-30. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  22. ^ Dicker, Ron (2013-11-08). "Frat Pledge Loses Testicle In Hazing Ritual". HuffPost. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  23. ^ Hamrick, Brian (2013-11-05). "Wilmington College conducting hazing investigation after student hurt". WLWT 5. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  24. ^ Huffenberger, Gary (2014-09-27). "Man to Dispute His Hazing Charge". Wilmington News-Journal. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-03-22 – via Newspapers.com.
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