Phi Society

The Phi Society is a social, secret, Greek-letter fraternity located at the University of Virginia. Another similarly named organization, the Phi Society of 1883 exists at The University of the South. Although both organizations were created by former members of Phi Delta Theta, the Phi Society and the Phi Society of 1883 are unrelated.
History
The Phi Society traces its roots to the Virginia Beta chapter of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity which was founded at the University of Virginia on November 18, 1873.
The chapter lasted at the University for some 127 years when a dispute between the members and the fraternity headquarters in Oxford, Ohio caused the organizations to part ways. Phi Delta Theta initiated a dry-housing initiative and gave every chapter 2 years to implement the new policy. The alumni of the Virginia Beta chapter subsequently rejected the initiative. Following further disputes, the Virginia Beta chapter was asked to adhere to the dry-housing policy immediately. When it refused to comply, its charter was revoked. The chapter and its alumni voted to proceed without the headquarters and renamed itself Phi Delta Alpha, and later, Phi Society. It remains thus to this day.
Another chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Sewanee, The University of the South, also separated, calling themselves the Phi Society of 1883. The reference to 1883 points to the year in which the chapter was founded. Although Virginia’s chapter was founded just 10 years before and the names of the two organizations are similar, there currently is no tie between the groups.
Governance
The alumni of the Phi Society own the property and chapter house, located at One University Circle, Charlottesville, Virginia. The chapter is an active participant of the University’s Inter-Fraternity Council and intramural activities.
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The Chapter House
Awards
At the conclusion of each academic year, the following awards are given to selected members of the fraternity:
The Record - The Record is the Phi Society's oldest and most prestigious award. It is given at the conclusion of each academic year to the "Best Phi," or rather, the brother who has given the most lasting contribution to the fraternity during his time at the University. Awardees' names are included on a plaque at the chapter house.
The Virginia Beta Award for Excellence - This awardee is selected by members of the fraternity's alumni board of trustees to the undergraduate brother who has demonstrated the most lasting contribution to the fraternity in the eyes of the alumni. Awardees' names are included on a plaque at the chapter house and the winner receives an engraved tankard.
Maupin Pence Memorial Award - This award is given to the undergraduate brother who has achieved academic excellence while an undergraduate member. The award is named in honor of Maupin Pence who was a long time chapter advisor to the Fraternity in the 1950s and 1960s. Significance is placed on the amount of time the student has given back to the fraternity in addition to his studies. Awardees names are engraved on a plaque at the chapter house.
Joseph C. Tunner '63 Memorial Award - The Tunner is given for athletic achievement. It is named in honor of Joseph Tunner who died in an automobile accident while a student. Qualification for the award varies by year depending on the activities of the winner. Sometime it is given for significant varsity athletic ability. More often is it given to the brother who participates in a combination of varsity, club, or intramural sports and also organizes the fraternity's intramural sports teams. Winners' names are included on a plaque in the chapter house.
Jeffrey Rockwell Cudlip '90 Memorial Award - This award is given to the member of the brotherhood from the most recent pledge class who contributed the most to the fraternity as a pledge. Jeff Cudlip died soon after graduation from the University and the award is given in his memory. Jeff was an outgoing and social student who loved the University and his fraternity. A semi-formal event at the chapter house takes place every Spring, where Jeff's father, Charles T. "Chick" Cudlip '63, presents a medal to the winner. A number of Jeff's family members and friends usually attend this event. Additionally, a member of the University President's office reads a letter from the President congratulating the winner. The winner's name is engraved on a plaque in the chapter house.
Peter A. Stoudt '75 Alumni Award - This is the only award given to alumni of the fraternity. One alumnus is chosen by the board of trustees who has demonstrated particular accomplishments in his life. It is named in honor of Peter Stoudt '75 who served as the fraternity's House Corporation President for a number of years and provided wonderful leadership during that time. It is given out once every 5 years at a party in which alumni and undergraduates attend at the Boar's Head Inn in Charlottesville. The next party, the 140th Anniversary of the Fraternity will take place in September 2013.
Horny Korny ("HK") Award - This is light-hearted award which is given to a member of the fraternity who, despite his best efforts, is not successful with dating. The member and his nickname are emblazened on the underside of a special table which the member keeps in his room for the next year. Additionally, the award is memorialized with a mounted pair of large moose antlers in permanent display in the chapter house. The HK was first given to George Murray in 1956 and has been awarded every year since.

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