About Purdue Skulls

Purdue Skulls, the Phi Kappa Sigma Alpha Xi chapter at Purdue University, embodies tradition and brotherhood. Committed to personal growth, academics, and strong values, the organization fosters a supportive community. Through philanthropy, leadership programs, and social events, Skulls enriches the collegiate experience and strengthens member bonds. The fraternity prepares young men for leadership while keeping alumni and parents connected to ensure a legacy of support and mentorship.

Become a Brother, Gentleman, Leader, and Skull

Becoming a Brother: As a brother of Phi Kappa Sigma, you are part of a lifelong commitment that goes beyond the college experience. Membership comes with privileges, but it also carries expectations that every Skull must uphold. Brothers strive for academic excellence, respect for others, and personal integrity. They reject all forms of abuse, hazing, or mistreatment of others, and they respect both personal and chapter property. Brothers are responsible for meeting financial obligations and maintaining a safe environment free from substance abuse. Abiding by the laws of the country, university, and the fraternity’s own constitution is key to being a Skull. The Ritual of Phi Kappa Sigma serves as a guiding philosophy, and members are expected to live by these ideals every day. From recruitment to graduation and beyond, the responsibility to Phi Kappa Sigma never ends, and brothers challenge each other to uphold these values, knowing that their actions reflect on the entire fraternity.

Becoming a Gentleman: To be a Skull is to be a gentleman—someone who carries himself with respect, integrity, and pride. A gentleman sets the standard for others on campus and in his community through his behavior, leadership, and commitment to the values of Phi Kappa Sigma. Being a gentleman means living a life of honor, respecting others, and serving as a role model for peers. It is about having the humility to learn from mistakes and the strength to make ethical choices, even when it's difficult. Skulls embody these principles not just in word but through action, earning the trust and admiration of friends, family, and fellow students.

Becoming a Leader: Leadership is at the core of what it means to be a Skull. Brothers of Phi Kappa Sigma take on leadership roles both in the fraternity and in the broader campus community, leading by example and setting a high bar for themselves. Skulls are involved in student organizations, philanthropy, and community service, learning to take initiative and inspiring others to follow their lead. The fraternity provides opportunities for leadership development, whether through chapter positions, campus involvement, or national leadership programs. As a Skull, you are not just a participant—you are a leader, someone who drives positive change and leaves a lasting impact wherever you go.

Becoming a Skull: Becoming a Skull means joining a brotherhood that is committed to academic excellence, leadership, and lifelong bonds. It is about embracing the values of Phi Kappa Sigma and living them out daily, with a strong focus on personal and collective growth. As a Skull, you are not just part of a fraternity—you are part of a global network of individuals who strive to make a difference in their communities and in the world. Skulls work hard, support each other, and have fun while setting the example for others. They honor their commitments, both to the fraternity and to their own personal development, creating a legacy of leadership, scholarship, and integrity that continues long after graduation.

Benefits of Greek Life

When you walk around campus and see other men wearing Greek letters, it is easy to wonder to yourself, “Why would someone join a fraternity?” The answer is that those men have learned what you will soon find out after joining Phi Kappa Sigma: that joining a Greek organization helps you realize the academic achievement, leadership development, active social life, networking connections, and other life skills necessary to succeed today. Consider these facts about Greek life:

  • Over 70% of students who join a Greek organization graduate, compared to less than 50% of all non-Greek students.

  • The average GPA of all Greek students nationwide is higher than the average GPA of all non-Greek students.

  • 85% of the Fortune 500 key executives are Greek.

  • All but three Presidents since 1825 have been Greek.

  • Over 80% of campus student leaders are Greek.

  • 76% of all Congressmen and Senators belong to a fraternity.

  • Phi Kappa Sigma members perform over 20,000 hours of volunteer service annually.

  • Over $7 million of philanthropic fundraising is raised each year by Greeks nationally.

  • The Greek system is the largest network of volunteers in the US, donating over 10 million hours of service each year.

  • There are approximately 9 million Greek members in the US today.

Five Objectives of Skulls

As a member, Phi Kappa Sigma expects members to assume responsibility in the areas of scholarship, fraternal affairs, financial obligations, personal conduct, and contribution to your college community. These tenets that all members strive to embrace are the “Five Objectives”.

Scholarship
The first and foremost ideal of Phi Kappa Sigma is the pursuit of academic knowledge. The primary goal of each Brother is the attainment of a college education. Each member has an obligation to continually maintain a sound academic record. This is an obligation that he owes to his family, his Brothers, the Fraternity, and himself. Since its conception, Phi Kappa Sigma has emphasized scholarship and academic excellence. Initiation into, and participation in the Fraternity is dependent upon maintaining a respectful scholastic average. Therefore, throughout your college career, the pursuit of academic endeavors should be continued diligently.

Fraternity
Phi Kappa Sigma is not just another college club or organization, it is a lifelong commitment. Each member should be thoroughly acquainted with all aspects of the Fraternity, both internationally and locally. During the New Member education period, each future Brother should strive to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the operations of the Fraternity and should not hesitate to seek additional information on all aspects of the Fraternity. Once initiated, each member must make a commitment to Phi Kappa Sigma, not just to his Chapter, but internationally as well. The Chapters of the Fraternity are only as strong as its members. Each Brother is expected to participate actively in Chapter government, finance, recruitment, and New Member education, throughout his time as an undergraduate member.

Personal Conduct
Phi Kappa Sigma is a Brotherhood of gentlemen. One of the basic tenets of the Fraternity is that Brothers conduct themselves in a respectful manner at all times. Members should be gentlemen at all times, particularly in conduct, manners, dress, morals, and speech. Ungentlemanly activity should be avoided, so as not to bring shame to oneself, one’s Chapter, or the Fraternity. Keep in mind, you are a part of a large organization, therefore, everything you do reflects not only on you and your Chapter, but also on Phi Kappa Sigma as a whole.

Financial Commitment
Each Chapter is a small business that is dependent on each member for existence. Each individual, from New Member to Chapter president, must meet his own financial obligation in a prompt and timely manner, or the success of the Chapter could be jeopardized. The Constitution and Acts of the Fraternity clearly state that any member who fails to honor his financial obligations promptly can be expelled from the Fraternity.

College/University
There has always been considerable discussion concerning the role of fraternities at institutions of higher learning. Phi Kappa Sigma has always maintained that fraternities are an integral component of higher education, one of immeasurable value. Chapters of the Fraternity, located throughout the United States and Canada, have always strived to maintain a cooperative atmosphere with the institution at which they are located. The Chapter and its members should strive to live up to the ideals of the institution. Mutual cooperation and participation in the educational and cultural programs are the foundation of good Fraternity-College relations.

Notable Skulls

The measure of any organization is the men it produces, and Phi Kappa Sigma has developed more than its share of leaders in all walks of life.  Below are just a few examples of the Skulls who have distinguished themselves in all types of leadership roles, ranging from the Supreme Court, to the Nobel Prize, to the NFL.

 

Lewis F. Powell

Skip Bayless

Roger B. Chaffee

Edward M. Purcell

GOVERNMENT, POLITICS AND LAW

Bob Riley (Alpha Kappa, Alabama, 1965)

Governor of Alabama
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Lewis F. Powell Jr. (Alpha Alpha, Washington & Lee, 1929)

US Supreme Court Justice
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BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

Adolphus A. Busch IV (Beta Gamma, Denver, 1976)

CEO of Anheuser-Busch

Pierre S. Du Pont (Alpha, Pennsylvania, 1890)

CEO of General Motors
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Charles L. Jarvie (Alpha Rho, Cornell)

President of Dr. Pepper

EDUCATION

Derek C. Bok (Alpha Tau, Stanford, 1951)

President of Harvard University

John Corbally Jr. (Alpha Upsilon, Washington, 1947)

President of the University of Illinois

William B. Gates (Tau, Randolph Macon, 1900)

President of the University of Pennsylvania

 

ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND JOURNALISM

Skip Bayless (Alpha Iota, Vanderbilt, 1974)

ESPN Anchor
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E. Cardon Walker (Alpha Psi, UCLA, 1938)

Chairman and CEO of Walt Disney Productions
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Frederick de Cordova (Upsilon, Northwestern, 1931)

Producer of The Tonight Show
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 De Benneville “Bert” Bell (Alpha, Pennsylvania, 1918)

Former Commissioner of the NFL and creator of the NFL draft
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SCIENCE AND MEDICINE

G. David Low (Alpha Alpha, Washington & Lee, 1978)

Astronaut on the space shuttle Columbia
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Roger Chaffee (Alpha Xi, Purdue, 1957)

Astronaut on the space shuttle Apollo
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Stanford Moore (Alpha Iota, Vanderbilt, 1935)

Nobel Prize Winner for Chemistry
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Edward Mills Purcell (Alpha Xi, Purdue, 1933)

Nobel Prize Winner for Physics
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