About
Our Mission and Values
Our mission is to develop a fraternity that is consistently recognized as one of the top houses on campus and respected for the strength of its intellectual, moral, and social character.
Our key values include:
-
Out of utmost respect for our heritage as a literary society, we will consistently be one of the top fraternities on campus in grades. High intellectual capability, leadership qualities, and energetic entrepreneurial spirit will be criteria that will be considered in recruiting new members.
-
We will always take the high road. We will establish a modern program that treats all individuals with respect and human dignity and is fully compliant with applicable laws and current norms. Instances of improper behavior in the chapter or community will be handled promptly and without tolerance.
-
Our chapter will have a strong social calendar, helping to forge an extremely tight brotherhood as well as relationships with other students in the University of Illinois community. At all times, our social activities will be guided by respect for others and safety.
History of ADPhi at Illinois
In February of 1903, twelve men at the University of Illinois organized a local fraternity, which took the name of Pi Theta. The organization’s prime object was to secure a charter to become a Chapter of Alpha Delta Phi. This was the result of contact with a number of members of Alpha Delta Phi, especially two of the faculty at the University of Illinois, Herbert Jewett Barton, Professor of Latin, Dartmouth and Middletown, 1876, and Eliot Judd Northrup, Professor of Law, Amherst, 1892.
Upon organization, the group rented a house in which the members lived and had their meals together. The membership was composed entirely of men of standing and attainment in the University, and the group from its inception had the good will and respect of the University authorities.
The first formal petitions for a charter of Alpha Delta Phi were not granted, but the local organization had gained importance as a local fraternity and by the year 1906, it commanded the respect of a very considerable number of the Chapters of Alpha Delta Phi.
Following the 1908 Convention, representatives from all the Chapters, upon invitation, visited Illinois and Pi Theta Fraternity. In 1911, the Charter was granted and the Illinois Chapter was installed at the University Club in Chicago, Illinois, on January 13, 1912.
Since its founding, Alpha Delta Phi has had a rich tradition of promoting literary activities in the community, producing on campus leaders from our undergraduate members and maintaining a full social calendar. Among other accomplishments, Illini Alpha Delts were the first to organize a Dad’s Day in the country and started the Homecoming tradition with alumni that has spread across the campus and other universities.