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Frequently Asked Questions

We know that you may have many questions about our fraternity. Here we cover some of the most frequently asked ones. If you have other questions please feel free to let us know.

Why should I join a fraternity?

Belonging to a fraternity offers many advantages. We realize that your first purpose for coming to college is to obtain an education. We also realize that a college education encompasses more than academics and that the ability to deal and live with people is a demand that will be made on you for the rest of your life. As a well rounded man you must merge a solid academic background with intellectual and social maturity, and with confidence in yourself to deal with the problems that will face you in later years. TKE is the most unique fraternity at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in that we provide an environment that will encourage you to strive for academic excellence, while at the same time discovering new social horizons in a variety of campus settings. Our fraternity is involved in enhancing scholastic achievment, hosting social events, developing men into tomorrow's leaders, participating in sporting events, and much more. A fraternity gets you involved, which helps you to develop different skills. It also allows you to develop contacts with other students, and a variety of alumni involved in all areas of the business world. People join organizations for different reasons. Most of our members joined Tau Kappa Epsilon because they enjoyed the events, liked the people they met, and felt that our chapter had the best to offer them at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. You will also become part of a larger network of over 300 chapters and 200,000 members across North America.

What makes TKE different from other fraternities?

Since our founding in 1899, Tau Kappa Epsilon has always seen itself as different from other social fraternities. this perception has led TKE to become the world's largest international fraternity. Our founders felt that fraternities had degenerated from institutions of scholarly attainment to mere social clubs. Our founders started an organization whose avowed purpose was to aid college men in mental moreal, and social develpment, and that is a mission we have not strayed from. Our mission is no different than it was in 1899 and the challenge is no less intimidating. Building better men is what TKE has always been about. For nearly 100 years, Tau kappa epsilon has been building better men. Taking young men and building them into young leaders. leaders who are prepared to face the world complete with a set of values and beliefs that add a distinctive advantage to a man's efforts throughout his life. We have always based our membership not for wealth, rank, or honor, but for personal worth and character. One only needs to read the Declaration of Principles to understand what Tau Kappa Epsilon stands for.

How long will I be a pledge?

The word "pledge" and all the unflattering remarks which accompany it does not exist within Tau Kappa Epsilon. The new member education program is based on a "no pledgeship and no hazing" commitment. Every fraternity will claim that they do not haze, but TKE was the first fraternity to implement a new member program that replaces senseless tasks with educational and inspiration programming. Tau Kappa Epsilon's new member program teaches new members about the history of the Greek system, the history of TKE, the history of Zeta Mu Chapter, and how they fit into this system. It allows young men to become young leaders through motivational and instructional programs and activities. The Apollo Program gets you on your way to success and facets of it will continue with you for the rest of your life.

Do you guys party all the time?

Because Tau Kappa Epsilon is a "social" fraternity many people have taken that to mean simply "partying." Part of becoming a socially mature adult involves interaction with those around you, and TKE holds several social events throughout the course of the school year to aid in that development. You don't have to belong to a fraternity to party, but the risk you take by mixing people in unfamiliar and uncontrolled environments can be costly. The rumors that you have heard or clips from Animal House simply do not exist within our chapter. We follow specific Risk management guidelines which are designed to allow everyone to have fun, but without any unfortunate side effects. TKE has created a social fraternity that defines "social" not simply as parties and celebration, but rather one in which celebrations and parties are the rewards for our successes. We hold several dances and formal events which have taken Teke's and their dates from Riverboat cruises to Hotel Ballrooms. Each social event we hold optimizes enjoyment and reduces risk.

What do you do for community service? Do I have to do it?

Philanthropy is one activity that TKE has always been heavily involved in. Our national philanthropic organization is the Alzheimer's Association. and last year alone TKE averaged 49.6 philanthropy hours per man last year. Teke's have donated their time and effort to the Good Shepherd Mission, Rita B. Huff Humane Society, the Local chapter of Special Olympics and many others. Philanthropy events are a great way to meet people, have fun, and provides needed support within the Worcester community.

What kind of leadership positions are available to freshmen?

Because new members in Tau Kappa Epsilon do not spend most of their freshman year as pledges, who are unable to get involved directly within the chapter, they are able to get a head start on leadership experience. Each year TKE holds Regional Leadership Conferences and the Leadership Academy which are both designed to teach more effective leadership methods. From the very beginning, TKE teaches its members to be leaders and not followers. Typically freshmen choose committee chairs to begin their leadership role in the chapter. Because new members are always considered on an equal level with all other fraters they are able to jump right into a position where they feel they can succeed the most. Why wait a year to begin on your road to success when you can begin today in Tau Kappa Epsilon? College offers you a clean slate in life, so why not get a jump on the competition while they're still scrubbing floors.

Will the fraternity take up a lot of my time?

Time management means something different when you get to college than it did in high school. You now have so much available time on your hands that you can either use it or waste it. TKE's new member program not only teaches you how to manage that time, but also how to get the most out of every day. As with any organization you will get out of it what you put into it, and the rewards will vary depending on the drive that you have. our goal is to make you a better man. the time you spend perfecting that goal will not be taking up time, but will instead be the most important time you've ever spent.

Do you have a test file?

In addition to a large collection of old exams and class syllabi, TKE works through various tutoring programs on campus, sets up studying sessions, sets minimum grade standards, and our big Brother Program helps new members to adjust to the academic evnironment. We also have in chapter book exchanges and access to other test files on campus.

My parents don't want me to join a fraternity. What if I just didn't tell them?

Sometimes parents believe that fraternity life revolves only around beer, women, and hazing, and unfortunately some fraternities cannot offer much more than that to you. TKE takes a lost of time to keep parents informed about what things will be like in the chapter and how they can make the Teke Experience more rewarding. Some students find this a strange idea at first, but you should talk with your parents about which fraternities you are interested, what kinds of opportunities they have to offer, and what kinds of questions you need to ask each fraternity. this will definitely show how seriously and responsibly you are making this decision process.

How much does it cost to join?

In addition to having the lowest dues an any fraternity on campus, TKE also has a very low fee for joining the fraternity. All initial costs go to the International Headquarters who provides the Apollo Program materials, membership card and certificate, The Teke Guide which is the Fraternity's membership manual containing the history, organization, ideals, and a detailed explanation of programs and traditions of our fraternity. This fee also provides you with membership fees, liability insurance, and a subscription to The Teke which is the official publication of the Fraternity.

What intramural sports do you do?

TKE is actively involved in every aspect of intramural sports such as football, basketball and softball. Annually TKE competes in several intramural sports on campus, as well as involvement in club sports. We allow every member to play on whatever team whenever they want to without having to wait until there is room for them. Playing sports is a great way to relieve stress and to keep in shape. Chapter members frequently work out in groups at Alumni Gym.

Do you pair with sororities?

Tau Kappa Epsilon is greatly involved with interacting with Sororities on Campus. Zeta Mu has hosted sorority dinners, football games, and various joint-events. The New Member Program holds awareness seminars with sororities on campus, and that's a great way to get to know people.

What is your brotherhood like?

TKE is unique among fraternities in many respects and one such difference is the importance we place on building brotherhood within the chapter. We have been able to avoid rifts and clicks that often develop between pledge classes because our New Member Program treats every member on an equal basis right from the start. The elimination of pledgeship and hazing withing TKE strengthens our brotherhood because resentment and the sense of inferiority is never present. TKE believes that there is no point in a man's life more important than his college years. Growth in a non-hazing and no pledgeship environment will allow him to overcome the challenges he faces with the support from those around him. TKE believes that brotherhood is a journey, not a destination. Brotherhood involves more than just social events and TKE holds monthly brotherhood events like barbecues, team building exercises, retreats, brotherhood nights and weekends, and much more. During the summer TKE holds events like alumni weekends, cookouts, and work weekends on the house. Each member has their own definition of brotherhood, but each revolves around the three guiding principles of our fraternity.

We believe that the essential elements of true brotherhood are love, charity, and esteem; love that binds our hearts with the sturdy chords of fraternal affection; charity, that is impulsive to see the virtues in a brother and slow to reprove his faults; esteem, that is respectful to the honest convictions of others and that refrains from treading upon that which is sacred to spirit and conscience; these are the triple obligations of ever brother in the bond.

Our challenge as brothers is to live up to these guiding principles and our strong belief in them has created a strong sense of brotherhood that over 230,000 men just like you have shared since 1899. College is only temporary, but Brotherhood is forever.

How active are you on campus?

The Zeta Mu Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon is very active at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. We have had members in top leadership positions on campus. TKE builds leaders by giving them the opportunity to get involved and the skills to make them successful. If you've got the desire for success why not join an organization that wrote the book on it.

I heard that ABX hazes! Is that true?

Unfortunately hazing is something that still does occur within the Greek system. Even though every national fraternity has banned hazing some individual chapters have continued this barbaric and just plain stupid practice. It may make you wonder how much you can believe the promises some fraternities may make to you. Hazing ranges from alcohol-related, physical, emotional, and psychological torment as conditions for membership. You've never needed to undergo hazing to join any other organization in your life, so don't believe that you have to start now. The Greek system began as a way to improve the lives of those who chose to join it, but sadly some fraternities have forgotten this important fact. The best defense against joining an organization that may haze its new members is to ask a lot of questions about what is required of you to be initiated. Find our how long the new member program will last, how much time you will be expected to commit, and whether the chapter has ever been charged for hazing. The more vague or shady the answers, the more you should be concerned about how truthful they are being.

My dad was a Teke at another school. Do you honor legacies?

TKE is the Fraternity for Life and we take great care when legacies come to our attention. The values and ideals that are passed to every member of TKE insures us that they understand that their sons should be considered not for wealth, rank, or honor, but for personal worth and character just the same as every other potential new member. To this measure we consider anyone who wants the choice to belong to Tau Kappa Epsilon to be an unbiased process. Legacies will still sit before the Membership Quality Board before a bid to join Tau Kappa Epsilon will be extended. Alumni members will understand this policy based on our belief that "We maintain the exclusiveness is the direct antithesis of a true fraternity" and we must include any man who wishes to accept "the challenge to become."

I'm worried about my grades. What can your chapter do to help me in school?

The academic success you make in your first few semesters at college will largely limit or expand your future options. It's always easier to maintain a GPA than to raise one. TKE provides academic support from the very start with the New Member Program, you Big Brother, Chapter and Academic Advisors, Chapter Chaplain and Educator, tutoring sessions, and much more. Along with all the adjustments you'll be making during your first few months at college the last thing you want to worry about is poor academic performance. If you want to know where TKE is going then look at where it's been. The Zeta Mu Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon has maintained a superb academic record in the past, and will continue to do so in the future. Academic success is simply opportunity meeting hard work, and TKE will give you that opportunity.

Do you get a lot of support from alumni?

Part of belonging to the Fraternity for Life means continued support even after your undergraduate years are over. We publish an alumni newsletter, hold alumni events, and use alumni contacts to help graduating fraters obtain job interviews. Our Board of Advisors is made up of Zeta Mu alumni as well as Honorary members from WPI's faculty. We have always valued the time and effort that alumni provide more than the money they give. TKE teaches its members that the only price Brotherhood has is dedication. Alumni offer everyone from our newest members to our graduating seniors support in every area from finding a job to recounting how they made the most out of their undergraduate years in TKE. The support that our alumni give every year is immeasureable.

What are your membership standards?

If you are selected to receive an invitation to join our great Fraternity, you can do so knowing that our chapter members have applied an extensive set of criteria to your selection, and you'll know that they believe that you have what it takes to live up to our standard. We base certain membership criteria on your past experiences and how you have turned opportunity out of defeat. If you accept the challenge to become a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Zeta Mu you will be expected to maintain a GPA of 2.0 (officers a 2.5), be involved on campus and within the chapter, meet your financial obligations, obey all laws & bylaws; fraternity, state, local, and live up to the ideals of Tau Kappa Epsilon. Our biggest standard is the standard of success that over 230,000 since 1899, have lived up to. It is our goal to provide you with the oppurtunity, assistance, and support that will see you through the most important years of your life, and on to your most successful ones.