# Best kept secret revealed! The meaning of Phi Alpha... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 6, 2000, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-kept-secret-revealed-the-meaning-of-phi-alpha/32247 "2000-09-06T17:28:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jabberwocks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@Jabberwocks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jabberwocks)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-kept-secret-revealed-the-meaning-of-phi-alpha/32247/21 "2011-10-26T07:43:25Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > My fluency is in Google Greek. Excellent fluency, to be sure 🙂 The translator must have been designed by some very clever fellow, for you just missed the case. Thumbs up 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-kept-secret-revealed-the-meaning-of-phi-alpha/32247/22 "2011-10-26T07:57:46Z")
> [@Jabberwocks](#): > > Cold pudding When come back bring Phi. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-kept-secret-revealed-the-meaning-of-phi-alpha/32247/23 "2011-10-26T08:15:38Z")
> [@Jabberwocks](#): > > ÎșÎ±ÎŻÏ€Î”Ï Ï†Î±ÎŹÎœÏ„Î±Ï„ÎżÎč In case it isn’t clear to you\*, it is traditional on these boards to refer to long-dead, newly-resurrected threads as “zombies” and make some reference along those lines right after they are resurrected. Thus, this case’s “BRAAAAAINS
”. ---
**Author:** ![Jabberwocks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@Jabberwocks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jabberwocks)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-kept-secret-revealed-the-meaning-of-phi-alpha/32247/24 "2011-10-26T08:35:28Z")
> [@Indistinguishable](#): > > In case it isn’t clear to you\*, it is traditional on these boards to refer to long-dead, newly-resurrected threads as “zombies” and make some reference along those lines right after they are resurrected. Thus, this case’s “BRAAAAAINS
”. Oh 🙂 No, I completely lack the savy. I never read the Boards before, to be honest, so I am in total ignorance of the usages. The thread hit me from a completely uncorrelated search, and since I happened to know the subject, and happen to love Straight Dope, felt the need to drop a marble. If it is considered bad form to post on an old thread, even if it had got no answer, I apologise. Still, a good use of the Greek 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-kept-secret-revealed-the-meaning-of-phi-alpha/32247/25 "2011-10-26T08:43:17Z")
Oh, it’s generally fine form if you provide something of substance, as you did. No problem with that. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-kept-secret-revealed-the-meaning-of-phi-alpha/32247/26 "2011-10-26T09:00:31Z")
> [@Jabberwocks](#): > > If it is considered bad form to post on an old thread, even if it had got no answer, I apologise. It used to be, but the powers that be changed the rules about it a while back. And since your debut post was entirely substantive, it is the opposite of bad form. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-kept-secret-revealed-the-meaning-of-phi-alpha/32247/27 "2011-10-26T09:20:00Z")
On the other hand, it’s important that someone note that it is indeed an old thread, so that unaware posters don’t enter into arguments with people who haven’t been around for over a decade. ---
**Author:** ![DotheWeigleYeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@DotheWeigleYeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DotheWeigleYeah)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-kept-secret-revealed-the-meaning-of-phi-alpha/32247/28 "2013-01-10T17:25:13Z")
I realize this is an old post but still would like to point out some facts for people who come across this thread I myself am a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. If you wont to know the true meaning to our infamous saying ‘Phi Alpha’, join SAE and enlighten yourself as a True Gentleman and a Phi Alpha Raider. All accross the globe, certain organizations have certain ‘rights of passages’ that mean a great deal to them than some outsider. I can guarentee all fraternities have something they hold dear to their heart that others do not know the real meaning to it. I am also a soldier in the Army currently serving in Afghanistan. Even here, different units have different mottos that some people do not know and may never know what the hell they are talking about. The other day, I rendered a salute to an officer and said “Good Afternoon, Ma’am” Her response was "don’t compromise’ Will I ever know what the hell she meant? probably not but it just goes to show, different organizations have something they keep to themselves. If you want to know, join. Simple as that! Phi Alpha ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-kept-secret-revealed-the-meaning-of-phi-alpha/32247/29 "2013-01-10T17:54:52Z")
> [@DotheWeigleYeah](#): > > All accross the globe, certain organizations have certain ‘rights of passages’ that mean a great deal to them than some outsider. \*rites Also, \*across. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-kept-secret-revealed-the-meaning-of-phi-alpha/32247/30 "2013-01-10T17:58:40Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > \*rites > > Also, \*across. Waddayou want from a Greak? ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-kept-secret-revealed-the-meaning-of-phi-alpha/32247/31 "2013-01-10T18:07:28Z")
College boy. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-kept-secret-revealed-the-meaning-of-phi-alpha/32247/32 "2013-01-10T18:19:09Z")
I forgot how much I despised the Greek system in college, until I read this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-kept-secret-revealed-the-meaning-of-phi-alpha/32247/33 "2013-01-10T18:45:26Z")
This thread reminds me of the 40-something PMs I got asking me to disclose fraternity secrets when I started the “Ask the frat boy” thread. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-kept-secret-revealed-the-meaning-of-phi-alpha/32247/34 "2013-01-10T18:59:54Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I forgot how much I despised the Greek system in college, until I read this thread. I loved the fact that when I attended university, the Greek system was effectively banned. When the drinking age rose, frats were magically re-enabled by the university. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-kept-secret-revealed-the-meaning-of-phi-alpha/32247/35 "2013-01-10T19:19:24Z")
> [@DotheWeigleYeah](#): > > If you wont to know the true meaning to our infamous saying ‘Phi Alpha’, join SAE and enlighten yourself as a True Gentleman and a Phi Alpha Raider. Or one could consult Wikipedia. (Not the current version of the page, of course, but [an older one](http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sigma_Alpha_Epsilon&oldid=124284139).) ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-kept-secret-revealed-the-meaning-of-phi-alpha/32247/36 "2013-01-12T06:37:49Z")
When I was in college at The University of Alabama the SAE chapter was banned from campus for selling cocaine at the fraternity house. [http://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/02/nyregion/campus-life-alabama-fraternity-suspended-4-years-for-little-progress.html](http://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/02/nyregion/campus-life-alabama-fraternity-suspended-4-years-for-little-progress.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-kept-secret-revealed-the-meaning-of-phi-alpha/32247.md?page=1)