Student Organizations

There are presently two academic honor societies and one scholastic fraternity for students in history, political science, or prelaw.

Phi Alpha Delta

Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International, is a professional service organization composed of law students, pre-law students, attorneys, and government officials. Phi Alpha Delta (PAD) was founded in 1902 and today is the largest law fraternity in the world.

The name Phi Alpha Delta connotes the Greek phrase "Philos Adelphos Dikaios," which means "Love of humanity and justice for all." The organization promotes professional competency and achievement within the legal profession. The organization exists to form "bonds between students and teachers of the law with members of the Bench and Bar in a fraternal fellowship designed to advanced ideals of liberty and equal justice under law."

In 1980 the PAD International Convention determined to accept pre-law students as members. Southwest Missouri State University became the first undergraduate institution to establish a pre-law chapter in 1981. Pre-law chapters exist to help undergraduates make an "informed choice" in selecting law as a career and in preparing for the challenges of law school.

The PAD chapter at Southern Arkansas University was established on April 29, 1987. SAU's PAD fraternity permits students to participate in its activities without joining the national organization but strongly recommends that students planning to apply to law school join PAD, International for the additional benefits and opportunities such membership brings.

For more information, contact its faculty advisor, Dr. Paul R. Babbitt at prbabbitt@saumag.edu.

Click here to link to the Web page of PAD's national headquarters: Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International

Phi Alpha Theta

Phi Alpha Theta was organized at the University of Arkansas on March 17, 1921. Since that time it has grown tomore than seven hundred forty chapters in fifty states and has more chapters than any of the other accredited honor societies in the Association of College Honor Societies.

The Theta Sigma Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta was founded at Southern State College on May 27, 1962.

Phi Alpha Theta is a professional society whose purpose is to promote the study of history, recognizing and encouraging scholarship and academic achievement in that field. It seeks to bring together students, teachers, and writers of history and to assist historical research and publication in several ways. At national and regional conventions, students are provided an opportunity to meet distinguisged historians and to present papers they have written. Phi Alpha Theta publishes The Historian, an historical quarterly that has the second largest circulation among all such journals in the United States. Phi Alpha Theta awards prizes for outstanding books and papers and offers its members scholarships for graduate study. To encourage activity and interest in history, Phi Alpha Theta offers annual Best Chapter Awards to winners in six divisions according to the size of the chapter's university.

SAU's Theta Sigma Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta received national Best Chapter Awards in its division in both 1990-91 and 1991-92 and a Best Chapter Commendation for 2001.

Pi Gamma Mu

Pi Gamma Mu was founded in 1924 by Dean Leroy Allen from Southwestern College in Kansas and Dean William A. Hamilton of the College of William and Mary in Virginia. Seventeen founding chapters were organized simultaneously.

The Arkansas Delta Chapter of Pi Gamma Mu at Southern Arkansas University was founded on November 14, 1991.

Pi Gamma Mu has published a journal since 1925,whose name since 1982 has been International Social Science Review. The headquarters of Pi Gamma Mu are in Winfield, Kansas in the Carnegie Building , which is on the National Register of Historic Buildings. Pi Gamma Mu is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, on whose council it has a representative.

Pi Gamma Mu provides three named scholarships carrying stipends of $2000 and a number of $1,000 scholarships for one year of graduate study in the social science areas. These are awarded to selected members annually. Any member of the Society is eligible to apply as a graduating senior or later. The deadline for application is January 30. Write to Pi Gamma Mu, 1001 Millington, Suite B, Winfield, KS 67156.

Pi Gamma Mu counts amongits membership over the years a number distinguished persons. Rear Admiral Richard Byrd served for a time as Honorary National President of the organization. In 1928 he carried the Society's flag to the Antarctic to dramatize the spirit of adventure into the unknown, characterizing both the natural and social sciences. A number of eminent scholars have been associated with Pi Gamma Mu, among them Dr. Pitirim Sorokin and Dr. Margaret Mead. One president of the United States, Lyndon Baines Johnson, joined as a student member.

SAU's Arkansas Delta Chapter of Pi Gamma Mu sponsors several activities for its members each year. For more information, contact its faculty advisor, Dr. Don Watt at dawatt@saumag.edu.

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