What was the first public statement of the beliefs and values of Phi Kappa Tau, written in 1950?

• A. The Mission Statement
• B. The Ritual of Phi Kappa Tau
• C. Centennial
• D. The Borradaile Challenge

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is distinguishing a formal public statement of a fraternity’s beliefs from internal rituals or later commemorations. Phi Kappa Tau’s first public articulation of its beliefs and values, issued in 1950, is the Mission Statement. This document was designed to express the fraternity’s purpose and the standards it seeks in its members for a broad audience, guiding how the organization presents itself to schools, alumni, and potential members. It serves as a public, value-driven summary of what the fraternity stands for, rather than the private, ceremonial content of the Ritual or later projects like centennial materials or programs such as the Borradaile Challenge. So, the Mission Statement fits the description of the earliest public declaration of beliefs and values written in 1950.