Presidium Convent

Presidium Convent also known as P!K! is an umbrella organization of all-male academic corporations in Latvia. It was founded in 1919.

History

Presidium Convent was established on September 27, 1919, almost together with the University of Latvia. However it de facto started work only in the autumn of 1920, after the Latvian War of Independence ended. The founders of Presidium Convent were the five oldest Latvian student corporations: Fraternitas Moscoviensis, Lettgallia, Lettonia, Selonia and Talavija.
In the interwar period many new Latvian student corporations were admitted to Presidium Convent. In the 1920s, all Baltic-German corps were admitted, including Curonia, Concordia Rigensis, Fraternitas Baltica, Fraternitas Rigensis, Gotonia, and Rubonia. In 1932, they all left in protest at a decision that the Latvian language must be used in Presidium Convent meetings.
After Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940, the Presidium Convent was formally closed by the occupiers, like other Latvian student organizations, but continued to work unofficially. After World War II, most of Latvian student corporations renewed their work in exile. In such conditions, it was impossible to renew the Presidium Convent in its pre-war shape. In 1949, the global organization Union of Latvian Corporations was formed to unite all Latvian student corporations in exile.
The Presidium Convent was restored in Latvia in 1990. As of 2024, it includes 23 Latvian and Russian student corporations. Its headquarters is in Riga, Latvia.

Member organizations

In the following list active corporations are in bold and inactive corporations and institutions are in italics.

Active members

Corporation	Charter date	P!K! membership	Founding institution	Location	Type	Motto	Colors
Beveronia			University of Latvia	Riga, Latvia	Latvian	"Science draws the heights of perfection, brotherhood builds the strength of the people"	Purple Gold Blue
Fraternitas Academica			University of Latvia	Riga, Latvia	Latvian	"For the Nation and Fatherland" and Amicus optima vitae possessio	Black Light Green Gold
Fraternitas Arctica			Riga Polytechnic Institute	Riga, Latvia	Russian	Rci slovo tverdo	Gold Black Red
Fraternitas Cursica			Baltic University	Pinneberg, Germany	Latvian	"Deeds for justice, loyalty to a friend, a sword to the fatherland".	Black Gold Blue
Fraternitas Imantica			Baltic University	Pinneberg, Germany	Latvian	Scientiae, populo, patriae! and "A stranger to the fatherland! Let the sword not rust!"	Red Gold White
Fraternitas Lataviensis			University of Latvia	Riga, Latvia	Latvian	Pro patria, iustitia, honore	Black White Gold
Fraternitas Lettica			Moscow University	Moscow, Russia	Russian	Scientia pro patria	Blue Green Gold
Fraternitas Livonica			University of Latvia	Riga, Latvia	Latvian	"Break, but do not bend" and "Man and name"	Light Blue Violet Gold
Fraternitas Metropolitana			University of Latvia	Riga, Latvia	Latvian	"United forces for the honor, friend, fatherland"	Gold Violet Green
Fraternitas Vanenica			University of Munich	Munich, Germany	Latvian	For patriotism, duty, friendship and Veritati, humanitati, virtuti	Green Red Silver
Gersicania			Baltic University	Pinneberg, Germany	Latvian	Amicus amico, omnia patriae and "Give your heart to a friend, be silent to a stranger, serve science, shed blood for the fatherland"	White Violet Green
Lacuania			University of Latvia	Riga, Latvia	Latvian	Vires unitae agunt	Blue Black Gold
Latvia	1917		Tartu Veterinary Institute	Tartu, Estonia	Latvian	Virtutes bonos dies viventi faciunt	Red Blue Gold
Lettgallia			University of Tartu	Tartu, Estonia	Latvian	Per aspera ad astra and Labor et fidelitas	Green Black White
Lettonia			University of Tartu	Tartu, Estonia	Latvian	Vitam, saluten, veritatem and Actilabores jucundi	Green Blue Gold
Patria			University of Latvia	Riga, Latvia	Latvian	"For friendship and work, for fatherhood free" and Fidei et veritati	Orange Green Gold
Selonija			Riga Polytechnic Institute	Riga, Latvia	Latvian	"For friend, for Fatherland" and Virtute et fide	Green White Red
Talavija			Riga Polytechnic Institute	Riga, Latvia	Latvian	"Hands in hand" and "Work makes a man"	White Green Gold
Tervetia			University of Latvia	Riga, Latvia	Latvian	"Everything for Latvia - everyone is one"	Orange Silver Blue
Ventonia		Fall 1921	University of Tartu	Tartu, Estonia	Latvian	"For friend, honor, justice"	Blue White Green

Inactive members

Corporation	Charter date and range	P!K! membership	Institution	Location	Type	Motto	Colors
Concordia Rigensis		– May 14, 1932	Riga Polytechnic Institute	Riga, Latvia	German	Wahr und treu, kühn und frei and Concordia res parvae crescunt, discordia maximae dilabuntur	Blue Gold Red
Curonia	1808	– May 14, 1932	University of Tartu	Tartu, Estonia	German	"The honor of the heart of Kurzemniek"	Green Blue White
Fraternitas Baltica	– 1938	– May 14, 1932	Riga Polytechnic Institute	Riga, Latvia	German	Freundschaft, Frohsinn, Tugend, Wissen - soll man niebei den Balten missen	Red Green Gold
Fraternitas Rigensis		Fall 1920 – May 14, 1932	University of Tartu	Tartu, Estonia	German	Leiden oder Triumphieren, Ambos oder Hammer sein	Blue Red White
Fraternitas Vesthardiana	– 20xx ?		University of Latvia	Riga, Latvia	Latvian	"The glory of the nation is one's own honor" and "To be or not to be"	Grey Red Gold
Gotonia	– 1939	Spring 1922	University of Latvia	Riga, Latvia	German	In Treue fest	Black Light blue Red
Philyronia	– 202x ?		University of Latvia	Riga, Latvia	Latvian	Vera amicitia – decus vitae and "Work, will, duty."	Brown Green Gold
Rubonia		– May 14, 1932	Riga Polytechnic Institute	Riga, Latvia	German	Mit Eort und Tat für Ehr und Recht	Blue White Black
Ruthenia	– 1998		University of Latvia	Riga, Latvia	Russian	Vera amicitia in calamitatibus dignoscitur and Rci slovo tverdo	Black Orange White
Salgalia	– 1985		University of Latvia	Riga, Latvia	Latvian	"Heart for a friend - chest for an enemy"	Red Black White
Vendia	– 20xx ?		University of Latvia	Riga, Latvia	Latvian	"Fatherhood, honor, duty" and Virtue et exemplo	Green Brown Gold