Iota Phi Theta National History
BEGINNINGS
The 1960's were a decade of change. The country as a whole and
African-Americans in particular were challenging existing norms. The
founding brothers of Iota Phi Theta personified these provocative and
thoughtful changes. This quote from former Grand Polaris, Arkley Johnson
is reflective of the time:
"Each man, though one among many men, is still very much
himself-with or without Iota Phi Theta. The concepts of a fraternity,
especially a Black fraternity, cannot be reconciled without thorough
consideration of this creed. The struggle must continue and Black
organizations must recognize the roles they play in unifying and
teaching."
It was this perspective that led to the founding of Iota Phi Theta
and the establishment of it's purpose;
"The development and perpetuation of Scholarship,
Leadership, Citizenship, Fidelity, and Brotherhood among Men of
Color."
The founders understood that to congregate within the framework of
an organization yet be allowed to maintained one's individuality is
fundamental to the Black race. From this, they felt that the
preservation of one's individuality should be a basic tenet of any
organization which would exist to benefit the African-American condition.
The Honorable Founders of Iota Phi
Theta
Iota Phi Theta was founded on September 19, 1963, at Morgan State
University in Baltimore, Maryland. The 12 founders of Iota were unique
because, for the most part, they were 'non-traditional' students. Most
were 3 to 5 years older than the average college student. Some were
married, some were service veterans, and some were holding full-time jobs
in addition to their academic pursuits. Because of their increased level
of maturity and experience, their vision of the concept of 'fraternity'
was much different than the prevailing norm at the time. Iota Phi Theta
was born out of their desire to consummate this vision.
IOTA TODAY
Today, Iota Phi Theta exists as nationally incorporated
social/service fraternity which continues to remain true to the original
aims of its founders. While the fraternity's membership is comprised
primarily of African-Americans, membership is not restricted by race,
creed, or national origin. The fraternity consists of over 100
undergraduate and alumni chapters with nearly 15,000 members located in
25 states and the District of Columbia. The fraternity colors are
Charcoal Brown and Gilded Gold. The fraternity motto is "Building a
Tradition...Not Resting Upon One."
As Iota has grown, it has endeavored to maintain a standard of
excellence and leadership on campus and in the community. Individual
chapters involve themselves in activities that allow members the
opportunity to give of themselves and enrich the lives of others. A
partial listing of involvements undertaken by Iota Phi Theta chapters
includes:
*The NAACP
*The Southern Christian Leadership Conference
*The National Federation of the Blind
*The National Sickle Cell Foundation
*The United Negro College Fund
*Big Brothers of America
*Project IMAGE
While this list is by no means exhaustive, it highlights the type
of community involvement and spirit that exists within the Iota Phi Theta
brotherhood.
Additionally, Iota Phi Theta is a member of the National
Interfraternity Conference (NIC). The NIC is an international
organization consisting of over 60 national fraternities with a combined
membership of over six million individuals. As a member of the NIC, Iota
Phi Theta is able to directly affect issues of importance to the
fraternal community at large.
IOTA TOMORROW
As times change, so shall Iota Phi Theta. The last several years
have brought new difficulties and challenges to the fraternity world. As
always, Iota has sought to meet these challenges head-on. Recently the
entire fraternity system revamped its method of initiating members by
eliminating the tradition of 'pledging.' Iota Phi Theta was at the
forefront of this movement and has developed a Brotherhood Intake Program
which has become the standard of comparison on many college campuses. In
addition, Iota Phi Theta has been a catalyst in the movement to promote
greater harmony and respect among the various fraternal organizations.
As we continue to grow and strengthen, so will our commitment to
make meaningful contributions to society in general with particular
emphasis in the African-American community.
Our plans for the future include:
*The creation of a National Philanthropic Foundation
*Centralizing our efforts toward a single, national Program of
Service to the community.
*An increased focus on the training and development of our members.
Throughout America, Iota Phi Theta has come to represent
excellence in all areas. We are and shall remain dedicated to our
founders' vision of "Building a Tradition...Not Resting Upon One!"
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