Fraternity Communication

Local Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Helps Aspiring Business Owners

2011-12-11T13:28:00.001-05:00

Members of fraternities and sororities not only help their communities during their undergraduate years, some continue this work on the graduate level. The Upsilon Alpha Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in Lawrenceville, Georgia has been making an impact in Gwinnett County, GA since 1994.

The graduate chapter of the oldest Greek-lettered organization established by African-American college-educated women recently announced award recipients of their Upsilon Alpha Omega Graduate Chapter Scholarships. The scholarship enables eight budding Green T.I.E. (Training Inspires Entrepreneurship) Affair entrepreneurs to move to a next-level business training session sponsored by the Small Business Development Center in Lawrenceville.

Award recipients included Ms. Shelly Beer, Mrs. Millicent Black, Mrs. Ellen Craig, Mrs. Angela Johnson, Ms. Margaret Johnson, Ms. Tania Saint-King, Ms. Alexia Whitaker and Ms. Carrie Winchester.

Shelly Beer is excited about all of the possibilities available for entrepreneurship. “I realized that it is time for me to step out on my own, after working in the giftware business for nine years and being laid off at my last job, I am very grateful for being selected for the boot camp scholarship,” said Ms. Beer.

Sponsored by the Gwinnett Pearls of Service Foundation, Incorporated, the charitable arm of the AKA Gwinnett County graduate chapter, the November event drew 49 prospective or current business owners.

The Green T.I.E. Affair, now in its fourth year, targets non-traditional entrepreneurs, namely minority women, in keeping with the focus of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s national service program.

(Scholarship recipients pose with Upsilon Alpha Omega President Kathy H. Jackson (far left), Gwinnett Pearls of Service Foundation President Debbie Payton (far right), and Mr. Mr. Robert Andoh, Area Director of the University of Georgia's Small Business Development Center-Gwinnett.)

Digitizing Fraternity/Sorority History

2011-11-12T13:11:00.001-05:00

As a fraternity historian, I know the importance of tracking an organization's history and securing if for future generations. The older the organization, of course, the more history. In today's electronic age, fraternities and sororities need to find ways to computerize years of history that may only exist in hard copy formats. The history of large organizations can fill volumes in a library and this valued information should be safely stored and if necessary it should be easily transferable from one location to another.

My organization is small but we have been scanning historical documents for years. Older alumni and past historians still possess old fraternity albums, event programs, and other documents, but these items do not yet exist electronically. We hope to one day have everything converted, however digitizing massive hard copy historical documents takes a huge amount of time and effort.

For large organizations with greater financial resources, outsourcing the process of converting historical documents and images makes sense. Sigma Chi Fraternity is one of the national organizations the leads the way in digitizing its history. I am sure more fraternities and sororities will seriously consider taking this step, if they have not done so already.

A company that can assist fraternities and sororities with the work of digitizing history is Digital Conversion Solutions, a division of a company with an unsurpassed history of excellence by delivering services to some of the largest and most prestigious cultural heritage institutions in the country.

Everything it our present time is going digital, so why not the history of individual organizations that make up the greater fraternity/sorority movement? If your organization has experience with this subject, please feel free to leave a comment below.

"You don't know where you're going until you know where you have been."

Happy Anniversary to Kappa Kappa Gamma, The Delphic Fraternity, and Delta Chi!

2011-10-13T17:25:00.000-04:00

Three very distinct organizations share the same founding date within about 20 years of each other. Aside from the founding date of October 13, the three organizations illustrate the longevity and diversity of today's fraternity and sorority life.

Kappa Kappa Gamma - The first of the three groups celebrating October 13th as a founding date is Kappa Kappa Gamma, a women's fraternity founded in 1870 at Monmonth College in Illinois. Kappa Kappa Gamma is one of the oldest women's Greek-letter societies in existence today. Kappa Kappa Gamma is a women's fraternity because the word sorority was not coined until after its founding. The organization's mascot is the owl and its flower is the fleur-de-lis. The women's fraternity has about 135 chapters nationwide.

The Delphic Fraternity - The Delphic Fraternity, also known as Delphic of Gamma Sigma Tau, is a historic multicultural organization originally founded as a literary society on October 13, 1871 at SUNY Geneseo. It is the second fraternityin the nation to officially promote multicultural diversity within collegiateinstitutions and the first truly multicultural fraternity to be formed on theEast Coast. During the early 1900s the Delphic Fraternity expanded to eight historic chapters throughout New York and Pennsylvania. Today an undergraduate chapter and two alumni chapters represent all 10 chapters of the legendary organization.

Delta Chi - Delta Chi was founded on October 13, 1890 at Cornell University. It was originally founded as a professional fraternity for law students. In 1922 Delta Chi became a general membership social fraternity, eliminating the requirement for men to be studying law, and opening membership to all areas of study. Delta Chi became the first international fraternity to abolish "hell week". The fraternity has 135 chapters in the United States and Canada. The organization's colors are red and buff and its official flower is the White Carnation.

Happy Anniversary to all members of Kappa Kappa Gamma, the Delphic Fraternity, and Delta Chi!

(Full Disclosure: The author of this blog is a member of The Delphic Fraternity.)

Happy 100th Anniversary to Theta Phi Alpha Women's Fraternity!

2011-08-12T15:38:00.000-04:00

On this day, one hundred years ago, Theta Phi Alpha women's fraternity was founded at the University of Michigan, Ann Harbor. The organization was originally formed in 1909 as a local sorority for Catholic women. At the time, other sororities on campus openly discriminated against Catholic women and would not welcome them into their organizations.

By the Spring of 1912, the local sorority was failing financially and membership was low. However, with the help of a pastor and committed alumnae, the organization was re-organized as Theta Phi Alpha on August 12, 1912. Today the organization is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference and is open to women of all faiths and celebrates a proud tradition of religious diversity amongst its members.

Theta Phi Alpha has 47 chapters and four colonies and its motto is "Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring." The women's fraternity mascots are the compass and the penguin and its colors are blue, gold, and silver

Happy 100th Anniversary to all members of Theta Phi Alpha!

Happy 23rd Anniversary to Phi Sigma Phi Fraternity!

2011-07-30T14:32:00.001-04:00

On July 30, 1988, in South Bend, Indiana, Phi Sigma Phi Fraternity came into being as a result of a merger of two other fraternities. Members of seven chapters of one of the two merging fraternities decided to go out on their own and start a new fraternity. These daring men decided to create a new organization that united college men who wished to share in the spirit of true friendship and brotherhood.

The seven undergraduate chapters that became "The Founding Seven" of Phi Sigma Phi were located at: Eastern Michigan University; the University of Wisconsin-Stout; the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; Northland College, Ashland, Wisconsin; West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, West Virginia; Concord College, Athens, West Virginia; and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

The dawn of the 1990's saw Phi Sigma Phi settle into its position as that of a strong and determined new national fraternity. In 1997, Phi Sigma Phi was officially recognized as the 66th member fraternity of the National (now North-American) Interfraternity Conference (NIC).

Phi Sigma Phi Fraternity's mascot is the Phoenix and its colors are cardinal red and silver. Today the organization has 11 chapters nationwide.

Happy 23rd Anniversary to all members of Phi Sigma Phi Fraternity!

Happy Founders' Day to Sigma Chi and Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternities!

2011-06-28T16:08:00.002-04:00

Two national fraternities were founded on June 28th. Sigma Chi Fraternity was founded in 1855 and Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity was founded in 1920. Here is a little history on each:

Sigma Chi - The fraternity was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio by seven founding members who split from Delta Kappa Epsilon. Sigma Chi is one of the oldest and the largest college social fraternities in the world with 240 active chapters and over 300,000 initiates. The fraternity is part of the Miami Triad and its most notable members include David Letterman and Brad Pitt.

Sigma Tau Gamma - The fraternity, also known as "Sig Tau" is an all-male collegiate social organization founded on June 28, 1920 at University of Central Missouri (then known as Central Missouri State Teachers College). The fraternity was born out of the aspirations of seventeen men who became friends while in the service of their country during World War I in France. In accordance with its founding, the fraternity created new chapters on the campuses surrounding teachers colleges (at the time also called "normal schools.")

Happy Founders' Day to both Sigma Chi and Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternities!

Happy 107th Anniversary to Alpha Gamma Delta!

2011-05-30T12:46:00.001-04:00

On this date in 1904 at Syracuse University in New York, Alpha Gamma Delta was founded. The organization is an international women's fraternity founded by 11 progressive women. Since its founding, collegiate chapters have been installed at 185 colleges and universities across North America and more than 155,000 women have become Alpha Gam sisters. Alpha Gamma Delta is a member of the Syracuse Triad.

The intent behind Alpha Gamma Delta's founding differed from other groups because it was founded to become a National Women's Fraternity rather than a local group or literary society. Alpha Gamma Delta's colors are red, buff, and green, the organization's mascot is the squirrel, and its vision is to "Inspire the Woman. Impact the World."

Happy 107th Anniversary to all members of Alpha Gamma Delta!

Happy Anniversary to FarmHouse and Triangle Fraternities!

2011-04-15T19:26:00.000-04:00

Not all fraternities are known by Greek-letters. Two of the most famous non-Greek letter fraternities are FarmHouse and Triangle. Today, both fraternities celebrate their founders' day.

FarmHouse - On April 15, 1905 at the University of Missouri seven men founded FarmHouse as an agricultural fraternity. The fraternity became national in 1921. The organization has about 33 chapters and its motto is "Builder of Men."

Triangle - On April 15, 1907 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 16 men founded the Triangle Fraternity. It is a social fraternity limiting membership to male students majoring in engineering, architecture, and the physical, mathematical, biological, and computer sciences. The organization's motto is "Truth Conquers All" and it has about 30 chapters.

Happy Anniversary to both FarmHouse and Triangle fraternities!

Happy Founders' Day to Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Inc.!

2011-04-05T09:18:00.001-04:00

Thirty-two years ago, on the Livingston College Campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, 20 young men of Latino descent created an organization to represent and meet the needs of the Latino student population. The Latino social fellowship aimed to help students achieve their goals and provide a sense of family to those away from home. On April 5th, 1979, Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Social Fellowship, Inc. was established. The official motto of the fellowship was “Latinos Siempre Unidos” (Latinos Always United.) In the Fall of 1987, after much debate, members agreed to change the designation to fraternity, thus the name Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Inc. was adopted.

Today, the organization has 52 active chapters and is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) and the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO). The symbol of the fraternity is a Taino native and its colors are baby blue and pure white.

Happy Founders' Day to all members of Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Inc.!

Guest Post: Networking in Post-Grad Life: Think Greek!

2011-04-03T19:43:00.002-04:00

By GreekForMe.com -

We network each and every day, sometimes without even realizing it. From idly chatting with our professors about our internship hunt to chatting with fraternity brothers about which classes we like and which ones we loathe. We form real connections with friends who may later turn into colleagues, with internship employers who may be our full-time job bosses one day, and professors who may help us secure that coveted first job. Here’s just a few of the way being a Greek can up your post-grad networking:

Greek Alumni – Greeks are a tight-knit bunch, and we can bet your fraternity chapter has a long list of alumni who would be willing to help you with a mentorship, internship, or even a job referral. Start early by connecting with some Greek alums at Greek events on campus, chatting with them about how Greek life helped them succeed in their professional life, how they got to where they are, etc. Ask for their personal contact information so you can reach out to them with any Greek life and career advice questions. Be sure to respect their time, but start building up an easy conversation with them. Having a base of trusted Greek alumni around you can dramatically help when it’s time to look for internships and jobs.

Fellow Greeks – Your fraternity brothers may not be able to help you land a job right now, but it’s pretty simple to get a sense of which brothers work hard, are trustworthy, and genuine “do right” kind of guys. These are the people you want to form genuine friendships with, as if they’re displaying that kind of maturity in college, they’ll likely go far in life and will help you do the same. Having a group of trusted friends around you throughout your life not only expands your connections, but makes you a well-rounded person.

Social Media – Twitter and Facebook have done a world of good for networking. Privacy is always a concern, as is being careful what you post on social media sites. But beyond that, follow and friend Greek alums, Greeks outside your campus, and those representing your Greek national organization on social media sites. Be yourself, but post intelligently – the whole world (well, all your Facebook friends and Twitter followers) can read what you’re saying, and those words have power. Comment and reply to other’s posts in a respectful, knowledgeable fashion. You’ll be building up your online presence, and can directly connect with those people who may be able to help you find an internship or job – or at least give you some great advice for post-grad life.

How has being a Greek helped you network? Share your real life examples!

(GreekForMe.com knows firsthand what it’s like to be a Greek, and the networking benefits that come along with it. One tip: wear Fraternity Apparel! It’s a great conversation topic, and you’ll be surprised by all the fellow Greeks you get to know.)

GWU Study Shows Members of Fraternities/Sororities Graduate at a Higher Rate than Non-Members

2011-03-22T12:59:00.005-04:00

A research study by George Washington University found that more than 70 percent of students who join either a fraternity or a sorority graduate college, whereas less than 50 percent of non-Greeks graduate from college. To those involved in the study, a brotherhood or sisterhood is not defined by popular media such as "Animal House" or "Greek'" but as a group of people dedicated to their success as well as the success of others.

Along with academic success, Greek life's presence is also felt in the philanthropic world. According to GWU, Greeks all over the country volunteer more than 10 million hours annually. This makes the Greek system the largest volunteer network in the country.

Greeks are also prepared to lead the professional world outside of college. GWU said of the 50 largest corporations, 43 are led by fraternity men, and both the first female senator and first female astronaut belong to sororities.

Greeks today, unlike those portrayed in most movies and television shows, are not only focused on their own success, but the success of their campus and their community.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Charters Chapter in South Africa

2011-02-17T12:18:00.000-05:00

Alpha Phi Alpha, the first inter-collegiate Greek-letter organization established for African Americans, chartered its first chapter in South Africa in Johannesburg on Feb. 3, 2011. The chapter was chartered as the Rho Phi Lamba Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., which was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. in 1906.

"This is just the first of many steps Alpha is taking, now and in the near future, to keep the organization growing across the world," said the fraternity's General President Herman "Skip" Mason, Jr.

The new Johannesburg chapter's 13 charter members relocated from America to South Africa. However, the fraternity aims to expand by inviting native South Africans to join the fraternity through the Rho Phi Lambda chapter.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community's fight for civil rights through Alpha men such as Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, Andrew Young, Edward Brooke, and Cornel West.

Congratulations to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity for chartering its first chapter in South Africa.

The History of Chi Phi Fraternity

2010-12-24T19:47:00.002-05:00

For someone greatly interested in the history of fraternities and sororities, the Chi Phi Fraternity's story really stands out. The organization, as it exists today, is a combination of three older organizations that officially united in 1874.

The first of the three groups is the Chi Phi Society, known in the history of the fraternity as the Princeton Order of Chi Phi. It was established at the College of New Jersey, later Princeton University, on December 24, 1824. This society ceased to be active in 1825. Thirty years later, in the winter of 1853-54, the old constitution and ritual of the Chi Phi Society of 1824 where discovered. The material was used to re-establish the Princeton chapter and form a second chapter of the Chi Phi Society at Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania in 1854. The Princeton chapter became inactive in 1869.

The second group is the Chi Phi Fraternity now known in the organization's history as the Southern Order of Chi Phi. It was founded at the University of North Carolina on August 21, 1858.

The third group is the Secret Order of Chi Phi, which is now known in the history of the fraternity as the Hobart Order of Chi Phi. It was formed at Hobart College in New York on November 14,1860.

Five years later, the Secret Order of Chi Phi at Hobart learned of the existence of the Chi Phi Society at Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania and on May 29,1867, the two societies formally united.

In early winter of 1865-66, the Hobart alumni in New York learned of the existence of the Chi Phi Fraternity in the South. Negotiations for union were initiated but languished through the years until the union was finally accomplished during a meeting in Washington, D.C. on March 27, 1874.

While the Chi Phi Fraternity of today was actually founded in 1854, the members of the organization place great emphasis on the 1824 date because of many aspects that were carried over from the original records discovered in 1854.

In honor of the 1824 initial founding date, happy anniversary to all members of the Chi Phi Fraternity!

Happy Founders Day to Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity!

2010-10-29T17:41:00.001-04:00

On this day, October 29, in 1832, Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity was founded at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. It is the fourth-oldest continuous Greek-letter fraternity in the United States and Canada. The fraternity, which was originally a literary society, was founded by Samuel Eells, a 19th-Century American philosopher, essayist and orator. Alpha Delta Phi is said to be the first fraternity to establish a chapter west of the Allegheny Mountains. The organization has a co-ed division formed in 1992 called the Alpha Delta Phi Society. Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity has about 30 chapters and over 50,000 alumni. Notable alumni include U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Happy 178th Anniversary to all members of Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity!

Jefferson Duo

2010-09-23T02:59:00.000-04:00

The Jefferson Duo is the name given to two fraternities founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Jefferson College is now Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, PA. The two fraternities that make up the Jefferson Duo are Phi Gamma Delta and Phi Kappa Psi.

Phi Gamma Delta, also known as Phi Gam or Fiji, was founded on May 1, 1848. Fiji does not use the term "alumni" for its post collegiate members, but rather "graduate brothers," implying that membership extends far beyond the undergraduate experience. Phi Gamma Delta also has limitations on where chapters and members can display its Greek letters. The fraternity's letters are considered sacred and are never displayed on an object that can be easily destroyed. In place of the actual Greek letters, "Fiji," "Phi Gam," or the English spelling of "Phi Gamma Delta" are used in their place.

Phi Kappa Psi was founded on February 19, 1852. The fraternity was formed after an illness struck some of the student body and two students teamed up to care for their follow classmates. A brotherly bond was developed among these dedicated young men which lead to the formation of Phi Kappa Psi. The fraternity's maxim is "The Great Joy of Serving Others." Phi Kappa Psi has over 70,000 alumni, its official charity is the Boys and Girls Club of America, and its colors are cardinal red and hunter green.

Farmville Four

2010-08-21T19:42:00.000-04:00

The "Farmville Four" is the name given to four national sororities founded at Longwood University (formerly the State Female Normal School) in Farmville, Virginia. A clock tower at the university is dedicated to the four sororities. The Farmville Four include the following organizations: Kappa Delta, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Zeta Tau Alpha, and Alpha Sigma Alpha.

Kappa Delta is the first sorority to be founded at Longwood University. It was founded on October 23, 1897 on the beliefs of friendship, fellowship and sisterly love. The organization has 137 active collegiate chapters and 504 chartered alumnae chapters nationwide. Its official colors are olive green and pearl white.

Sigma Sigma Sigma, also known as Tri Sigma, was founded on April 20, 1898. It has a membership of over 100,000 and its colors are royal purple and white. The organization's public motto is "Faithful Unto Death." One of the sorority's most notable alumnae is country music superstar and American Idol winner Carrie Underwood.

Zeta Tau Alpha, officially a women's fraternity, was founded on October 15, 1898. The organization is the third largest member of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC.) It has initiated over 206,000 members and has 152 active chapters and 235 active alumnae chapters. Its official colors are turquoise blue and steel gray and its public motto is "Seeking the Noblest."

Alpha Sigma Alpha was founded on November 15, 1901. The organization's vision is to cultivate values and ideals in women who are known for their character and concern for others. It has 80 collegiate chapters and 79 alumnae chapters. The sorority plans to be the first NPC organization to provide a membership education program through a social networking web site.

Studies Show Fraternity and Sorority Members Have Better Grades

2010-07-29T13:42:00.001-04:00

A recent study conducted by Washington State University supports an 11 year-old study by the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, both concluding that members of fraternities and sororities have better grades.

Researchers at WSU followed the college careers of nearly 6,000 freshmen who enrolled in 2002 and 2003. Roughly one-third of them failed to graduate in a timely fashion. However, the WSU study showed that students involved in Greek life were nearly three times as likely to graduate in a timely fashion as students who were not involved in Greek life, all else being equal.

This new information supports a 1999 study by UNC-CH that examined students who joined fraternities and sororities in fall 1998. It found that those who joined a Greek organization had higher average grade point averages than students who did not join a Greek organization. The average GPA of Greek students in this study was 3.1 on a scale of 4.0, compared to 2.9 for non-Greek students.

25 Famous Leaders Who Were In a Fraternity or Sorority

2010-07-23T14:20:00.000-04:00

OnlineCollege.org published an article this week highlighting 25 Famous Leaders Who Were In a Fraternity or Sorority. Here are a few of my favorites:

Bill Clinton - The former-President of the United States was a member of Alpha Phi Omega, the largest national co-ed service fraternity.

Martin Luther King, Jr. - The historic civil rights leader was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African-Americans.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg - The Supreme Court Justice is a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi, a national sorority founded by seven Jewish women.

Warren Buffett - The billionaire philanthropist is a member of Alpha Sigma Phi, the 10th oldest fraternity in the United States.

Neil Armstrong - The first person to set foot on the Moon is a member of Phi Delta Theta, the first national fraternity to expand west of the Mississippi River.

Happy Founders Day to Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity!

2010-06-22T15:48:00.001-04:00

Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity was founded 165 years ago today at Yale University. Four Presidents of the United States have been members of Delta Kappa Epsilon, including former-president, George W. Bush. The fraternity, which has about 52 chapters, was founded in 1844 when several young men of the sophomore class at Yale College were not admitted to either of the two existing societies on campus. This first chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon was denoted Phi chapter and is the only fraternity at Yale that has never gone inactive. Members of the fraternity are known as Dekes and the organization's public motto is Kerothen Philoi Aei, or "Friends From The Heart Forever." The fraternity colors are crimson, blue, and gold and other famous DKE alumni include William Randolph Hearst, Cole Porter, Dick Clark, and George Steinbrenner.

Happy 165th Anniversary to all members of Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity!

Some Fraternities and Sororities Boycott Greek Conferences in Arizona

2010-05-18T13:47:00.007-04:00

In a step toward solidarity in opposing Arizona's controversial immigrant legislation law, SB 1070, some of the nation's prominent fraternities and sororities have decided to boycott upcoming Greek conferences in the state.

One of the first organizations to officially boycott Arizona's new immigration law was Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African-Americans. The fraternity decided to move its annual convention this July from Phoenix to Las Vegas.

"It was the full opinion of the board that we could not host a meeting in a state that has sanctioned a law which we believe will lead to racial profiling and discrimination, and a law that could put the civil rights and the very dignity of our members at risk during their stay in Phoenix Arizona," said Herman "Skip" Mason, Jr., the fraternity's national general president.

Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, the largest Latino fraternity in the country, had scheduled representatives to attend the Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA) and the National Association of Fraternal Latino Organization (NALFO) conferences in Phoenix this year. However, because of the actions of the Arizona state legislature the fraternity is boycotting both conferences and any national event held within the state of Arizona.

More civil-conscious Greek-letter organizations have joined the national Arizona boycott including Sigma Lamba Beta Fraternity, Phi Iota Alpha Latino Fraternity, Gamma Zeta Alpha Fraternity, and Lambda Pi Chi Sorority.

Other organizations have issued statements denouncing Arizona's SB 1070, however have fell short of an all-out boycott of the state. The list of fraternities and sororities calling for a state boycott continues to grow, so if your organization is not listed in this post, please feel free to add your fraternity or sorority's name below in the comment section.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to injustice everywhere." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Happy 154th Anniversary to Theta Chi Fraternity!

2010-04-10T15:14:00.002-04:00

On this date, in 1856, Theta Chi Fraternity was founded as the Theta Chi Society at Norwich University in Norwich, Vermont. Theta Chi is one of the oldest and largest fraternities in North America. It was founded by two military cadets and its early history is connected to the history of Norwich University. At one time, in 1881, the university had only 15 enrolled male students of which only one was a member of Theta Chi. The fraternity managed to remain active and grow to the international organization it is today. Theta Chi's motto is "An Assisting Hand" and the fraternity has about 131 active undergraduate chapters.

Happy 154th founding anniversary to all members of Theta Chi Fraternity!

Syracuse Triad

2010-03-31T11:33:00.000-04:00

The Syracuse Triad is the name given to the three women's sororities founded at Syracuse University: Alpha Phi, Gamma Phi Beta, and Alpha Gamma Delta. The three sororities maintain a special bond demonstrated by a Syracuse Triad ceremony or event held on most campuses where all three groups are present.

Alpha Phi International Fraternity is a women's fraternity founded on September 30, 1872 by 10 of the first twenty women who attended Syracuse University. The organization pronounces its name Alpha FEE and its public motto is "union hand in hand."

Gamma Phi Beta International Sorority was founded on November 11, 1874. It is the first organization to use the term "sorority." Before its founding similar organizations were known as "women's fraternities." Gamma Phi Beta has 119 collegiate chapters and 171 alumnae groups.

Alpha Gamma Delta is an international women's fraternity founded on May 30, 1904. Having a choice at the time of its founding, the organization decided to use the term "women's fraternity." Alpha Gamma Delta has about 184 undergraduate chapters and its vision is to "Inspire the Woman" and "Impact the World."

Miami Triad

2010-03-11T23:54:00.001-05:00

The Miami Triad is the name given to the first three fraternities founded at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The three, founded in the 18th century, include Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, and Sigma Chi.

Beta Theta Pi is the first college fraternity to be founded west of the Allegheny Mountains. It was founded on August, 8 1839. The fraternity has about 120 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada.

Phi Delta Theta was founded on December 26, 1848. The fraternity's open motto is “One man is no man,” more freely interpreted as, “We enjoy life by the help and society of others.” The organization has about 160 chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 after all but one of its founders withdrew their membership from another fraternity. Its public motto is "In This Sign You Will Conquer." The organization has about 233 undergraduate chapters.

Two other Greek-letter organizations were founded at Miami University: Delta Zeta Sorority was founded on October 24, 1902; and Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity was founded on March 17, 1906.

Zeta Tau Alpha Wins National Step Show Competition

2010-02-23T22:11:00.020-05:00

Stepping, a rhythmical choreographed percussion dance traditional to historically African-American fraternities and sororities, has exploded in popularity. Step show and probate competitions have been an African-American fraternity and sorority tradition for decades. However more recently Latino, Asian, and multicultural organizations have embraced the art of stepping. This past weekend stepping crossed another cultural line.

The Epsilon chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha, a predominantly white sorority, won first place in the national Sprite Step-Off 2010 Competition. The win Saturday night surprised many in the Civic Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The step routine, which was shy of ten minutes long, came with a first place scholarship prize of $100,000.

Some may say the win by an all-white female team from Arkansas minimizes something sacred to African-American fraternities and sororities, however I think it honors the organizations and the tradition. Unity step-show competitions may bring diverse organizations together and help promote Greek life in a manner never seen before.

What ever you may think, the women of Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) should be congratulated for an amazing job. The video of ZTA's incredible performance is below. Feel free to leave any comments about their routine or of stepping in general.

Congrats to ZTA! You can watch the televised Sprite Step-Off Show on MTV2 Sunday, Feb. 28 and March 7 at 3pm EST.

UPDATE: On Thursday, Feb. 25, five days after the competition and probably after many complaints and charges of racism and injustice, Sprite said there was a "scoring discrepancy" in the competition. Now ZTA shares the first place win with Alpha Kappa Alpha. AKA also gets $100,000 worth of scholarships. Sprite gave in to pressure, but in my eyes ZTA is the real winner.

Macon Magnolias

2010-02-21T23:39:00.001-05:00

Alpha Delta Pi and Phi Mu, the two oldest sororities (as we know the term today,) were founded at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. Together the first two sororities, officially known as "fraternities for women," are referred to as the "Macon Magnolias."

Alpha Delta Pi was originally founded as a book club called the Adelphean Society on May 15, 1851. It is the oldest secret society for women. The Adelphean Society changed its name to Alpha Delta Phi in 1905, but later changed it because a men's fraternity with the same name was already well established. Alpha Delta Pi (ADPi) has about 140 active chapters and its public motto is "We Live for Each Other."

Phi Mu was originally founded as a literary society called the Philomathean Society on January 4, 1852 and became known as Phi Mu in 1904. It is the second oldest female fraternal organization established in the United States. Because the word “sorority” was not commonly used when Phi Mu was chartered, its proper name is Phi Mu Fraternity even though it is a women’s organization. It has about 150 active chapters and its public motto is "The Faithful Sisters."

Wesleyan College, originally named the Georgia Female College, is the first and oldest school chartered from inception as a college for women.

Union Triad

2010-02-11T10:41:00.005-05:00

When discussed historically, some fraternities have been organized into triads. One such triad is called the Union Triad, which consists of the Kappa Alpha Society, Sigma Phi, and Delta Phi. The fraternities were all founded at Union College in Schenectady, New York and are the three oldest continuously existing Greek-letter fraternities in North America. No formal tie exists amongst the organizations.

Kappa Alpha Society was founded on November 26, 1825. It is known as the originator of the modern fraternity system in North America. The organization has seven active chapters and 14 total.

Sigma Phi Society was founded on March 4, 1827. It is the first Greek-letter organization to establish a chapter at another college making it the first National fraternity. The organization has twelve chapters.

Delta Phi Fraternity was founded on November 17, 1827. The organization notes that it has never disbanded (or went underground,) making it the oldest continuously running social fraternity. It has 14 active chapters and 26 total.

Union College is known as the "Mother of Fraternities" because along with the Union Triad, the campus founded three other fraternities: Psi Upsilon, Chi Psi, and Theta Delta Chi.

The Sorority & Fraternity Tour

2010-01-24T20:30:00.006-05:00

As a new semester begins on college and university campuses across the country, sororities and fraternities are looking for ways to entertain local audiences as well as current and prospective members. The Sorority & Fraternity Tour helps bring up and coming musicians to sorority and fraternity houses across the nation. These events deliver a full entertainment experience which can be social or/and philanthropic in nature. The Sorority & Fraternity Tour aides chapters in throwing the best events possible and work with an organization's budget to create a great show. Fraternities and sororities can structure tour events as needed, whether private or public, in-door or out, and can team up with other organizations for co-sponsorships. In addition to providing the artist, the Sorority & Fraternity Tour can connect your organization with their major corporate partners to provide specific promotional products to your chapter. The Founders of The Sorority & Fraternity Tour are convinced that there is no better social scene than the college Greek community and love bringing music back to college/university campuses. Contact The Sorority & Fraternity Tour to book your organization's next event.

Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity Turned 111 Years-Old Yesterday

2009-12-30T18:08:00.013-05:00

Zeta Beta Tau, the first national Jewish fraternity, was founded on December 29, 1898 at the City College of New York. The organization's public motto is "A Powerhouse of Excellence" and its members are known as ZBTs or Zebes. The Zeta Beta Tau of today is the result of a merger with four other national fraternities, more than any other North-American Interfraternity Conference fraternity. In 1959, Phi Alpha merged into Phi Sigma Delta. In 1961 Kappa Nu merged into Phi Epsilon Pi and in 1969-70 Phi Sigma Delta and Phi Epsilon Pi merged into Zeta Beta Tau. Zeta Beta Tau was also one of the first National fraternities to officially abolish pledging in 1989 as a way to combat and eliminate hazing. The fraternity's mission is to foster and develop in its membership the tenets of its Credo: Intellectual Awareness, Social Responsibility, Integrity and Brotherly Love in order to cultivate leadership and service within their communities.

Happy 111th Anniversary to Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity!

Annual AFA Meeting

2009-12-07T19:14:00.007-05:00

The annual meeting for the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors is underway this week in Jacksonville, FL. The four-day meeting brings together higher education administration professionals and paid and volunteer fraternity/sorority advisors to network and support the AFA's mission. The AFA's vision for the future is a unified fraternal movement and an increased recognition of the value of the fraternity and sorority experience. All social fraternities and sororities in the United States, regardless of organizational size or purpose, should have some representation in the AFA. More importantly, every university/college with an active Greek community should have at least one administrative staff person who is also a member of the AFA. The organization has come a long way since its founding in 1976. Support a unified fraternity/sorority movement, support the AFA.

Blog Update

2009-11-22T00:09:00.009-05:00

Every now and then I like to post an update to keep readers informed of changes/additions to this blog. Here's what's new:

* Twitter - Fraternity Communication is now on Twitter. Feel free to follow @fratcomm.

* Fraternity/Sorority Links - I've added ForGreeks.com and Progressive Greek to the fraternity/sorority links section. ForGreeks.com is an online community for fraternity and sorority members which was relaunched recently. Progressive Greek is a news, network, and fellowship site dedicated to the nine international historically African-American fraternities and sororities.

* Blog List - The following blogs have been added to the Blog List; Getting Ready for Sorority Recruitment, COLLEGEtickr.com, The Fraternity Blog, Sorority Life at Penn, Lehigh Greek Community, WebGreek's Blog, and Phi Delta Theta Fraternity's blog.

Please visit and support as many of these sites/blogs as possible.

Your comments are always welcome.

In Greek Unity,
Phil

Happy Founders Day to Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

2009-11-12T13:19:00.005-05:00

On this date, in 1922, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded on the campus of Butler University by seven school teachers in Indianapolis, Indiana. Formed in the midst of segregation, Sigma Gamma Rho is the only sorority of the four historically African-American sororities within the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) to be established at a predominantly white campus. Today the sorority has over 500 chapters in the U.S., Bermuda, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Germany, and Korea. Public service, leadership development and the education of youth are the hallmark of the organization's programs and activities. The sorority's motto is "Greater Service, Greater Progress."

Happy Founders Day to all members of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity Becomes 108 Years Old Today

2009-11-01T15:05:00.009-05:00

Sigma Phi Epsilon, the national social fraternity with the largest undergraduate membership in the US, becomes 108 years old today. Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded at Richmond College, now the University of Richmond, on November 1, 1901. According to the organization's Wikipedia page, Sigma Phi Epsilon, also known as SigEp, can claim many firsts in the world of national fraternities. These include the first fraternity to charter in all 50 states and the first to establish a traveling staff to assist chapters in effective operations.

The SigEp chapter at the University of Nebraska at Kearney is working to raise funds to help find a cure for muscular dystrophy. The "SigEp Stride & Ride" will be held on Nov. 13 at UNK. All proceeds will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Happy Founders Day to all members of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Sigma Beta Xi Sorority hosts event for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2009-10-27T17:59:00.017-04:00

Sigma Beta Xi Sorority, Inc. is a unique kind of Greek letter organization. It's a sorority that caters to the wants and needs of mothers and promotes higher education, self improvement, and community service. The sorority was founded on April 6, 2003 by two women, one in Texas and one in Tennessee, who wanted to create a sisterhood to express and share their joys and pains of motherhood, and care and concern for children and women's health and rights issues. Sigma Beta Xi is mainly a community-based sorority, however it also has several campus-based chapters. The organization's chapter in Hampton, VA is sponsoring a Masquerade Party on Thursday, Oct. 29 to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Sigma Beta Xi is a fine example of a non-traditional sorority offering membership to women concerned about issues that effect women and children.

Alpha Phi Alpha Donates $7,000 to Upgrade Computer Lab at the Boys & Girls Club

2009-10-14T20:36:00.010-04:00

Members of the Zeta Alpha Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. donated $7,000 toward the modernization of the computer lab at the Boys & Girls Club of Broward County in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The donation will be used to purchase 20 computers with flat screens to allow kids to do homework and research topics on the internet. Young people from elementary through high school attend the Boys & Girls Club after school and on weekends as a positive alternative to being on the streets.

The chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is involved in a number of projects designed to uplift youth including ‘The Men of Tomorrow’ mentoring program. The chapter program assists young high school men with SAT preparation, financial aid information, and life skills.

Alpha Phi Alpha is the first intercollegiate fraternity established by African Americans. The organization was founded on December 4, 1906 on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Greek Think

2009-09-16T15:56:00.005-04:00

I always enjoy coming across other fraternity-related blogs. Through Twitter I was introduced to Greek Think, a new blog written and managed by Joe Finelli and Dustyn Curran. They are best friends and brothers who graduated from Iowa State University in 2007.

Greek Think was created with the aim of helping fraternity leaders from around the world come together to share their collective knowledge. It's a great blog that I've added to my blog list. Check it out.

Why Join a Fraternity or Sorority?

2009-08-31T23:28:00.005-04:00

With the fall 2009 term just beginning, thousands of college men and women across the country are thinking about joining a fraternity or sorority. Below is a video published by the North-American Interfraternity Conference providing benefits to fraternity membership. If you're thinking about joining a collegiate Greek letter organization, check out the video for great reasons why you should become a part of the fraternity/sorority movement.

Former U.S. President Clinton Becomes Honorary Member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity

2009-07-13T21:15:00.010-04:00

William J. Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, became an honorary member of Phi Beta Sigma during the historically African-American fraternity's 95th Anniversary Conclave in New Orleans, LA.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity's International President Paul L. Griffin, Jr. commented, "It is a high privilege and a matter of great significance that we the members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. accept and welcome the Honorable William Jefferson Clinton into our wondrous band."

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity is an international organization dedicated to the principles of Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service. It was founded in 1914 at Howard University in Washington, DC and is comprised of college and professional men, predominantly of African American origin, open from its inception to men of all race, religion, class and national origin.

Farrah Fawcett Mourned by Sorority Sisters

2009-07-02T15:50:00.008-04:00

Farrah Fawcett, the former Charlie's Angel and pin-up model who passed away on June 25 after a long fight with cancer, was a member of Delta Delta Delta (Tri-Delta) Sorority.

Sorority members at the University of Texas at Austin, where Fawcett was an undergraduate in 1966, mourned the passing of their fellow sister on the day of her private funeral in Los Angeles, CA.

Delta Delta Delta, one of the largest women's organizations in the world, was founded in 1888 at Boston University.

Online Chapter Communication

2009-06-29T20:27:00.010-04:00

Individual chapter communication can be a challenge these days with the growth and increase utilization of social media networks. Today active members may rely on email, text messages, blogs, websites, and other media to deliver a message. Multiple services can delay effective chapter communication and can be time consuming especially when these services are operated by separate companies.

I was recently introduced to a new online communication management tool that can help chapters streamline communication and use it enhance chapter finances. ChapterSpot, a free organizational tool for fraternities and sororities, guarantees "chapters will drastically increase the rate of dues collections, improve member-to-member communications, and increase the organization of day-to-day chapter operations."

ChapterSpot consolidates all the needs of fraternities/sororities into one place online. The creators of the site hope to unite chapter Greeks to take advantage of group discount rates and access exclusive offers.

Here are some free services offered to registered chapters:

Mass Text Messaging
Financial Accounting & Billing Application
Prospective Members List
Standalone Public Website
Alumni Networking

For a full description of ChapterSpot, check out the site's features page.

Alpha Epsilon Pi Forms First Fraternity Chapter in Israel

2009-06-26T21:47:00.009-04:00

Israel's first college fraternity chapter was officially initiated last week. Alpha Epsilon Pi, the Jewish college fraternity with 140 active chapters in the United States and Canada, has been working on forming a chapter in Israel for over a year. Fifteen founding members helped form a chapter of the fraternity at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) in Herzliya.

The North American notion of a social fraternity has been a foreign idea to most Israelis, until now. Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) hopes to change any Israeli misconceptions of the wild U.S. social clubs depicted in American movies.

The IDC is being used as the launching pad for AEPi's expansion in Israel because it is a strong international school. It has many American students who already understand the concept of a fraternity and who can help bring together the international and Israeli students on campus.

AEPi was founded in 1913 by eleven students under the Washington Square Arch at New York University.

Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Members Spend This Summer Helping People With Disabilities

2009-06-03T23:05:00.013-04:00

Members of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity from several chapters across the country will spend their summer on a quest to help people with disabilities. Pi Kappa Phi was founded in 1904 at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. It is the only Greek-letter organization to own and operate its own philanthropy, Push America, which works with individual chapters to serve people with disabilities. Kudos to these dedicated undergraduate members spending their summer helping others and promoting their fraternity's cause.

Wikipedia's List of Social Fraternities & Sororities

2009-05-16T21:59:00.012-04:00

Wikipedia, the free-content encyclopedia project, has a great list of social fraternities and sororities. Not all organizations have submitted reference information, however it's a pretty comprehensive list. If your organization has not created a Wikipedia page I strongly recommend one to compliment your existing official online website.

Fraternities in New Jersey and Florida Donate and Raise Funds for an Elementary School and College Grants

2009-05-12T15:11:00.012-04:00

The Delta Phi Fraternity at Rutgers University in New Jersey, which was recently rechartered, donated $1,000 worth of sporting goods to Lincoln Elementary School on Wednesday, April 30, 2009. The fraternity raised money through fundraisers and donations from their own pockets to purchase two basketball hoops — which the fraternity brothers assembled — as well as a variety of items including kickballs, basketballs and baseball equipment. Delta Phi Fraternity was founded in 1827 at Union College and is the oldest continuous social fraternity in the United States.

Active undergraduate members are not the only ones that contribute to their communities. For 26 years, a group of African-American men from Sarasota and Manatee counties in Florida has made it a priority to help young people go to college. Since 1982, the Pi Beta Beta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity has given more than $100,000 in scholarships to local students to help them get an education and achieve their dreams. The fraternity will hold the 27th Annual Purple and Gold Ball on Friday, May 15, 2009 from 9pm to 1am, at the Bradenton City Center at City Hall to help raise scholarship funds. The local alumni members mentor Sarasota and Manatee county youths, especially young black men. The members work in schools, community centers, hospitals, churches and with other non-profit organizations to stress the importance of education and community service. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity was founded in 1911 at Howard University.

Fraternity Communication Updates

2009-04-20T21:34:00.009-04:00

After searching through fraternity news I came across a few positive Greek life-related articles.

* The Greek community of the University of Nebraska Kearney raised over $20,000 for charitable causes at an awards and fashion show dinner. It's great to see fraternities and sororities working together to make a difference and honor their own dress to the nines.

* Student leaders at the University of Colorado say they would like to see Boulder's fraternities and sororities re-establish ties with the school. Fraternities have not been recognized since a 2005 student death. Fraternities should keep ties with university administration regardless of the unfortunate past. Good university ties are better than no ties at all.

* Time Magazine profiles how Facebook is now the latest recruitment tool for fraternities.

Cultural and Multi-Cultural Greeks Meet at San Francisco Conference

2009-03-16T21:27:00.006-04:00

The National Cultural Greek Leadership Conference (NCGLC) embarks on its inaugural conference April 2-5, 2009 in San Francisco, CA. The event is sponsored and hosted by the Western Region Greek Association (WRGA) and the Board of Directors of each of the following organizations have endorsed the event:

National Asian Pacific Islander American Panhellenic Association (NAPA)
National Association of Latino Fraternal Organization, Inc. (NALFO)
National Multicultural Greek Council, Inc. (NMGC)

This event will feature joint workshops and presentations as well as a curriculum that will address specific issues facing the many councils within our Greek communities. The NMGC holds its conference at the same location on April 4, 2009.

Although NCGLC is being hosted within the Western Region, attendance is open to and encouraged by members of cultural fraternities, sororities, councils and their advisors from across North America.

NPC Conference Members Celebrate Badge Day 2009

2009-02-22T20:20:00.003-05:00

The 26 member organizations of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) are celebrating International Panhellenic Badge Day this year on Monday March 2, 2009. Sorority women on campuses everywhere honor their fraternal affiliations by wearing their badges or letters during the annual event. In 1997, the NPC designated the first Monday in March as the day to celebrate National Pin Day. This date was chosen to coincide with National Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, which are celebrated in March.

The National Pan-Hellenic Council, National Multicultural Greek Council, National Asian Pacific Islander American Panhellenic Association and National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations will join the NPC in celebrating the value of sisterhood and the fraternal experience.

Founded in 1902, the NPC is one of the oldest and largest women’s membership organizations. It represents more than 3.8 million women at more than 620 college/university campuses and more than 4,600 local alumnae chapters in the United States and Canada.

Though his event is sponsored by national sororities, every member of a Greek letter organization should publicly display their fraternal membership in a show of unity across the country.

Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity Brothers Help the Homeless

2009-02-17T20:42:00.007-05:00

Fraternity brothers of the Temple University chapter of Alpha Tau Omega camped out for 30 hours outside Bell Tower last Thursday to collect money and needed items for the homeless. Fraternity members collected approximately $530 in dollar bills, a few hundred dollars in change and more than 300 articles of clothing as part of its third-annual Camp-out to End Homelessness.

Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) was founded at the Virginia Military Institute in 1865 and is noted as the first nationally founded fraternity and the first fraternity established after the Civil War. ATO has more than 250 active and inactive chapters with more than 197,000 members and more than 6,500 undergraduate members.

Fraternities and Sororities Celebrate Black History Month

2009-02-11T21:16:00.011-05:00

February’s filled with commemorations of Black History Month across college campuses. Historically Black sororities and fraternities have been sponsoring events all month. Here are a few:

Last week Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority at the University of South Carolina co-sponsored The Pretty Poodle Book Club where they discussed A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry.

Yesterday Zeta Phi Beta Sorority sponsored a film screening of Imitation of Life at San Diego State University.

Alpha Phi Alpha and Iota Phi Theta fraternities at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale co-sponsor an appearance by Cornel West, author and professor of Black American Studies at Princeton University on February 20th.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity at Clemson University co-sponsors a February 21st event on African-American progress in the 21st century.

Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta sororities co-sponsor a step-show event on February 27th during Danville Community College’s Black History Month activities.

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity at the University of Southern Methodist will actively participate in various cultural events during the month, including painting of mini murals.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity chapter at the University of Kentucky will distribute information about the organization’s famous alumni from 11am to noon every Thursday in February at the Student Center.

Latino Fraternity & Latina Sorority Host Youth Outreach Event

2009-02-01T16:53:00.007-05:00

Latino fraternity Lambda Theta Phi and Latina sorority Lambda Theta Alpha, both founded in New Jersey in 1975, hosted a youth outreach conference in California on January 24, 2009. The chapters at the University of California at Santa Barbara held their third annual "Barrio to Academia" program aimed at steering young local Latinos from low-income families to colleges/universities. The event focused on seeking out students who were not college-bound for financial or personal reasons and provide them with valuable information around the admissions process, financial aid, the benefits of college, and the dangers of street life.

Blog's Broader Scope

2009-01-19T21:47:00.008-05:00

This blog was created with the general intention of providing a positive image of fraternities and sororities. The content originated with regional information based in New York, with a concentration on local and multicultural groups. In 2009 this blog aims to continue its mission by incorporating organizational content of a national scope.

Insurance Policies

2008-12-21T21:31:00.008-05:00

While researching general liability insurance policies for social fraternities I learned the average annual premium for a 1 million dollar policy is around $5,000. It also seems very few insurance agents offer such policies to fraternities and sororities. A $5,000 a year insurance premium may not be much for national organizations with tens to hundreds of chapters and members in the thousands, however for smaller groups this premium may be out of reach. As smaller groups expand to other campuses these groups may be mandated by higher education institutions to hold insurance policies. Colleges and universities hope to minimize liability by forcing small groups to have to purchase their own policies, however this may not be financially feasible for all fraternities.

Living in a litigious society, it is understandable to mandate insurance coverage. However there has to be better alternatives for smaller organizations. Insurance companies should offer lower premiums to smaller groups and colleges and universities should find ways to off-set costs to responsible organizations. Social fraternities and sororities are high risk groups to insure, however the Greek community as a whole needs to address this issue collectively.

Smaller groups should also look outside the box to address this issue. Small groups should consider teaming up with like-minded fraternities and sororities to purchase policies. Governing and advising Greek letter councils should also assist in formulating ideas that will benefit all parties.

If insurance companies continue to serve only large groups and educational institutions mandate high premium insurance policies there will be less and less smaller fraternities and sororities in the United States.

Multicultural Greek Life

2008-04-07T10:15:00.010-04:00

For more than 230 years fraternities and sororities have originated from the universal desire on college campuses for association with others that share common interests, goals, and ideas. Fraternities and sororities have played an integral role in the higher education system in the United States since the creation of Phi Beta Kappa, the first Greek letter society founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. Social norms and changes in society can be reflected in the demographics of the student population at colleges and universities and the growth and diversity of fraternity and sorority life in the United States.

As the ethnic and cultural background of the American college student becomes diverse so does the idea of the traditional fraternity and sorority. Founded as historically white associations, Greek letter organizations in the last 25 years have been formed with a primary focus on culturally specific and multicultural-based group identities.

“What started out as a new fraternity on the New York City Tech campus in 1996, has evolved into what some would call a movement,” said Archer D. Hutchinson, Founder and National President of Phi Sigma Chi Multicultural Fraternity, Inc.

Phi Sigma Chi and eleven other multicultural-based fraternities and sororities gathered at Seton Hall University in New Jersey on April 21st, 2007 to hold the spring conference of the National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC.) The NMGC was founded in 1998 and is an umbrella council for multicultural Greek letter organizations.

Members meet annually to discuss the development and implementation of the council's mission: to promote the awareness of multicultural diversity within collegiate institutions, their surrounding communities, and the greater community-at-large.

Today Phi Beta Kappa is an honors society. The first social fraternity still in existence is recognized to be the Kappa Alpha Society, which was founded in 1825 at Union College in Schenectady, New York. The creation of similar organizations led the way for fraternity and sorority life on hundreds of campuses throughout the United States.

Ethnic fraternities first developed as a result of the need to share and celebrate the diversity of cultural experiences. The first African-American fraternity founded was Alpha Phi Alpha, established in 1906 at Cornell University. Fraternities and sororities were mainly predominantly white or black organizations until 1931 when the first international Latino fraternity still in existence, Phi Iota Alpha, was formed at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY. In 1975 the first national Latino fraternity with a continued existence, Lambda Theta Phi, was founded at Kean University in New Jersey.

"Most Latino students bring with them to college campuses a sense of cultural activism, and the traditional Greek organizations lack in that area," says Juan A. Rodriguez, past national president of Sigma Lambda Beta, a Latino fraternity founded in 1986. "That's one of the reasons why Latino fraternities and sororities have blossomed."

The first multicultural fraternity, Epsilon Sigma Rho, was formed at California State University Sacramento in 1986. The first multicultural fraternity formed on the east coast was Delphic of Gamma Sigma Tau, which was re-established as a multicultural fraternity at the State University at New York at New Paltz in 1987. The group traces its history back to 1871 with the founding of the Delphic Soceity in upstate New York. During the spring of 2007 the organization celebrated its 20th anniversary as an official multicultural fraternity.

The changes in fraternity and sorority life represent the growth of a more diverse national student body. The country's minority population, which includes Hispanics, blacks, American Indians, Asians and others, grew by 43 percent between 1990 and 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The country's Hispanic population mushroomed by 58 percent from 1990 to 2000, making it the fastest growing minority group and underscoring "the changing diversity of the United States."

Minorities in Higher Education Twenty-first Annual Status Report (2003-2004) published by the American Council on Education (ACE) reported that from 1991 to 2001, college enrollment of minorities rose by nearly 1.5 million students (52 percent) to more than 4.3 million.

Melissa Hernandez, who helped found Zeta Sigma Chi in 1996 at Michigan State University said she didn't understand the long-lasting effect a multicultural sorority would have on the university. "With the mainstream sororities, we really didn't feel like we fit in there, and we were looking for an organization that met our needs," Hernandez said. "We saw that it was multicultural, not just focused on one culture, but (focused) on how the world is, with different cultures."

Christina Lovato, past president of the Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, which was also founded in 1996, said multicultural fraternities and sororities help foster a more inclusive Greek life diverse environment on college campuses today. "We appreciate and embrace each other's differences,” said Ms. Lovato. “It's a nice alternative to all the intolerance you see today."

(article first written on April 30, 2007.)

National vs. Local

2008-01-08T21:59:00.002-05:00

Is a fraternity with one chapter less of a fraternity then one with a hundred chapters? It seems, according to University administrators, a national or multi-chapter organization is more of a "fraternity" than a small local, or single chapter organization. All national groups started out as locals, however most major Universities and even some national fraternity/sorority councils and conferences are anti-local, which overall hurts fraternity growth and popularity as a whole. Local organizations have their place in the larger Greek letter world. Some colleges/universities will not even consider recognizing a local group. They fear general liability or think that a small group would not be able to compete, financially and socially, with a national group. However, there are some colleges/universities that are open to the idea of local groups, and feel the individual institution can assist in the local group's growth. Local groups are governed by alumni as opposed to national boards. Usually college administrators take a larger role in governing local groups, which overall assists the group and the local community. Hopefully more colleges and universities will open their arms to local groups. However the national trend currently seems to be becoming more anti-local, according to some national fraternity/sorority councils. There needs to be a change. Maybe the creation of a national association of local Greek letter organizations would be helpful. We'll have to see how the future of fraternities and sororities pans out.

New York State Fraternity History

2006-05-06T13:08:00.008-04:00

New York State is home to the Union Triad, the first three social fraternities all founded at Union College in Schenectady, NY. The first social fraternity to be established is the Kappa Alpha Society. It is the oldest fraternity in the country. The history of fraternities begins with the formation of Phi Beta Kappa at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. Today Phi Beta Kappa is an honors society. Kappa Alpha Society was followed by Sigma Phi, and Delta Phi, both formed at Union. Several other national fraternities were established in New York State, including Delta Sigma Phi, Alpha Phi Alpha (1st African American Fraternity,) Zeta Psi, Delta Chi, Phi Iota Alpha (oldest existing Latin fraternity,) Alpha Epsilon Pi, Zeta Beta Tau, and Lambda Upsilon Lambda, among many others.

New York is also home to several regional and local fraternities. The oldest regional fraternity still in existance today is The Delphic Fraternity, Inc. which had a total of eight chapters active at the height of its popularity in the early 1900s. It traces its history back to 1871. There are nine historical Delphic chapters today lead by an undergraduate chapter at Binghamton University and an alumni chapter in New Paltz, NY.

Another regional fraternity still in existance is the association of Delta Kappa. Delta Kappa was formed in Buffalo, NY in 1920. Today there are several Delta Kappa organizations in New York, including Delta Kappa in Ithaca, Delta Kappa Theta in Potsdam, Delta Kappa Omicron in Fredonia, and Delta Kappa Tau in Geneseo.

Another set of fraternities that are strong in New York State include chapters that at one time had ties with the national organization of Sigma Tau Gamma. Sigma Tau Gamma had several chapters in New York during the 1950s, however a band on national affiliations by the SUNY Board of Regents caused several of these chapters to become local. The remaining set of fraternities still active today include Delphic of Gamma Sigma Tau in Binghamton and New Paltz, Sigma Tau Chi at Oswego, and Sigma Tau Psi at Geneseo.

There are also several prestigious locals in New York, including Omicron Pi Omicron of Clarkson University at Potsdam, and Psi Phi Delta at SUNY Potsdam.

National Multicultural Greek Council

2006-04-25T22:40:00.002-04:00

The National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC) is an umbrella group for multicultural fraternities/sororities. It is a great addition to the existing national Greek councils. However, many colleges/universities have been slow to even notice a need for another national council. The NMGC represents a growing movement in Greek life in this country. One where members decide to join organizations that transcend race, religion, ethnicity, and culture. Such fraternities/sororities benefit from individual member differences and build strong organizations based on true diversity. For more information about the National Multicultural Greek Council visit http://www.nationalmgc.org.

Delphic of Gamma Sigma Tau Fraternity, Inc.

2006-04-21T16:58:00.005-04:00

I am an alumni member of Delphic of Gamma Sigma Tau Fraternity Inc. Delphic is historically based in New York State. It started out as a literary society in Geneseo, NY and eventually became a regional fraternity with eight chapters, one based in Mansfield, PA. Today, the organization is represented by an alumni chapter at the State University of New York at New Paltz and an undergraduate chapter at Binghamton University. The organization was originally founded in 1871 and re-established as Delphic of Gamma Sigma Tau Fraternity in 1987, becoming the first official multicultural fraternity formed on the East Coast. I am an active alumni member of the fraternity and an Executive Board member. I am also the organization's historian, chronicling the fraternity's 135-year history. For more information about our rich history, visit the Delphic Fraternity History Homepage.

Blog's Purpose

2006-04-19T11:19:00.001-04:00

I wanted to create a blog where I can put down my thoughts and concerns about the fraternity/sorority movement in this country. I am concerned about the future of fraternities and the negative connotation fraternities have across US campuses, among the general public, students, and administrators. I hope to create a space where I can share my positive personal experiences with current and future fraternity/sorority members. I am also educated as a communication professional and wanted to find a way to promote fraternity membership online and discuss some solutions to the challenges our organizations face today.