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Why Iota? Why XYZ?
A young man asked me a question, he asked why did I decide to join a fraternity and why I picked Iota Phi Theta?
That question intrigued me so I wanted to ask the same thing to my Brown & Gold family AND my greek kinfolk... Why Iota? Why XYZ? **Disclaimer** If you don't have anything good to say about the other orgs, then don't comment... unity family... unity. ---- A lil background on me... I came from a very poor (monetary) family from the second largest projects in NYC (Wagner Projects-Harlem). There were four organizations that came around my neighborhood (and the after school program I was in). And they were: 1. The Order of the Feather Fraternity (local NYC Black fraternity) www.feathermen.org 2. Pen & Scroll Military Fraternity (local NYC Black fraternity) 3. Free & Accepted Masons 4. Almighty Zulu Nation The members of these great organizations helped me tremendously. They came without putting on any airs or looking down at us (kids). They made us feel comfortable. One thing I will NEVER forget that was said to me from a Pen & Scroll Brother by the name of Howard Banks (RIP); he said, "Don't thank me, you must help the next person..." I knew right then, I wanted to be a part of these organizations. Unfortunately the Feather and P&S fraternities are only in NYC... so the next best thing was a Black college fraternity. I came to Morgan State University in 1987 and in 1988, I became an Iota; in 1990, I became a Zulu and in 1994, I became a Mason. I have said them same lines to a few young boys that was said to me; "Don't thank me, you must help the next person..." At Morgan (in 1988), SOME the other organizations held onto them stereotypes dearly AND if you wasn't a part of that org, then they didn't want anything to do with you (not disrespecting, but telling it like it was BACK THEN). I made friends with three upperclassmen, we hung out and went to parties... I did not know they were Iotas til we went to an Iota party at a crosstown school (Ow Ow!! to the Rho Chapter Iotas of Towson University). They (the Morgan Iotas) came into the party and gave the grip to their (Towson) brothers, then one tried to give the grip to me... I quickly said I wasn't an Iota and the brother said, "Well you came with the Iotas, so you are one tonight" Throughout the night I was introduced as if I was an Iota... with me quickly saying I wasn't every time and getting pretty much the same response from the brothers and sweethearts ... I was blown away. I quickly felt the same feelings from the childhood organizations that made me feel comfortable and wanted. So my Sorors, Fraters AND Sweetheart Sisters... for the sake of the aspirants who are reading these threads (and want to know some of your reason for choosing your particular organization), I ask you... Why Iota? Why your Sorority/Fraternity? Marcus "Sonny" Smith Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. Disorderlies Pledge Class Initiated: Alpha Chapter-Morgan State University Current: Alpha Omega Alumni Chapter - Baltimore, MD NPHC-Metropolitan Baltimore Council Rep **Soon to be: Iota Omega Alumni Chapter - Charlotte, NC |
(This topic has been discussed a lot on here over the years. Aspirants will hopefully research the orgs for themselves and figure out their own reasons. :))
To make an extremely long story short, because I don't want this to turn into the NPHC version of a recruitment thread, one of my many reasons was the national and local programs. |
well...
My first introduction to Alpha came in the form of a movie entitled....School Daze.(suprise, suprise):o Hell, I started researching the fraternity after viewing the movie again in highschool.:rolleyes:
I was very active in my undergrad years and so were the Alphas on my campus. They had their hands in everything student and community oriented. We worked together in a number of orgs on campus. From student mentoring programs to clean up Carbondale (college town) IMO, out of all the orgs on campus, they were the most active. I did myself a favor and researched all orgs before I made my final decision. Although I felt that every org had a fascinating history, national, and local programs, Alpha was consistent in service, not just during their week. The personalties of members also factored into my decision as well. ETA: There was an Alpha who had a lot of influence on me as a child (didn't know he was one at the time). |
@DSTCHAOS
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@Phrozen1ne Thanks for the comment... Quote:
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Cool. I took this part of your post too literally. :p
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@DSTCHAOS
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Yes, I do too, I rather hear from them tell me about Iota than me go into a spew of Iota history...."It started in 1963..." type of stuff...:rolleyes::) Maybe I should have worded it differently as, "...for the sake of the aspirants (and other greeks) who are reading these threads (and want to know some of your reasons for choosing your particular organization) Question: Is Dennis Edwards chewing a wad of gum in the beginning of the video.... LMAO |
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Not what she meant. "Recruitment Threads" are those threads that are long versions of how you came to pursue and make it into your org. They are all over the place on GC. |
@Sensuret I
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I'll bite, though I have written quite a bit about this elsewhere, but it was the programming and the representation that I saw of the women on campus and in my daily life (I pledged grad).
I have not written this elsewhere; as I begin my pursuit I found that many women who had been quite influential in my life and for whom I had the utmost respect and admiration were members of Alpha Kappa Alpha. |
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@DSTCHAOS
Thanks for the comment.... Now ya 'KNOWS' I had to do it....:);) (backs out slowly) |
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Why Iota?
I saw the light It blinded me A Theta Man is what I had to be!!! |
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LOLOL |
I chose to be a Theta man, because I wanted to be different from the rest. Hell, I was different from the rest. I originally wanted to be something else due to family influence, but I decided to follow my own path [a path that led me to Iota land]. When people ask me "Why Iota?" I always tell them that I rather join something and still be myself rather than join and perpetuate a stereotype that was set decades before I was born.
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Well I havent seen any sweetheart posts on why they decided to be sweethearts. At first all I really knew about greek life was DST and Omega Psi Phi (respectively from both of my parents). But on a campus where greek life was dry in 2003 there werent really an options to join organizations. I always told myself Id join a sorority in a grad chapter. But there was this affirmative action bake sale that happened at my school and a riot took place between the black students and the white students. At the same time there was an interest meeting for Iota Phi Theta, and one of the interests (who is now my line brother) asked me if I wanted to be a sweetheart. At first I declined cause I knew my dad would KILL me being a sweetheart for another frat. But the more I learned about Iota and the struggles during 1963, I saw the same struggles happening at my school. It was civil rights all over again!! And at the time there wasnt any Iotas at my school. They had been there for 20yrs but was inactive. So I had never seen an Iota or met a sweetheart before until the process began. So I had nothing but the principles of the fraternity and the legacy of the late Ms Audrey Brooks to embedd in my heart and decide if I wanted to build my own tradition and follow my own path. I saw that being an Iota Sweetheart was nothing that you can mimic. You take the principles of the fraternity mix them with grace and the lady that you are and you develop into your own lady that supports the organization. Iota took me as I was and just developed me into a lady of grace, service, leadership, dedication and perserveerance. And I guess on April 6th it began and ever since then I dont regret choosing being apart of the Iota Family. Ive been put in positions where Ive been able to develop a lot of leadership qualities in me that probably would have never had the opportunity to be used for service if it wasnt for me being in that place and that time, and having to help reactivate a chapter really with the help of no one else but my line sisters and line brothers.
BEING BROWN IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL THING :) (LIVING MY LIFE LIKE ITS GOLDEN) OW SWEET! Kutztown University Alumni Beta Kappa Chapter April 6th, 2006 (currently Chi Omega Chapter-Philadelphia) |
Thanks, Lil Sis, for the great story... I happen to know two of Beta Kappa's charter members-- Teddy Parker (went to my HS) and Ira Murray (transferred to Morgan).
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Awwww yesss....I think I bumped into Teddy on My Space lmao!! I met a few of the charter members we met last fall or homecoming..... speaking of which we're celebrating our 20th anniversary this year so thats a blessing.... lol and by the looks of it, u'lll be celebrating ur 20th iota-versary as well lol
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