[suntzu1963]

Welcome to GreekChat, MSUAlumni.

Is the "MSU" in your name pertain to Morgan State? Michigan State?

As for your questions, hopefully I can touch on those.

Originally posted by MSUAlumni:

Was there any resentment that your organization was admitted to the NPHC? What is the general relationship, being positive or negative, with the other organizations of the NPHC?

My brother IotaNet touched on these (especially the idea of "resentment" with our admission into the NPHC) in a previous post. Click here to read that post.

Our general relationship with our fellow NPHC organizations is great. As you mentioned earlier, we all have a general mission to uplift the African-American community and the world-at-large along with a desire to instill, enrich, and enhance qualities of brotherhood/sisterhood in our members so we have a common ground. Our organizations do have a rich, diverse history which can and should be celebrated both individually and collectively.

Originally posted by MSUAlumni:

And if anyone would like to share, why did you choose IOTA over the more "popular" organizations.

I don't completely see my decision to join IOTA as a choice between the "more popular" vs. "the road less traveled". My decision came more on the merits of IOTA and potential impact IOTA could have on the world-at-large rather than what I knew of the other NPHC fraternities. I chose to seek membership in IOTA for many reasons (two of which I will share), one being the time-period in which the Fraternity was founded and the influence that the time-period had one the personality of the organization.

You also touched on another reason when you said:

Originally posted by MSUAlumni:

Whatever the reason, I have to say I respect anyone who steps outside the boundaries of what the majority does and follows their own heart.

The opportunity to bring an IOTA chapter at my alma mater (UVA) was an attractive one to me. That I could make an historical impact at a very historic institution was exciting to me. Although it was not the main reason, it was another interesting factor in my decision.

If you are truly interested in membership, I wish you well in your exploration of your interest and I hope that what you learn about IOTA from IOTA brothers will help you in your decision. If you decide that are not formally interested, but just curious about IOTA and the NPHC organizations in general, I also hope that my response has shed some light on some things.

Either way, thank you again for visiting the IOTA forum.