Why did you choose Iota Phi Theta?

[KMOT]

I posted this message in all the BGLO forums!! I posted in the greek life forum, however I am only really interested in the responses of members of BGLO.
MESSAGE:
Those greeks who don't mind sharing please reply!! What reasons if any, lead to your pledging your respective BGLO?

[Tru Blue Lady]

I have a cousin who pledged Iota Phi Theta, Lambda Chapter and he made the choice based on what he felt was a true example of brotherhood. I am not knocking the brotherhood of other frats, but you have to choose what's right for you. I think that when you are in the process of choosing an orgainzation you should look at yourself and if you can see yourself when you look at it's members then that's the one for you.

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"You know she's a lady cause if she's a Zeta, she'll be wearing royal blue and white....."

[suntzu1963]

Aight well I guess I better respond to this because there has been little participation in our forum by my brothers (mainly b/c most peeps don't know about it).

I chose Iota Phi Theta for many reasons, but I will share a few. One anf foremost, I saw this as an opportunity to put my own personal stamp on the history of this up and coming organization. I have always wanted to be a leader and before I became a member I really saw myself if growing into one. Being that a leader must "boldly go where no one has ever gone before", I decided since there were no Iotas at my school (UVA) and few around that Iota was the means to leave my mark in history (I was a charter line member).

Another reason is because I wanted to do something else other than the other 4 well-known fraternities. I wanted to personally dispel stereotypes and simply not be involved in any since my personality and lifestyle closely mirrors the "stereotypes" of each organization at different times. I also knew that many of Iota's members were different folks who were not like members of other orgs. because their variety makes them and thus the organization hard to stereotype.

Yet another reason is that I liked the fact that this organization was founded in the 1960's and embodied the revolutionary, militant attitude of the time period. Iota was founded at the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement and many of our founders where involved on the front line in the forms of boycotts and protest in Baltimore, MD. I liked that since I have very strong and impassioned views about the state of African-Americans in our current time and feel that the Civil Rights Movement should not have and did not actualy end. Because I have some "militant" views and am dedicated to the ideals of the Civil Rights Movement (freedom for all and the destruction of the atttitudes that some people are inferior to another be it in terms of race, creed, religion, gender, or sexual orientation *even though sexual orientation is a newer fight*).Anyways, Iota appealed to me because anyone that formed during that time and that has the history this organization has knows struggle and knows how to work hard which is what I like to be about in my life.

I also liked the strong bond between the members and the closeness of a organization that is still relatively smaller in number of members than all the other members of the NPHC. The fact that we are close makes me really feel the bond and makes me work all that harder to look out of my fellow brothers and also makes me see them really as the brothers I never had.

Finally, one the most important things that impressed me about the organization is the motto ("Building a Tradition, Not Resting Upon One!") and some of the other characteristics/symbols. The motto stuck out to me because it says hard work and dedication. It is unique and it is a tall order to uphold (but one that I look forward to upholding every day/hour/minute/second of my life).


I hope that gives a lil more insight why I (and I'm sure many of my bruhs) chose Iota. It's truly a way of life for me. What I mean by "way of life" is that Iota does not make me who I am, but its what Iota stands for and strives to achieve that agrees with my own personal mission in life and fuels me to be the best
person/citizen/son/boyfriend/brother/friend/human I can be.

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Suntzu 1963
Member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
4-FALL-99
UVA Colony
OW OW
LIPTTDID
W.W.N.O.R.T.

http://www.angelfire.com/va2/suntzuipt4uva

-"Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content, will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual."

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

[greeniota63]

My $19.63 cents:

Iota Phi Theta brings to to the table a dynamic structure and focus. "Building a Tradition Not Resting Upon One". When I was searching and traveling, I was looking not for conformity but for an organization that would allow me to bring my persona to the table. Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Incorporated allows for it's members to continue building and enhancing. Never settling and saying that this is it. Each chapter that I've seen has it's unique style. Where we pool from to continue creating. That's why when people ask me why I crossed over to Iota Phi Theta I say not only because of a loving brotherhood but also becasue of creativity.

Those who are able to see and understand what Iota brings are able to see that Iota is way beyond it's time. That's why we are not only growing at a rate faster than other historically black fraternities but that we are a force to be reckon with.

My heart burns Charcoal Brown and Gilded Gold. Keep reppin I-Phi, keep reppin.


Renegade AKA The GodFather
#8-Hartwick Colony-Sp00
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Incorporated
L.I.P.T.T.D.I.D

[HardRock63]

I pledged into IOTA PHI THETA FRATERNITY INC. because of an infinite number of reasons. I will provide a select few of these reasons.

I did lots of research when looking for an organization to join. I researched all the NPHC fraternities in order of their age. Each time I interviewed members of the older fraternities, I was left with a deep rooted feeling of "this is not the organization for me." I am a man of strong principles and convictions, and there was always something that conflicted with my ideals.

First and foremost, I believe that by the age at which a person enters college, they have molded the majority of their personality and convictions. Therefore it is absolutely stupid to suggest that the person must be broken down to their bare elements and re-built in a new mold. To me, anyone who would allow this is weak.

I also do not believe in stereotypes. In my search, organizations that perpetrated strong stereotypes put me off.

I kept getting discouraged by the fact there seemed to be vast discrepancies between the organizational goals and ideals called out in history books and what I was seeing on a daily basis. I thought my search for a greek organization through which to support and enhance my community was going to be futile. I had one last organization to look into and they were relatively young.

I clearly remember my heart racing as I read the history of IOTA PHI THETA FRATERNITY INC. All the conflicts I had with the other organizations seemed to be addressed by this young fraternity. For example, the motto "Building a Tradition, Not Resting Upon One" was immediately engraved in my mind. The main objective of my search was to become involved and not stop once I had letters on my chest. The motto stressed the fact that this fraternity shared this ideal.

It may surprise many people, but the fact that I would not be given props simply because I had letters on my chest thrilled me. I would have to work for everything I got. This surely would keep my fire burning.

My final step was to see if all this exciting history and information was actually a genuine reflection of the fraternity's direction. After meeting, interacting with and observing several IOTA's, I became convinced that the history and goals of this fraternity had not been corrupted by time. This fraternity fit me.

Everyone knows that being the youngest in a group subjects you to unnecessary bullying. It is human nature to fear and put down what one does not know. It is for this reason that you will never find a timid or weak IOTA. We LITERALLY have to pledge every day of our lives because there is no tradition to rest on.

OW-OW!!!