Johnson C. Smith Becomes First HBCU to Admit a Latino Fraternity

[chi-o_cat]

Saw this posted on FB, thought some folks here might be interested:

Johnson C. Smith Becomes First HBCU to Admit a Latino Fraternity

[Quala67]

JCSU was also the first HBCU to host a chapter of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity as well.

[Sen's Revenge]

Prairie View and FAMU have both had chapters of Sigma Lambda Beta. I'm not sure why the media is running with this story in this way. I have respect for LTPhi, but they are not the first Latino fraternity at an HBCU.

[LatinaAlumna]

I thought Texas Southern had a least one or two Latino fraternities prior to this. I wonder how this chapter was declared "the first."

[tld221]

Originally Posted by Sen's Revenge

Prairie View and FAMU have both had chapters of Sigma Lambda Beta. I'm not sure why the media is running with this story in this way. I have respect for LTPhi, but they are not the first Latino fraternity at an HBCU.

What EYE don't understand is how LTPhi claims being the first Latino fraternity (1975) but Phi Iota Alpha considers themselves the "oldest Latino fraternity in existence" (1931).

In December of 1931, the most profound historical event in the history of Latino Fraternities took place in Troy, NY. Delegates from Phi Lambda Alpha Latino Fraternity and Sigma Iota Latino Fraternity assembled with the objective of forming a strong and extensive Fraternity to address the needs of Latin Americans in universities in the U.S. On December 26, 1931, the first day of a three-day convention, Phi Iota Alpha Latino Fraternity was born as both groups agreed on the merger contract to unify under one name, one banner, one organization and one ideal.

In 1975, there were no Latino fraternities in existence in the United States. The Greek-letter organizations of the time primarily catered to Anglo and African-American students and graduates. Lambda’s founders, as men of vision, realized there was a need to unite the Latino students, develop their leadership skills, impart upon them the value of an education, and instill in them a commitment to their community and culture. The traditional student club would not suffice to accomplish such lofty goals. Hence, Latino unity and brotherhood would be achieved through a long recognized institution – the fraternity. This newest addition to the Greek system would be the first in the nation, by identity and by name: Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Incorporated.

Originally Posted by LatinaAlumna

I thought Texas Southern had a least one or two Latino fraternities prior to this. I wonder how this chapter was declared "the first."

Not according to their website: http://archive.tsu.edu/pages/1842.asp

[WhiteRose1912]

Phi Iota Alpha did not have any active undergraduate chapters from 1979-1983. In 1975, when Lambda Theta Phi was founded, Phi Iota Alpha only had one active chapter (at LSU). It's understandable that the founders of Lambda Theta Phi wouldn't know about the near-dead organization, but their claims of being the first (and also the only one in 1975) are false.

This information was all pulled from Wikipedia, so I can't attest to its accuracy.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by WhiteRose1912

Phi Iota Alpha did not have any active undergraduate chapters from 1979-1983. In 1975, when Lambda Theta Phi was founded, Phi Iota Alpha only had one active chapter (at LSU). It's understandable that the founders of Lambda Theta Phi wouldn't know about the near-dead organization, but their claims of being the first (and also the only one in 1975) are false.

This information was all pulled from Wikipedia, so I can't attest to its accuracy.

Ah, I see (I pulled my above quotes from their respective websites, so for sure Phiota's history wouldnt account for losing ALL but one of their chapters). Now, I don't know if it's a big deal to either org but I'd think they'd hash that out.

Unless they've agreed that "oldest", "first", and "largest" can co-exist peacefully.

[Sen's Revenge]

I don't acknowledge LTPhi as first. Sorry. You can't say first if something is older than you.

The way it was explained to me was that there were no undergraduate members of Phiota when LTPhi was founded, so they consider it a dead fraternity which was reborn.

But we know an organization doesn't cease to exist just because the undergrads graduated.

[chi-o_cat]

As the discussion in this thread (in a different lane) illustrates, the concept of being "first" attracts a lot more debate than one would expect.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by tld221

What EYE don't understand is how LTPhi claims being the first Latino fraternity (1975) but Phi Iota Alpha considers themselves the "oldest Latino fraternity in existence" (1931).

Ooooooooh boy.

Not according to their website: http://archive.tsu.edu/pages/1842.asp

There are some orgs missing from that list. Seems to be out of date.

[seaquin]

Originally Posted by Sen's Revenge

Prairie View and FAMU have both had chapters of Sigma Lambda Beta. I'm not sure why the media is running with this story in this way. I have respect for LTPhi, but they are not the first Latino fraternity at an HBCU.

It could be because SLB is no longer part of NALFO. From what I've seen, they've tried rebranding themselves as more of a multicultural fraternity.