Iota Alpha Pi??

[LEMCV@aol.com]

Nu Chapter at Wayne State University (Detroit, MI) was very small compared to any sorority on campus during my college days (1965-1969) and was granted a 3rd rush period during the Winter quarter in 1967. It was then I was asked to rush. I did and became the first non-Jewish pledge (to my knowledge) in all of IAPi. Each of our chapter's pledge classes subsequent to my initiation had one non-Jewish pledge until 1969 when I graduated. I lost regular contact will all my sisters about 10 years ago when my pledge sister and dearest friend passed away.

The talk in the early 1970's when dissolution was being considered was that the identity of the sorority would be lost if they merged with another and it was my understanding that the majority wanted to continue with alumni meetings and maintain the intergity of what was and had been rather than change. My recall was there was also a lot of dissent regarding the admission of the non-Jewish members and what this might mean to the future, but that my only be my memory and not a significant factor. There was never any problem with diversity in the Nu chapter that I knew of.

[princesskneesa]

Let's hear about some of those Iota memories.

[Syracusegrad'73]

I pledged, but did not join, Iota at Syracuse U. in January (?) 1971. My mother insisted that I "rush". This is what I remember; a beautiful house on Comstock Ave opposite the back of Haven Hall. Marble floors. A cedar closet for formal dresses upstairs. I had just returned from winter break in NYC where I had my hair cut at Vidal Sassoon. Two things that stick in my mind; the girl hanging up my coat looked at the label and when I received a positive comment on my hair, I dropped "Sassoon". Needless to say, I was invited back, although the other 2 Jewish sororities (AE Phi and some other one in a really modern house on Euclid Ave) did not want me. I was Jewish but not "Jappy" and never found my niche at Syracuse. It was a hard 3 1/2 years and I graduated early by taking extra credits. I spent a summer and a semester abroad in Israel, and loved the kids (not Jappy) but then I wasn't at all religious as they were so that was weird. Fish with feathers = my college experiences

[notaffiliated]

My mom started Iota Alpha Pi at Syracuse in the early 40's. She said she did it cause she was barred from joining any other house due to her religion.

[pinksirfidel]

Thanks for digging this thread back up! It is so interesting to read the history of this sorority! It just makes me think about how many other sororities have been forgotten? I hope the Iota Alpha Pi sisters find a way to keep in touch.

Quick question: Was D Phi E (Delta Phi Epsilon) founded upon Jewish traditions?

[33girl]

No. D Phi E was founded as a nonsectarian sorority. Some of the founders just happened to be Jewish.

[Denise_DPhiE]

Phi sigma Sigma was the first non-sectarian sorority (1913 in NYC) and DPhiE was also founded as a non-sectarian (1917 in NYC) but they didn't know PSS was also doing this in same city. This was long before email and facebook folks

Many members in the first 50 years of our existence were Jewish but that has diversified over the years.

[IotaSister]

I was a member of the Iota Alpha Pi chapter at Adelphi College (now Adelphi University), in Garden City, N.Y., between 1957-1961. At the time, Adelphi was largely a commuter college and, as others have mentioned in this thread, joining a sorority gave me a sense of being connected to the campus and to a large group of friends I could always find sitting in the Panhellenic Lounge or in the cafeteria. In those days, all of the sororities and fraternities on campus restricted membership by religion, although there was nothing remotely religious, about any of IAPi's activities, it was simply a sorority which a young Jewish woman was able to join.
Our chapter was large and robust and, particularly in my Freshman and Sophomore years, it formed the core of my social circle. I spent considerably more time in the cafeteria drinking coffee, and playing bridge, with my sisters than I spent in classes. I fondly remember the red pledge beanies, practicing for our competitions with the other sororities, and the feeling of pride I had as a member of Iota Alphi Pi. During my Junior year I became more academically serious and began focusing on graduate school and a Ph.D. program, and a profession, at a time when most of my sorority sisters, like most young women of that era, were more concerned with finding husbands and settling into marriage soon after graduation from Adelphi. So, while I remained active in Iota, it became less and less central in my life those last two years at Adelphi. I did not maintain contact with my sisters after I went on to graduate school.
But I cannot imagine what my college experience would have been like without the sense of belonging and solid social support I gained from being a member of Iota Alpha Pi. I had just turned 17 when I started college, and was still very much an adolescent, not particularly sophisticated or self confident. My older sorority sisters seemed so knowing and more mature, I still remember how I looked up to them, with more than a tinge of envy for their greater sense of self-assurance. How I might have floundered without their help.
I also still remember how, in the days before the Women's Movement, we would sit in the cafeteria and discuss a woman's place in society, and whether many would be wasting their education, and their potential, by becoming only housewives and mothers, and whether woman deserved to expand their sexual freedom, as men seemed able to do so easily. This was at a time when women were not even allowed to wear pants on our campus, unless there was snow on the ground. Those discussions in the late 1950's certainly made me think, and definitely influenced how I felt about conformity and conventional norms of femininity. And it was my older and wiser IAPi sisters who encouraged me to think about such things years before the larger culture began grappling with the same feminist issues.

I am sorry to learn that Iota no longer exists. In the safe, protected sphere of my memory, those lively, lovely young women will always be hanging out together in Panhellenic Hall.

[Barbie's_Rush]

Originally Posted by IotaSister

I was a member of the Iota Alpha Pi chapter at Adelphi College (now Adelphi University), in Garden City, N.Y., between 1957-1961. At the time, Adelphi was largely a commuter college and, as others have mentioned in this thread, joining a sorority gave me a sense of being connected to the campus and to a large group of friends I could always find sitting in the Panhellenic Lounge or in the cafeteria. In those days, all of the sororities and fraternities on campus restricted membership by religion, although there was nothing remotely religious, about any of IAPi's activities, it was simply a sorority which a young Jewish woman was able to join.
Our chapter was large and robust and, particularly in my Freshman and Sophomore years, it formed the core of my social circle. I spent considerably more time in the cafeteria drinking coffee, and playing bridge, with my sisters than I spent in classes. I fondly remember the red pledge beanies, practicing for our competitions with the other sororities, and the feeling of pride I had as a member of Iota Alphi Pi. During my Junior year I became more academically serious and began focusing on graduate school and a Ph.D. program, and a profession, at a time when most of my sorority sisters, like most young women of that era, were more concerned with finding husbands and settling into marriage soon after graduation from Adelphi. So, while I remained active in Iota, it became less and less central in my life those last two years at Adelphi. I did not maintain contact with my sisters after I went on to graduate school.
But I cannot imagine what my college experience would have been like without the sense of belonging and solid social support I gained from being a member of Iota Alpha Pi. I had just turned 17 when I started college, and was still very much an adolescent, not particularly sophisticated or self confident. My older sorority sisters seemed so knowing and more mature, I still remember how I looked up to them, with more than a tinge of envy for their greater sense of self-assurance. How I might have floundered without their help.
I also still remember how, in the days before the Women's Movement, we would sit in the cafeteria and discuss a woman's place in society, and whether many would be wasting their education, and their potential, by becoming only housewives and mothers, and whether woman deserved to expand their sexual freedom, as men seemed able to do so easily. This was at a time when women were not even allowed to wear pants on our campus, unless there was snow on the ground. Those discussions in the late 1950's certainly made me think, and definitely influenced how I felt about conformity and conventional norms of femininity. And it was my older and wiser IAPi sisters who encouraged me to think about such things years before the larger culture began grappling with the same feminist issues.

I am sorry to learn that Iota no longer exists. In the safe, protected sphere of my memory, those lively, lovely young women will always be hanging out together in Panhellenic Hall.

I seriously think this is one of the coolest posts I have ever seen on Greekchat!

[goldendelta]

Originally Posted by IotaSister

I was a member of the Iota Alpha Pi chapter at Adelphi College (now Adelphi University), in Garden City, N.Y., between 1957-1961. At the time, Adelphi was largely a commuter college and, as others have mentioned in this thread, joining a sorority gave me a sense of being connected to the campus and to a large group of friends I could always find sitting in the Panhellenic Lounge or in the cafeteria. In those days, all of the sororities and fraternities on campus restricted membership by religion, although there was nothing remotely religious, about any of IAPi's activities, it was simply a sorority which a young Jewish woman was able to join.
Our chapter was large and robust and, particularly in my Freshman and Sophomore years, it formed the core of my social circle. I spent considerably more time in the cafeteria drinking coffee, and playing bridge, with my sisters than I spent in classes. I fondly remember the red pledge beanies, practicing for our competitions with the other sororities, and the feeling of pride I had as a member of Iota Alphi Pi. During my Junior year I became more academically serious and began focusing on graduate school and a Ph.D. program, and a profession, at a time when most of my sorority sisters, like most young women of that era, were more concerned with finding husbands and settling into marriage soon after graduation from Adelphi. So, while I remained active in Iota, it became less and less central in my life those last two years at Adelphi. I did not maintain contact with my sisters after I went on to graduate school.
But I cannot imagine what my college experience would have been like without the sense of belonging and solid social support I gained from being a member of Iota Alpha Pi. I had just turned 17 when I started college, and was still very much an adolescent, not particularly sophisticated or self confident. My older sorority sisters seemed so knowing and more mature, I still remember how I looked up to them, with more than a tinge of envy for their greater sense of self-assurance. How I might have floundered without their help.
I also still remember how, in the days before the Women's Movement, we would sit in the cafeteria and discuss a woman's place in society, and whether many would be wasting their education, and their potential, by becoming only housewives and mothers, and whether woman deserved to expand their sexual freedom, as men seemed able to do so easily. This was at a time when women were not even allowed to wear pants on our campus, unless there was snow on the ground. Those discussions in the late 1950's certainly made me think, and definitely influenced how I felt about conformity and conventional norms of femininity. And it was my older and wiser IAPi sisters who encouraged me to think about such things years before the larger culture began grappling with the same feminist issues.

I am sorry to learn that Iota no longer exists. In the safe, protected sphere of my memory, those lively, lovely young women will always be hanging out together in Panhellenic Hall.

Wow! This is so cool. I graduated from Adelphi in 2002 and I can't believe how much it has changed since you graduated. Thank you so much for a glimpse into AU's Greek past! I'd love to hear any more stories if you would like to share.

[judgejoyce]

Hi,
I was the Regional Parlimentarian for the NY Metro Area from 19965-66. I had wondered about what happened as well. Apparently there is an article on Wikipedia "In July 1971, the international headquarters voted to disband Iota Alpha Pi (Heller)."

If there are any alums in CT I'd love to hear from you as that's were I live these days. I'd also love to hear from NYC alums as I get into the city regularly.

[AGDAlum]

Suggested reading: "Going Greek: Jewish College Fraternities in the United States," by Marianne Rachel Sanua.
http://books.google.com/books/about/...d=1u0sPzMEwOUC

[pas]

I live in NYC and am very interested to learn more about the history of IAII!

[ajc1103]

I am looking for sisters of Iota Alpha Pi. I found a website/blog that seems to have some research: http://iotaalphapi.blogspot.com

Are there any sisters on here?

[naraht]

Currently updating the Wikipedia page for Iota Alpha Pi. Would appreciate any comments and additional referenced information.