“I Phi, so fine” is a chant that has not been heard recently in the Historically Black Greek community because the University Chapter of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. has been inactive since 2001.
The fraternity recently has been reactivated, according to a broadcast e-mail.
Bobby Holmes, the president, treasurer and secretary of the University chapter of Iota, said four or ve men attended the meeting held Feb. 18.
Holmes, a political science sophomore, said the Iota state ofcers contacted him to join and appointed him leader of the organization. He is currently the only member of the campus chapter.
There were three members of the University Iota chapter in 1999, but there were no members to carry on the organization when they graduated in 2001, Holmes said.
Holmes attributes the lack of membership and demise of the fraternity to poor promotion. He said the organization was not visible to the student body because there was little activity with programs.
Holmes said the Iota fraternity offers room for individuality.
“You don’t have to t a set mold,” he said.
Jerrel Wade, assistant director of Greek affairs, said Iota’s lack of membership could be attributed to them being the nal Greek organization founded in the “Divine Nine,” which consists of all the black Greek organizations in the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
“They are, in a way, relatively new,” Wade said.
The Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. was founded in 1963 at Morgan State University, according to the Iota Web site.
The NPHC was founded on “celebrating black history,” Wade said.
Wade said the Divine Nine’s membership originally was exclusive to the elite members of the black community and was “more strict” with its joining criteria. He said this has changed over the years.
Holmes said the black fraternity experience is unique because a Greek becomes a member of the organization for the rest of his or her life.
Wade said there is legacy in the membership of the rst eight black Greek organizations.
“There is a legacy gap [with the Iotas] and membership thrives off of legacy,” Wade said.
Wade said the Iotas can attract membership by putting emphasis on the opportunity of members to start their own tradition and make history with the new organization.
Wade said there is potential for membership because only about 10 percent of black males at LSU are Greek.
“They need to come in, advertise and educate,” Wade said.