Phi Iota Alpha
Encyclopedia
Phi Iota Alpha, established December 26, 1931, is the oldest Latino fraternity
still in existence, and works to motivate people, develop leaders, and create innovative ways to unite the Latino community. The organization has roots that stem back to the late 19th century to the first Latino fraternity
, and the first Latino student organization in the United States. The brotherhood
is composed of undergraduate, graduate, and professional men committed towards the empowerment of the Latin American community by providing intensive social and cultural programs and activities geared towards the appreciation, promotion and preservation of Latin American culture.
Membership in Phi Iota Alpha is open to all men regardless of race, creed, colour, or national origin who challenge themselves to develop a strong network for the advancement of Latino people. Phi Iota Alpha's membership includes prominent and accomplished educators, politicians, businessmen, and four former presidents of Latin American countries. Phi Iota Alpha utilizes motifs from the Pan-American revolutionary period and uses images and colours depicting the time of Latin American revolutionaries and thinkers to represent the organization.
(RPI), Troy, New York
, in 1898. A group of Latin American students organized the Union Hispano Americana (UHΑ) as a cultural and intellectual secret society
based on the ideology of Pan-Americanism
.
The immediate goals of the UHA was to provide a cultural environment for students of Latin America and Spain. The UHA was the first association of Latin American students ever founded in the United States. The UHA expanded to several colleges and universities in the United States; however, due to the secrecy imposed upon its members, not many records were kept.
The expansion and growth of the UHA was based on compromise and the ultimate need of similar organizations to unify and become more powerful. In the Northeastern Province of the United States
, a group of Latin American students decided to organize a cultural and intellectual fraternity; as a result Pi Delta Phi (ΠΔΦ) fraternity was founded at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) in 1916. Shortly after its foundation, Pi Delta Phi initiated a search to expand to other colleges and universities where they became aware of the existence of other similar organizations.
Pi Delta Phi established communications with Phi Lambda Alpha
(ΦΛA) fraternity, which had been recently founded in 1919, in the Western Province of the United States
, at the University of California, Berkeley
. After some communication, these two organizations realized the existence of a non-Greek letter secret society, the Union Hispano Americana (UHA). As a result of intensive correspondence and various interviews, the three organizations merged. In their merger agreement, the three organizations adopted the name of Phi Lambda Alpha fraternity, with the distinctive emblem & constitution of Pi Delta Phi, and the goals & motto of the UHA. This new union was formalized on June 11, 1921, in the City of New York.
After ΦΛA was organized, other societies joined it: the "Club Latino-Americano" founded in 1919 at Colorado School of Mines
; the "Federación Latino-Americana" founded in 1926 at Columbia University
which joined in 1928; the "Club Hispania" founded in 1929 of Cornell University
which joined in 1931; the "Club Hispano-Americano" founded in 1921 of Tri State College
in Angola which joined in 1929 and the Alfa Tenoxtitlan Militant chapter founded in 1929 made up of members of the old ΦΛA in Mexico.
Meanwhile, in the Southeastern Province of the United States
, another similar organization was under development. In 1904, an organization with similar goals as Phi Lambda Alpha was founded under the name “Sociedad Hispano-Americana” at Louisiana State University
. In 1912, recognizing the benefit of the disciplinary background of a Greek system, the society transformed itself into Sigma Iota
(ΣI) and became the first Latin American based fraternity in the United States. Between 1912 and 1925, Sigma Iota expanded rapidly in the United States, Central America and Europe. As a result of this, Sigma Iota became the first international Latin American based fraternity. By 1928, Sigma Iota had lost many of its chapters and therefore sought to stabilize its operations by consolidating its chapters in the United States with a more stationary and well-rooted organization.
Phi Lambda Alpha was seeking to expand throughout the United States and to promote the ideology of Pan Americanism. Sigma Iota Fraternity was in search of revitalizing some of its defunct chapters. Thus both organizations complemented each other and began to work towards the creation of the fraternity now known as Phi Iota Alpha.
, New York, delegates from Phi Lambda Alpha and Sigma Iota assembled with the objective of forming a unified fraternity to address the needs of Latin American Students in universities in the United States.
On December 26, 1931, the first day of a three-day convention, Phi Iota Alpha was born as both groups agreed to the merger. They resolved to unify under one name, one banner, one organization and one ideal. The next day of business was dedicated to preparing the details of revising the constitution, working on the creation of a shield to represent the newly formed national Latino brotherhood. On December 28, by the end of the three-day convention, the majority of the merger was completed. Now the last step in the merger was the ratification of some of the chapters of Sigma Iota that were not represented at the convention.
The fraternity was incorporated as a national organization on October 28, 1936, under the laws of the State of Louisiana
, under the name and title of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity.
In September 1938, the Phi Sigma Alpha zone decided to separate from the ULA and eventually, to form Phi Sigma Alpha Fraternity of Puerto Rico which exists to this day. Twelve years later, Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity established itself, in Mexico, at the Juarez Institute
.
The Fraternity was again incorporated as a national organization on January 9, 1953, when the Secretary of State
of New York accepted the incorporation of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity.
The 1960s were very challenging years for Phi Iota Alpha. The effects of the Vietnam War
and the '60s counter-culture
created an anti-institutional atmosphere amongst many college students. In addition, this drastically reduced the enrollment of Latin American students in American universities. This in turn hindered potential membership to the organization. As a result, by 1968, after many years of struggle, the only active undergraduate chapters were at LSU, and at RPI. The chapter at RPI became inactive in 1973 with the graduation of its Secretary General. The Secretary General took with him the chapter's official fraternity documents. By 1979, the last active brother from the chapter at LSU graduated, thereby marking the closing of the undergraduate chapter at LSU.
From 1979 to 1983, the Fraternity witnessed a period of inactivity only at the undergraduate level. Some efforts were made to re-establish Phi Iota Alpha at the undergraduate level, but these efforts were not successful. Throughout this period, brothers continued to maintain communication, and continued to accomplish the mission of the organization. The history, ideals and goals of the Fraternity never diminished; they simply did not have active undergraduate members to cultivate them. Phi Iota Alpha continued to exist with the many Alumni members and Alumni chapters as they continued to develop their professional lives mostly in Latin American countries and in the United States.
and former Phi Lambda Alpha (ΦΛA) fraternity chapter Columbia University
.
Phi Iota Alpha declared 2006 and 2007 to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. Preparations consisted of nationwide activities and events, including the commissioning of intellectual and scholarly works, presentation of exhibits, lectures, artwork and musical expositions, the production of video presentations. The 75th Anniversary Celebration was launched with a pilgrimage to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on October 13, 2006, and culminated with the Demisesquicentennial Anniversary Convention on the weekend of July 27 to July 29, 2007, in New York City.
United Nations Children's Fund (or UNICEF) was created by the United Nations General Assembly, to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II. UNICEF provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries.
(NALFO) and the North-American Interfraternity Conference
(NIC).
NALFO is composed of 19 Latino Greek-letter sororities and fraternities, of which Phi Iota Alpha is the oldest member. The association promotes and fosters positive interfraternal relations, communication, and development of all Latino fraternal organizations through mutual respect, leadership, honesty, professionalism and education.
The NIC serves to advocate the needs of its member fraternities through enrichment of the fraternity experience; advancement and growth of the fraternity community; and enhancement of the educational mission of the host institutions.
Phi Iota Alpha is also a member of the NIC Latino Fraternal Caucus. One of the only four Latino fraternities that are part of the NIC. Prior to joining NALFO, Phi Iota Alpha was a member of the Concilio Nacional de Hermandades Latinas.
Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was recognized as the National Fraternity of the Year in 2011 by the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO)
Members of Phi Iota Alpha believe that the Latin American community in the United States and in the Latin American countries are in need of new sources of intellectual capital to identify, address and solve the difficult challenges they face. Therefore, the organization is dedicated to developing in its members an awareness of the common values and traditions of the nations of Latin America and to preparing them to become active participants in the process of advancing the social and economic conditions of all Latin Americans.
The fraternity instills in its members a Global Latino perspective. This is an orientation that transcends the existing national boundaries that have separated Latin America. It builds on the spirit and traditions of Pan-Americanism, and supports and promotes actions leading to an eventual unification of all the countries of Latin America.
Phi Iota Alpha chose to use Pan-American symbolism as more representative of the goals and ideals of the organization.
Phi Iota Alpha utilizes motifs from the Pan-American revolutionary period and uses images and colours depicting the time of Latin American revolutionaries and thinkers to represent the organization. This is in contrast to most other Latino fraternities that traditionally echo themes from the Pre-Columbian
period of Latin American history. Phi Iota Alpha's constant reference to Pan-American ideals in hymns and poems are further examples of Phi Iota Alpha's mission to imbue with a Pan-American cultural perspective.
The Colours of the fraternity in English Heraldry are or
, azure
, gules
and argent
.
The Colours of the fraternity in Spanish are oro, azul marino, rojo and blanco.
The Colours of the fraternity in English are gold, navy blue, red and white.
The badge is the most prominent symbol of membership. The Official Badge of the Fraternity is a gold pin in the shape of a Roman
fasces
topped with a double-edged ax and crowned in the superior of the fasces of six stars, each star with an argent pearl
at its centre. The fasces are held together by two ropes in gold that tie the fasces at the top and at the bottom and in which the middle is tied in the form of an x-shaped cross
. In the middle of the fasces, above the ropes lies an argent riband in which engraved to it are the Greek Letters Phi Iota Alpha. The badge dies at the bottom with a golden sphere that culminates the fasces.
The official flag consists of three bands in or, azure, and gules of equal height. The Greek letters ΦΙΑ in Or are located on the azure field at the center outlined with argent. The chapter letter is carried on the Gules band sinister in argent. The flag is modeled after the flag of Simón Bolívar's Republic of Gran Colombia
. The short-lived republic that consisted of present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama.
, coat of Arms
or crest
, consists of a blazon
composed of an Or (gold) Shield
, Gules Chevron
lowered a third charged with six argent stars, three dexter, three sinister. At the fess
point, under an oval azure field, the Latin American Map in Or, surrounded by a steel chain made of twenty-one links. The Greek Letters Phi Iota Alpha in azure in dexter, fess point and sinister of the chief
, occupying a third part of the canton. At the base, a Phrygian Cap
in gules facing dexter. The principal bordure
is double in azure and argent, respectively. The shield is crowned with a frontal steel helm with nine bars and adorned with argent lambrequins falling at dexter and sinister. The crest is formed by a Roman fasces in Or, in vertical position, and a Double-edged Ax. A pair of Lions Rampant with sanguine tongues supports
the shield. The riband for the motto at the Lions' feet, in argent, with azure letters states: Semper Parati Semper Juncti.
National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations
The National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations is an umbrella council for 19 Latino Greek Letter Organizations established in 1998...
still in existence, and works to motivate people, develop leaders, and create innovative ways to unite the Latino community. The organization has roots that stem back to the late 19th century to the first Latino fraternity
Sigma Iota
Sigma Iota , Established March 12, 1912 was the first Latin American based Greek Lettered inter-collegiate fraternity in the United States.- Origins :...
, and the first Latino student organization in the United States. The brotherhood
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
is composed of undergraduate, graduate, and professional men committed towards the empowerment of the Latin American community by providing intensive social and cultural programs and activities geared towards the appreciation, promotion and preservation of Latin American culture.
Membership in Phi Iota Alpha is open to all men regardless of race, creed, colour, or national origin who challenge themselves to develop a strong network for the advancement of Latino people. Phi Iota Alpha's membership includes prominent and accomplished educators, politicians, businessmen, and four former presidents of Latin American countries. Phi Iota Alpha utilizes motifs from the Pan-American revolutionary period and uses images and colours depicting the time of Latin American revolutionaries and thinkers to represent the organization.
Origins
The origins of Phi Iota Alpha began at the Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteRensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
(RPI), Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, in 1898. A group of Latin American students organized the Union Hispano Americana (UHΑ) as a cultural and intellectual secret society
Secret society
A secret society is a club or organization whose activities and inner functioning are concealed from non-members. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence agencies or guerrilla insurgencies, which hide their...
based on the ideology of Pan-Americanism
Pan-Americanism
-History:The struggle for independence after 1810 by the Latin American nations evoked a sense of unity, especially in South America where, under Simón Bolívar in the north and José de San Martín in the south, there were cooperative efforts. Francisco Morazán briefly headed a Federal Republic of...
.
The immediate goals of the UHA was to provide a cultural environment for students of Latin America and Spain. The UHA was the first association of Latin American students ever founded in the United States. The UHA expanded to several colleges and universities in the United States; however, due to the secrecy imposed upon its members, not many records were kept.
The expansion and growth of the UHA was based on compromise and the ultimate need of similar organizations to unify and become more powerful. In the Northeastern Province of the United States
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
, a group of Latin American students decided to organize a cultural and intellectual fraternity; as a result Pi Delta Phi (ΠΔΦ) fraternity was founded at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
(MIT) in 1916. Shortly after its foundation, Pi Delta Phi initiated a search to expand to other colleges and universities where they became aware of the existence of other similar organizations.
Consolidation
Phi Lambda Alpha
Phi Lambda Alpha , established 1919 at the University of California, Berkeley was the first Latin American based Greek Lettered collegiate fraternity on the Western Province of the United States....
(ΦΛA) fraternity, which had been recently founded in 1919, in the Western Province of the United States
Pacific States
The Pacific States form one of the nine geographic divisions within the United States that are officially recognized by that country's census bureau. There are five states in this division — Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington — and, as its name suggests, they all have...
, at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. After some communication, these two organizations realized the existence of a non-Greek letter secret society, the Union Hispano Americana (UHA). As a result of intensive correspondence and various interviews, the three organizations merged. In their merger agreement, the three organizations adopted the name of Phi Lambda Alpha fraternity, with the distinctive emblem & constitution of Pi Delta Phi, and the goals & motto of the UHA. This new union was formalized on June 11, 1921, in the City of New York.
After ΦΛA was organized, other societies joined it: the "Club Latino-Americano" founded in 1919 at Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines
The Colorado School of Mines is a small public teaching and research university devoted to engineering and applied science, with special expertise in the development and stewardship of the Earth's natural resources. Located in Golden, Colorado, CSM was ranked 29th, in America among national...
; the "Federación Latino-Americana" founded in 1926 at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
which joined in 1928; the "Club Hispania" founded in 1929 of Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
which joined in 1931; the "Club Hispano-Americano" founded in 1921 of Tri State College
Tri-State University
Trine University is a postsecondary educational institution based in Angola, Indiana, United States. It has satellite campuses in South Bend/Mishawaka, Schererville, Logansport, Indiana, Indianapolis, Howe, Columbus Warsaw, and Fort Wayne.-History:...
in Angola which joined in 1929 and the Alfa Tenoxtitlan Militant chapter founded in 1929 made up of members of the old ΦΛA in Mexico.
Meanwhile, in the Southeastern Province of the United States
West South Central States
The West South Central States form one of the nine Census Bureau Divisions of the United States that are officially designated by the United States Census Bureau.Four states compose the division: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas...
, another similar organization was under development. In 1904, an organization with similar goals as Phi Lambda Alpha was founded under the name “Sociedad Hispano-Americana” at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
. In 1912, recognizing the benefit of the disciplinary background of a Greek system, the society transformed itself into Sigma Iota
Sigma Iota
Sigma Iota , Established March 12, 1912 was the first Latin American based Greek Lettered inter-collegiate fraternity in the United States.- Origins :...
(ΣI) and became the first Latin American based fraternity in the United States. Between 1912 and 1925, Sigma Iota expanded rapidly in the United States, Central America and Europe. As a result of this, Sigma Iota became the first international Latin American based fraternity. By 1928, Sigma Iota had lost many of its chapters and therefore sought to stabilize its operations by consolidating its chapters in the United States with a more stationary and well-rooted organization.
Phi Lambda Alpha was seeking to expand throughout the United States and to promote the ideology of Pan Americanism. Sigma Iota Fraternity was in search of revitalizing some of its defunct chapters. Thus both organizations complemented each other and began to work towards the creation of the fraternity now known as Phi Iota Alpha.
Founding
In December 1931 in TroyTroy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, New York, delegates from Phi Lambda Alpha and Sigma Iota assembled with the objective of forming a unified fraternity to address the needs of Latin American Students in universities in the United States.
On December 26, 1931, the first day of a three-day convention, Phi Iota Alpha was born as both groups agreed to the merger. They resolved to unify under one name, one banner, one organization and one ideal. The next day of business was dedicated to preparing the details of revising the constitution, working on the creation of a shield to represent the newly formed national Latino brotherhood. On December 28, by the end of the three-day convention, the majority of the merger was completed. Now the last step in the merger was the ratification of some of the chapters of Sigma Iota that were not represented at the convention.
The fraternity was incorporated as a national organization on October 28, 1936, under the laws of the State of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, under the name and title of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity.
International Expansion
After the unification of Sigma Iota and Phi Lambda Alpha, Phi Iota Alpha goal was to expand on the national level and develop a plan for it existing and its potential international possibilities. Phi Iota Alpha sponsored the 1932 convention in New York City with the purpose of forming the Union Latino Americana (ULA) with hopes of expanding its ideals internationally. The ULA was a Pan American governing body of Latino fraternities which provides the framework for the implementation of Pan-American ideology. The ULA organized Latin America into 22 zones with each of the 21 Latin American countries constituting a zone, and Phi Iota Alpha representing the 22nd zone in the United States. By 1937, the ULA had several well-established and functional zones including:- ΦIA – Phi Iota Alpha in the D.C. and the states of theU.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
USA - ΦKA – Phi Kappa Alpha in
- ΦΣA – Phi Sigma AlphaPhi Sigma AlphaPhi Sigma Alpha Fraternity commonly known as La Sigma, is a Puerto Rican fraternity established originally as the Sigma Delta Alpha Fraternity on October 22, 1928 at the University of Puerto Rico by 12 students and a professor...
in (U.S.) - ΦTA – Phi Tau Alpha in
In September 1938, the Phi Sigma Alpha zone decided to separate from the ULA and eventually, to form Phi Sigma Alpha Fraternity of Puerto Rico which exists to this day. Twelve years later, Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity established itself, in Mexico, at the Juarez Institute
Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco
Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco is a public institution of higher learning located in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico...
.
History: 1939–1983
The outbreak of World War II greatly hindered the growth Phi Iota Alpha in the United States. After the war the Fraternity drafted and implemented a new expansion strategy. As a result, the post war period saw positive internal growth for the Fraternity. In the early 1950s, Phi Iota Alpha eradicated any remnant of its political agenda. With only a few chapters, the Fraternity continued to pursue its mission.The Fraternity was again incorporated as a national organization on January 9, 1953, when the Secretary of State
Secretary of State (U.S. state government)
Secretary of State is an official in the state governments of 47 of the 50 states of the United States, as well as Puerto Rico and other U.S. possessions. In Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, this official is called the Secretary of the Commonwealth...
of New York accepted the incorporation of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity.
The 1960s were very challenging years for Phi Iota Alpha. The effects of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and the '60s counter-culture
Counterculture
Counterculture is a sociological term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a cultural group, or subculture, that run counter to those of the social mainstream of the day, the cultural equivalent of political opposition. Counterculture can also be described as a group whose behavior...
created an anti-institutional atmosphere amongst many college students. In addition, this drastically reduced the enrollment of Latin American students in American universities. This in turn hindered potential membership to the organization. As a result, by 1968, after many years of struggle, the only active undergraduate chapters were at LSU, and at RPI. The chapter at RPI became inactive in 1973 with the graduation of its Secretary General. The Secretary General took with him the chapter's official fraternity documents. By 1979, the last active brother from the chapter at LSU graduated, thereby marking the closing of the undergraduate chapter at LSU.
From 1979 to 1983, the Fraternity witnessed a period of inactivity only at the undergraduate level. Some efforts were made to re-establish Phi Iota Alpha at the undergraduate level, but these efforts were not successful. Throughout this period, brothers continued to maintain communication, and continued to accomplish the mission of the organization. The history, ideals and goals of the Fraternity never diminished; they simply did not have active undergraduate members to cultivate them. Phi Iota Alpha continued to exist with the many Alumni members and Alumni chapters as they continued to develop their professional lives mostly in Latin American countries and in the United States.
History: 1984–2000
In 1984, a group of young men at RPI, set upon learning about the fraternity that once existed on their campus, re-established Phi Iota Alpha. After the re-emergence of the Fraternity, the last Secretary General instituted the members of the RPI chapter as the Alpha Chapter of Phi Iota Alpha. In the 1980s the Fraternity dedicated its efforts to rebuilding the organizational infrastructure and to expand to several universities in New York State. By 2000, Phi Iota Alpha had chartered chapters across the United States; which include the re-establishments of former Sigma Iota (ΣI) fraternity chapter Syracuse UniversitySyracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
and former Phi Lambda Alpha (ΦΛA) fraternity chapter Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
75th Anniversary
Fraternal Entities
National Programs
Phi Iota Alpha asserts that through community outreach initiatives, the fraternity supplies voice and vision to the struggle of Latino and Hispanic Americans in the United States and Latin America. The fraternity provides for charitable endeavors through its Foundations, providing academic scholarships and support for community development projects.UNICEF
Affiliations
The fraternity maintains dual membership in the National Association of Latino Fraternal OrganizationsNational Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations
The National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations is an umbrella council for 19 Latino Greek Letter Organizations established in 1998...
(NALFO) and the North-American Interfraternity Conference
North-American Interfraternity Conference
The North-American Interfraternity Conference , is an association of collegiate men's fraternities that was formally organized in 1910, although it began on November 27, 1909. The power of the organization rests in a House of Delegates where each member fraternity is represented by a single delegate...
(NIC).
NALFO is composed of 19 Latino Greek-letter sororities and fraternities, of which Phi Iota Alpha is the oldest member. The association promotes and fosters positive interfraternal relations, communication, and development of all Latino fraternal organizations through mutual respect, leadership, honesty, professionalism and education.
The NIC serves to advocate the needs of its member fraternities through enrichment of the fraternity experience; advancement and growth of the fraternity community; and enhancement of the educational mission of the host institutions.
Phi Iota Alpha is also a member of the NIC Latino Fraternal Caucus. One of the only four Latino fraternities that are part of the NIC. Prior to joining NALFO, Phi Iota Alpha was a member of the Concilio Nacional de Hermandades Latinas.
NALFO Awards
As a member of NALFO, Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has earned the following awards:- Fraternity of the Year
- National Philanthropic Organization of the Year
- Organizational Leadership Excellence of the Year
- Campus Leadership Excellence of the Year
- Professional of the Year
Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was recognized as the National Fraternity of the Year in 2011 by the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO)
Beliefs
Members of Phi Iota Alpha share a life-long commitment to Latin American culture. Involves intellectual development, cultural consciousness, personal growth, personal achievement and social awareness.Members of Phi Iota Alpha believe that the Latin American community in the United States and in the Latin American countries are in need of new sources of intellectual capital to identify, address and solve the difficult challenges they face. Therefore, the organization is dedicated to developing in its members an awareness of the common values and traditions of the nations of Latin America and to preparing them to become active participants in the process of advancing the social and economic conditions of all Latin Americans.
The fraternity instills in its members a Global Latino perspective. This is an orientation that transcends the existing national boundaries that have separated Latin America. It builds on the spirit and traditions of Pan-Americanism, and supports and promotes actions leading to an eventual unification of all the countries of Latin America.
Mission
- Promotion of personal, community, and Pan-American development through the ideals of Simón Bolívar and José Martí as well as other Pan-American intellectuals and their philosophies;
- Creation of a Latin American consciousness,
- Intensification of education with a Latin American character;
- Economic and social mobilization of Latin American communities globally;
- Intensification of contact between Pan-American Countries with the intention of forming a unified network of professional and economic contacts in order to ultimately achieve the unification of Latin America;
- Conservation of the integrity of the Latin American character.
- Rejection of war and violence as a means to achieving unification.
Pillars
The organization has five pillars, respected historical figures from Latin America:Pan-American symbolism
Phi Iota Alpha utilizes motifs from the Pan-American revolutionary period and uses images and colours depicting the time of Latin American revolutionaries and thinkers to represent the organization. This is in contrast to most other Latino fraternities that traditionally echo themes from the Pre-Columbian
Pre-Columbian
The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the American continents, spanning the time of the original settlement in the Upper Paleolithic period to European colonization during...
period of Latin American history. Phi Iota Alpha's constant reference to Pan-American ideals in hymns and poems are further examples of Phi Iota Alpha's mission to imbue with a Pan-American cultural perspective.
Colours
The Colours of the fraternity in Spanish Heraldry are oro, azur, gules and plata.The Colours of the fraternity in English Heraldry are or
Or (heraldry)
In heraldry, Or is the tincture of gold and, together with argent , belongs to the class of light tinctures called "metals". In engravings and line drawings, it may be represented using a field of evenly spaced dots...
, azure
Azure
In heraldry, azure is the tincture with the colour blue, and belongs to the class of tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of horizontal lines or else marked with either az. or b. as an abbreviation....
, gules
Gules
In heraldry, gules is the tincture with the colour red, and belongs to the class of dark tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of vertical lines or else marked with gu. as an abbreviation....
and argent
Argent
In heraldry, argent is the tincture of silver, and belongs to the class of light tinctures, called "metals". It is very frequently depicted as white and usually considered interchangeable with it...
.
The Colours of the fraternity in Spanish are oro, azul marino, rojo and blanco.
The Colours of the fraternity in English are gold, navy blue, red and white.
Badge
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
fasces
Fasces
Fasces are a bundle of wooden sticks with an axe blade emerging from the center, which is an image that traditionally symbolizes summary power and jurisdiction, and/or "strength through unity"...
topped with a double-edged ax and crowned in the superior of the fasces of six stars, each star with an argent pearl
Pearl
A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...
at its centre. The fasces are held together by two ropes in gold that tie the fasces at the top and at the bottom and in which the middle is tied in the form of an x-shaped cross
Cross
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run obliquely, the design is technically termed a saltire, although the arms of a saltire need not meet...
. In the middle of the fasces, above the ropes lies an argent riband in which engraved to it are the Greek Letters Phi Iota Alpha. The badge dies at the bottom with a golden sphere that culminates the fasces.
Flag
Flag of Great Colombia
The Flag of Gran Colombia was based on Francisco de Miranda's tricolour, which served as the national flag of the First Republic of Venezuela. The general design of the Gran Colombian flag served as the model for the current flags of Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador, which emerged as independent...
. The short-lived republic that consisted of present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama.
Coat of Arms
The Fraternity insigniaInsignia
Insignia or insigne pl -nia or -nias : a symbol or token of personal power, status or office, or of an official body of government or jurisdiction...
, coat of Arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
or crest
Crest (heraldry)
A crest is a component of an heraldic display, so called because it stands on top of a helmet, as the crest of a jay stands on the bird's head....
, consists of a blazon
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
composed of an Or (gold) Shield
Shield
A shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace or battle axe to the side of the shield-bearer....
, Gules Chevron
Chevron (insigne)
A chevron is an inverted V-shaped pattern. The word is usually used in reference to a kind of fret in architecture, or to a badge or insignia used in military or police uniforms to indicate rank or length of service, or in heraldry and the designs of flags .-Ancient history:The chevron occurs in...
lowered a third charged with six argent stars, three dexter, three sinister. At the fess
Fess
In heraldry, a fess or fesse is a charge on a coat of arms that takes the form of a band running horizontally across the centre of the shield. Writers disagree in how much of the shield's surface is to be covered by a fess or other ordinary, ranging from one-fifth to one-third...
point, under an oval azure field, the Latin American Map in Or, surrounded by a steel chain made of twenty-one links. The Greek Letters Phi Iota Alpha in azure in dexter, fess point and sinister of the chief
Chief (heraldry)
In heraldic blazon, a chief is a charge on a coat of arms that takes the form of a band running horizontally across the top edge of the shield. Writers disagree in how much of the shield's surface is to be covered by the chief, ranging from one-fourth to one-third. The former is more likely if the...
, occupying a third part of the canton. At the base, a Phrygian Cap
Phrygian cap
The Phrygian cap is a soft conical cap with the top pulled forward, associated in antiquity with the inhabitants of Phrygia, a region of central Anatolia. In the western provinces of the Roman Empire it came to signify freedom and the pursuit of liberty, perhaps through a confusion with the pileus,...
in gules facing dexter. The principal bordure
Bordure
In heraldry, a bordure is a band of contrasting tincture forming a border around the edge of a shield, traditionally one-sixth as wide as the shield itself...
is double in azure and argent, respectively. The shield is crowned with a frontal steel helm with nine bars and adorned with argent lambrequins falling at dexter and sinister. The crest is formed by a Roman fasces in Or, in vertical position, and a Double-edged Ax. A pair of Lions Rampant with sanguine tongues supports
Supporters
In heraldry, supporters are figures usually placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up. These figures may be real or imaginary animals, human figures, and in rare cases plants or inanimate objects...
the shield. The riband for the motto at the Lions' feet, in argent, with azure letters states: Semper Parati Semper Juncti.
Membership
Phi Iota Alpha's membership is predominantly Latino and Hispanic American in composition. Members come from the United States, the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. As Phi Iota Alpha expanded, the ranks of membership grew to include a plethora of prominent and accomplished, educators, politicians, businessmen, and four former presidents of Latin American countries.Politics
- Eric Arturo DelvalleEric Arturo DelvalleEric Arturo Delvalle Cohen-Henríquez is a former Panamanian head of state.Delvalle was born in Panama City. He is a member of the Latino fraternity Phi Iota Alpha. His brother Raúl is a former member of the National Assembly . Both he and his uncle, Max Delvalle, were members of the Kol Shearit...
– Former President of Panama - Carlos Roberto FloresCarlos Roberto FloresCarlos Roberto Flores Facussé was President of Honduras from 27 January 1998 to 27 January 2002 and President of the National Congress from 25 January 1994 to 25 January 1998.- Biography :...
– Former President of Honduras - Mariano Ospina PérezMariano Ospina PérezLuis Mariano Ospina Pérez was a Colombian engineer and political figure, member of the Colombian Conservative Party. He served as President of Colombia between 1946 and 1950.- Biographic data :...
– Former President of Colombia - Carlos Lleras RestrepoCarlos Lleras RestrepoCarlos Lleras Restrepo was a Colombian lawyer and political figure, President of Colombia .- Biographic data :...
– Former President of Colombia - Miguel Hernandez AgostoMiguel Hernández AgostoMiguel Hernández Agosto is a Puerto Rican politician whose service in government has spanned several generations.Finished his bachelor studies at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. Then, went to Michigan where he graduated from Michigan State University with a Masters degree and from...
– Former President of the Popular Democratic PartyPopular Democratic Party of Puerto RicoThe Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
of Puerto Rico - Alfonso Robelo CallejasAlfonso RobeloLuis Alfonso Robelo Callejas , a Nicaraguan businessman, was the founder of the Nicaraguan Democratic Movement . He was one of the "moderates" on the five-members Junta of National Reconstruction that the Sandinistas claimed would rule Nicaragua following the overthrow of Anastasio Somoza Debayle...
– Founder of the Democratic Movement PartyNicaraguan Democratic MovementThe Nicaraguan Democratic Movement is a right-wing Nicaraguan political party with social democratic ideology. The MDN was formed in 1978 and re-registered in 1989. MDN was the first Contra party given legal status in Nicaragua. After receiving a small amount of votes, the MDN lost its legal...
of Nicaragua - Emilio BacardiEmilio BacardiEmilio Bacardi Moreau was a Cuban industrialist, politician, and writer who managed the Bacardi Rum Company and served as mayor of Santiago....
– Former mayor of Santiago, Cuba and son of BacardiBacardiBacardi is a family-controlled spirits company, best known as a producer of rums, including Bacardi Superior and Bacardi 151. The company sells in excess of 200 million bottles per year in nearly 100 countries...
Founder Facundo BacardiFacundo BacardiDon Facundo Bacardi Massó was a Catalan businessman. In 1862 he founded the eponymous Bacardi rum distillery.Bacardi was born in Sitges Don Facundo Bacardi Massó (1814 – May 9, 1886) was a Catalan businessman. In 1862 he founded the eponymous Bacardi rum distillery.Bacardi was born in Sitges Don... - Enrique OltuskiEnrique OltuskiEnrique Oltuski Osacki is the Cuban Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Merchant Marine who participated in the Cuban Revolution.-Biography:...
- Deputy Minister of Communication for former President Manuel Urrutia LleoManuel Urrutia LleóManuel Urrutia Lleó was a liberal Cuban lawyer and politician. Urrutia campaigned against the Gerardo Machado government and the second presidency of Fulgencio Batista during the 1950s, before serving as president in the first revolutionary government of 1959...
of Cuba – Author of Vida Clandestina: My Life in the Cuban Revolution - Manny De Los Santos- City of New York 72nd Assembly Male District LeaderNew York State AssemblyThe New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
of Inwood/Marble Hill
Diplomacy
- Eduardo Vallarino Arjona- Former Ambassador of Panama to the United Nations
- Guillermo Chapman Jr. – Latin American Shadow Financial Regulatory Committee member, Chairman/CEO of INDESA and current Board of Director of the Panama Canal Authority
- Harry A. Diaz- Current Ambassador of Panama to the Russian FederationRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
& Community of Independent StatesPost-Soviet statesThe post-Soviet states, also commonly known as the Former Soviet Union or former Soviet republics, are the 15 independent states that split off from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in its dissolution in December 1991... - Osvaldo Velasquez- Former Council Member of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear WarInternational Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear Waris a non-partisan federation of national medical groups in 63 countries, representing tens of thousands of doctors, medical students, other health workers, and concerned citizens who share the common goal of creating a more peaceful and secure world freed from the threat of nuclear annihilation...
, an organization that won the Nobel Peace PrizeNobel Peace PrizeThe Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
in 1985.
Business
- Luis Bacardi- of the BacardiBacardiBacardi is a family-controlled spirits company, best known as a producer of rums, including Bacardi Superior and Bacardi 151. The company sells in excess of 200 million bottles per year in nearly 100 countries...
family. - Manuel J. Cutillas- Former Chairman of the Board and CEO of BacardiBacardiBacardi is a family-controlled spirits company, best known as a producer of rums, including Bacardi Superior and Bacardi 151. The company sells in excess of 200 million bottles per year in nearly 100 countries...
Ltd. - Manuel Gaetan- Former President Emeritus of the Bobbin Group of Miller FreemanMiller FreemanMiller Freeman Inc. was a San Francisco based publisher of trade books and business magazines, as well as a manager of trade and industry expositions...
- Orlando A. Gutierrez- Former President of the Society of Hispanic Professional EngineersSociety of Hispanic Professional EngineersThe Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers was founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1974 by a group of engineers employed by the city of Los Angeles. Their objective was to form a national organization of professional engineers to serve as role models in the Hispanic community.Social...
Education
- Ernesto E. Blanco, P.E.- Professor of Mechanical Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
- Tomas L. Lopez-Gottardi- Professor of Architectural Design, Urban Design, Drawing and Theory/History University of Miami- School of ArchitectureUniversity of MiamiThe University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
- Juan R. Guardia, PhD- Director of Multicultural Affairs and Adjunct Faculty, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Florida State UniversityFlorida State UniversityThe Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
- Christopher MacDonald-Dennis, Ed.D.- Dean of Multicultural Life, Macalester CollegeMacalester CollegeMacalester College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1874 as a Presbyterian-affiliated but nonsectarian college. Its first class entered September 15, 1885. The college is located on a campus in a historic residential neighborhood...
- José Luis Solache- President of Lynwood, CaliforniaLynwood, CaliforniaLynwood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 69,772, down from 69,845 at the 2000 census. Lynwood is located near South Gate and Compton in the southern portion of the Los Angeles Basin. Incorporated in...
School District - Osvaldo Velasquez- Professor of Medicine of The Universidad de PanamáUniversity of PanamaThe University of Panama was founded on October 7, 1935, with a student body of 175 in the fields of Education, Commerce, Natural Sciences, Pharmacy, Pre-Engineering and Law. , it maintains a student body of 74,059 distributed in 228 buildings around the country.The University of Panama was founded...
- Roberto Antonio Gordillo- President of the National Association of Librarians and Archivists of Mexico & Director of the National School Librarians and Archivists of Mexico & Deputy Director of Libraries and Archives of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit of Mexico.
Media
- Jorge Avellán- Reporter for MyTV20 Detroit WMYDWMYDWMYD is the MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station for Southeast Michigan licensed to Detroit. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 21 from a transmitter on Eight Mile Road in Oak Park along the Oakland and Wayne County line. The station can also be seen on Comcast...
, Detroit - Omar Cabrera- Sports Reporter for TelemundoTelemundoTelemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
WNEUWNEUWNEU is the Telemundo affiliate serving the Boston market, licensed to Merrimack, New Hampshire. The station is owned by NBCUniversal, but is controlled by ZGS Communications as a full-power relay of WTMU-LP, primarily serving Boston's northern suburbs and southern New Hampshire.WNEU-DT is one of...
and Boston Latino TVBoston Latino TVBoston Latino TV is an English-language, culturally Latino production that utilizes new media to showcase the Latino presence in Boston on Public-access television cable TV...
, Boston - Jose Sanchez- Author of "From Hell to Hell"
Fraternal dates of celebration
- April 14 (Pan American DayPan American DayPan American Day and Pan American Week in the United States is observed by Presidential proclamation on April 14 and the week thereof.This observance commemorates the First International Conference of American States in 1889-90, which concluded on April 14, 1890, creating the International Union of...
) - October 12 (Day of the Race)
- December 26 (Founding Day Anniversary and Day of the illuminated Latin Americans)
- September 15 – October 15 (National Hispanic Heritage MonthNational Hispanic Heritage MonthNational Hispanic Heritage Month is the period from September 15 to October 15 in the United States, when people recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States and celebrate the group's heritage and culture....
)
See also
- Phi Lambda AlphaPhi Lambda AlphaPhi Lambda Alpha , established 1919 at the University of California, Berkeley was the first Latin American based Greek Lettered collegiate fraternity on the Western Province of the United States....
- Phi Sigma AlphaPhi Sigma AlphaPhi Sigma Alpha Fraternity commonly known as La Sigma, is a Puerto Rican fraternity established originally as the Sigma Delta Alpha Fraternity on October 22, 1928 at the University of Puerto Rico by 12 students and a professor...
- Sigma IotaSigma IotaSigma Iota , Established March 12, 1912 was the first Latin American based Greek Lettered inter-collegiate fraternity in the United States.- Origins :...
- Union Latino AmericanaUnion Latino AmericanaUnion Latino Americana was the short existing Pan American Governing body of Hispanic fraternities created in the early 20th century. The ULA was established in 1932, during a convention of Phi Iota Alpha in the City of New York....