A brief intro to Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, INC.
 

So I can't sleep and find myself lurking on Greekchat and came across this section on Phi Iota Alpha which has no postings by brothers. I figured I'd be the first Fiota to do so, lol. Below is just a little bit of info on who we are and some of our history(condensed). I know I like to research other orgs from time to time in order to stay informed. Hopefully this can be an adequate intro as to what FIA is about in the event anyone comes across this post.

P.S.
95% of this is copy and pasted.

FOUNDATION:

La Familia of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc., a Brotherhood composed of undergraduate, graduate, and professional men internationally; established on December 26, 1931 is the Oldest Latino Fraternity in Existence within the United States. We dedicate ourselves to the empowerment of Latino community. We provide intensive social and cultural programs geared toward the appreciation, promotion, and preservation of our Latin American culture.


PURPOSE:

As an organization whose roots stem back to the late 1800’s, we cherish and live by the ideals set forth by our forefathers. In this manner, Phi Iota Alpha distinguishes itself from other Greek Letter organizations. Our organization prides itself in the ability to motivate people, develop leaders, and create new ways to unite our community.

We challenge ourselves in supporting and developing a strong network for the advancement of our people. To this end, each member swears loyalty not only to himself but also to a greater cause, his people, and Pan-Americanism.

HISTORY:

Phi Iota Alpha’s history can be traced back to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York in 1898. A group of students, inspired by five great Latin American leaders, we call "The Five Pillars", founded a secret organization for Latino Americans, “La Union Hispano Americana” (UHA). This was the first association of Latin American students ever founded in the United States. This organization expanded, however due to the secrecy imposed upon its members, not many records were kept.

In 1916, at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Pi Delta Phi was also founded aligning themselves to the objectives of UHA. In 1919, at the University of Southern California, Phi Lambda Alpha was also established with similar goals to UHA and Pi Delta Phi. On June 19, 1921 these three organizations fused into one, adopting the UHA constitution, the emblem of Pi Delta Phi and the letters of Phi Lambda Alpha.

Previously on 1904, an organization with similar goals as Phi Lambda Alpha was founded under the name “Sociedad Hispano-Americana” at Louisiana State University. In 1912, this organization changed its name to Sigma Iota and became the first Latino American fraternity.

“La Sigma” expanded very rapidly to Europe, Latin America, and the Continental US. 1931 became the most significant date in the history of fraternities for Latino Americans. On December 26, 1931, Phi Lambda Alpha and Sigma Iota, after several years of negotiations, merged and became:

PHI IOTA ALPHA FRATERNITY INC.

In 1932, to expand the richness of our cause, Phi Iota Alpha developed "La Union Latino Americana" dividing Latin America into twenty-one zones, (each being represented by a Greek letter). The US became number twenty-two, represented by "La Fraternidad."
For Example:
Phi Kappa Alpha -Cuba.
Phi Sigma Alpha -Puerto Rico.
Phi Tau Alpha -Mexico.

The outbreak of World War IIgreatly 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 it's mission. 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 1976, the last active brother from the chapter at LSU graduated, thereby marking the closing of the undergraduate chapter at LSU.

From 1977 to 1983, the Fraternity witnessed a period of inactivity at the undergraduate level. Some efforts were made to re-establish Phi Iota Alpha at the undergraduate level, but these efforts were not successful. In 1984, a group of men at RPI, guided by Phi Iota Alpha alumni brothers , finally revived the undergraduate spirit. Since 1984, our Brotherhood has expanded throughout the United States.


PHIOTA FACTS:

• THE OLDEST LATINO FRATERNITY IN EXISTENCE
• Colors are: Gold, Navy Blue, Red and White
• Mascot: The African Lion
• NickNames: Phiotas or PhiA's
• Highest Grade Point average and graduation rate amongst Latino Fraternities.
• Undergraduate chapters spread across the United States.
• Five Pillars: Don Benito Juarez, Don Jose Marti, Don Bernardo O'Higgins, Don Jose De San Martin Y Don Simon Bolivar.
• We are a non-strolling organization.
• Fraternal Flower: Red Carnation
• Creed: Fuerza, Integridad Y Amistad

What is a FIOTA?

FIOTA: a highly recognized person part of the oldest existing latino brotherhood, Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity Inc. Characteristics include academic excellence, the ideals of a gentleman, the talents of a prodigy and the values of a brother [ see also perfection, suave, dedication]

www.phiota.org

The First Latin fraternity is Lambda Theta Phi Fraternidad Latina, Inc., (Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity Inc.). On December 1, 1975, Lambda Theta Phi was founded on the campus of Kean College in Union, New Jersey. The First Latin Fraternity founded in the United States.

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.

Although there is another organization that claims to be the "oldest latino fraternity" Phi Iota Alpha. This organization claims to have been established in 1931. No actual documentation has been provided or presented by Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity Inc. other than the national website and wikipedia references to have factual evidence of the fraternity's establishment and latin origins in the original constitution. In 1984, a group of determined young men at RPI, upon learning about the Latino empowerment and culture that once existed on their campus, took the challenge of reviving the spirit of Phi Iota Alpha. In doing so, these courageous young men became the new generation of Phi Iota Alpha Latino Fraternity, Inc. Briefly after the re-emergence of the Fraternity, in an extraordinary session, the last Secretary General instituted the members of the RPI chapter as the Alpha Chapter. This is the first ever reference to Phi Iota Alpha as a Latino fraternity.

References:

http://www.lambda1975.org/InsideLambda/OurHistory.aspx
http://www.phiota.net/roots/history
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums...ttons/edit.gif

You are responding to a post from 2009.

It's rude to tell other people what their history is.

Why would you visit the Phi Iota Alpha board to post this? Did you just cross or something?

!!!

Damn neos lol

This.

I believe old Bairds Manuals have listings for Phi Iota Alpha dating back to the early 1900s. And I have seen yearbooks that have PIA listed....

BG

not a neo, think its more rude to deceive people and try to take claim to what is another organizations history, bairds does mention sigma iota briefly and says it was a group of hispanic men but not that the fraternity was a latin fraternity by constitution and ideals, and yes i am responding to a old post because i just found this greekchat site so its new to me, lol. I think I answered everyone.

oh and that phi iota alpha has been dead for over 50years and was reestablished in 1984 to the latino fraternity it is today.