With all due respect to my good Kappa Frater, NUPE4 LIFE
, Iota Phi Theta does have a recognized Sweetheart Auxiliary - and it the fact that we continue to have them has nothing to do with being "Grandfathered in."
Quote:
NUPE4LIFE wrote:
Iota Phi Theta became a member of the NPHC in 1996. Their use of sweethearts was sort of grandfathered in. They came in after the ruling came down so they were still allowed to have an official sweetheart organization.
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It's important to note that the NPHC does not and cannot legislate policy for any member organization. In some instances, the NPHC groups will make collaborative decisions in the interest of unity and the greater good but
each of the nine groups retains its own governance and autonomy regarding its business and operational affairs. The NPHC is a collaborative organization - not an umbrella organization.
"Iota Sweethearts" are definitely recognized as a legitimate auxiliary to our Fraternity. This has its roots in the early days of the Fraternity. Before the present days of our being NPHC members, life on many campuses for Iota chapters was brutal. If not for our Hearts, we literally didn't have anyone who "had our backs." The Sweethearts have been there for us time after time after time.
We feel so strongly about our Sweethearts that we actually have a woman who holds the title "Eternal Sweetheart." Her name is Miss Audrey Brooks and she is in her late 80's (She will never tell us her exact age - when asked, she always tells us she is 99 years old!
)
As background, Miss Brooks was an administrator at Morgan State University in the early 1960s and she did many "behind the scenes" things for Iota to protect us from those individuals in the power structure who were trying to do serious harm to the organization.
Miss Brooks actually attended our recent Conclave (Oakland, CA, August 1999) and participated in a workshop for Iota Wives and Sweethearts. She is revered by all Brothers and Sweethearts of Iota and has a special place in our history. (Her son was actually a member of the first pledge line of Iota Phi Theta in 1964!)
With that in mind, there is an important point that should be made here: Unlike Diamonds, Pearls, Angels, et al., Iota Sweethearts never "pledged." They were always there to help and support Brothers and Chapters of Iota Phi Theta. This was always a mainstay of the concept of Sweethearts ...
men cannot and do not pledge women.
In the Sweetheart Workshop at Conclave, Miss Brooks made the statement,
"The Purpose of Iota Sweethearts is to smile and be gracious on behalf of Iota. Anything else is inappropriate." I like that - I like it a lot. It goes to the heart of the matter and it sets the tone for our involvement with young women who choose to support us. Sweethearts are not Brothers, they are not members of a fraternal organization -- they are an auxiliary.
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IotaNet
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
3AH80
Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity
Zeta Nu Chapter, Spring, 1979
[This message has been edited by IotaNet (edited October 28, 2000).]
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