to the latest issue of Phiota!

PHIOTA!
T H E O F F I C I A L M A G A Z I N E O F P H I I O T A A L P H A F R A T E R N I T Y, I N C .
Spring 2011
www.phiota.info
Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
9322 3rd Avenue
Suite 412
Brooklyn, New York 11209
Contents
From The Editor
PHIOTA! * SPRING 2011
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1
PHIOTA NEWS ARTICLES
National Management
Francisco Lugo
Executive Director
Jorlui Sillau
Director of Human Resources
As the spring semester comes to a
close around the country, I would like to
congratulate all the brothers graduating this
semester. Finishing college is definitely a
milestone any brother can appreciate but the
message I’d like to leave for those of you still
in school is this: Make sure you are pursuing
a degree that you have an innate desire in
and take that desire, as well as yourself,
very seriously. College was a time for fun I
know I’ll never have again, but it was also a
time where I found out what it was I wanted
out of this life. It’s great to be part of the
Phiota! Magazine staff, not only because of
the potential of this magazine but because
I’m doing something I love. I hope everyone
enjoys the articles we got for you in this issue
and I hope that brothers will come to find this
magazine as more of a tool for connection and
insight to what’s going on around the country.
Keep reading……
Ramsey R. Rodriguez
1
PHIOTA!
Spring 2011
Michael Rivera
Director of Operations and
Information Services
Bernie Rebollar
Director of Marketing
Rafael Arciga Garcia
Director of Member Services
Charles Duran
Director of Recruitment
Noe Favela
Director of Treasury
Phiota! Magazine Team
Publications Manager
Steven L. Garza
[email protected]
Editor
Ramsey Rodriguez
[email protected]
Designer
Mark Melchor
[email protected]
Phi Iota Alpha Wins NALFO Top
AwardsPg. 2
-PHIOTA wins four awards at NALFO banquet
-Brother named President of NALFO
PHIOTA Achievements
Pg. 5
CHAPTER AND COLONY
NEWS
Southwest Province
Pg. 11
Stepping and Strolling; is it really
in our roots?
Pg. 15 West Province
Pg. 14
Midwest Province
Pg. 18
Northeast Province Pg. 25
-Awards given to chapters/colonies
The Start of a ‘New Era’
-By Javier ‘Albizualta’ Cruz
-The Story of the ‘NEW ERA’ Phiota hat
-By Ramio ‘Retorico’ Funez
-A brother’s opinion on Latino/a Organizations
stepping and strolling
Convention Guide
Pg. 7
-Get Ready for Miami
-Do’s and Don’ts for Miami
Pg. 19
From the Archives ‘Phiota’s Core
Major’Pg. 28
-By Alberto ‘Demasiado’ Elvira
-A history lesson of PHI I A
-UHD Phiotas Taking Over Houston -LSU Building Better Lives
-Lamar Colony Wins Big -Texas State on US and Mexico Relations
-Alpha Eta Brother Pledges at 43 Years Old
-Epsilon Project UJIMA
-Denison brother wins Highest University Award
-Alpha Gamma’s 10 Year Banquet
-Hartford Brothers Talk Human Trafficking
-Alpha Zeta’s Midnight Run
-Delta and Eta Dominos Tournament
The PHIOTA! is a quarterly professional magazine based on the ideals of the pillars of Fi Iota Alfa. It is the official publication of
Phi iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the ldest existing Latino fraternity, established in December 26, 1931 in Troy, New York, with its
roots beginning in 1898. All articles express the opinions of the authors, and not the fraternity, unless stated otherwise.
Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc., 9322 3rd Avenue, Suite 412, Brooklyn, New York 11209
Spring 2011
www.phiota.info
PHIOTA! 2
PHI IOTA ALPHA WINS NALFO
TOP AWARDS
Atlanta, Georgia – Apr. 2011
Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. won the prestigious NALFO
Fraternal Organization of the Year Award at NALFO’s annual
business meeting. Winners were announced at the NALFO
awards banquet this past weekend.
These awards are the culmination of several years of effort
and strategic initiatives that our members and leadership have
undertaken to strengthen the bonds of fellowship. The Brothers
of Phi Iota Alpha humbly accepted these awards. We would like
to thank NALFO for recognizing all of our efforts and wish to
congratulate all other NALFO award recipients.
The NALFO National Fraternal Organization of the Year is awarded in recognition of an
organization that has demonstrated excellence in:
• Promoting academic achievement within the organization
• Promotion of community service and philanthropic endeavors
• Commitment to maintaining the highest integrity among their undergrads, chapters &
alumni
Phi Iota Alpha’s Executive Director, Francisco “Pancho” Lugo won two
prestigious NALFO awards at the annual business meeting and gala. Francisco
took home the Organizational Leadership Excellence of the Year and
Professional of the Year awards.
Francisco holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Communication and
a Master of Science in Education in College Student Personnel from the
University of Dayton. Francisco currently works as Assistant Director of
Student Activities for Student Programs at the University of Texas at San
Antonio.
The Organizational Leadership Excellence of the Year is awarded in
recognition of an alumnus/alumnae who has demonstrated their commitment
to their organization and the Latino Greek community through their service in leadership positions in
their organization or the Latino Greek community as a whole.
The Professional of the Year is awarded in recognition of established professionals or entrepreneurs
who embody the standards of the Latino Greek community through their professional
accomplishments and community involvement.
3
PHIOTA!
Spring 2011
Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. also won the prestigious
NALFO National Philanthropic Organization of the Year
Award. The philanthropy award is the culmination of a
year’s worth of strategic initiatives designed to improve the
fraternity’s charitable efforts. These include providing better
service to the brotherhood’s national philanthropic partner
UNICEF. By making more of an impact within the
communities UNICEF serves, Phi Iota Alpha encourages
alumni involvement and reinforces the fraternity’s culture
of charity and community service amongst its members. Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. thanks
NALFO for recognizing these great strides.
The NALFO National Philanthropic Organization of the Year is awarded in recognition of
an organization that has demonstrated excellence in:
• Promoting of community service and philanthropic endeavors at the national level
• Participation of community service outside of their respective organizations
• Proven success of national community service programming
• Participation of NALFO philanthropic events
Dr. Juan R. “Varadero” Guardia, Director of the Center
for Multicultural Affairs and Adjunct Faculty in the Higher
Education Program at the Florida State University has been
selected as a Chairman of the National Association of Latino
Fraternal Organizations.
The new Chairman was selected by national representatives
from the 19 NALFO member Latino/a fraternities and
sororities at the annual business meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.
Prior to his election Dr. Guardia had served as NALFO’s
Vice Chairman. The current term for NALFO Chair will last
for two years; untill 2013.
Dr Guardia expressed his gratitude over Twitter after his
election: “I am humbled to be elected as NALFO Chair for the 2011-2013 term. I look
forward to working & serving all 19 member organizations.”
Spring 2011
PHIOTA! 4
PHIOTA ACHIEVEMENTS
Presented to
Phi Iota Alpha
Phi Iota Alpha has donated $1,000.00 to Japanese tsunami victims.
Alpha Zeta
Student Leadership Award
Alpha Mu Chapter
Artes Award
Greek Relations Excellence Award
Leadership Excellence Award
Philanthropy Excellence Award
Campus Involvement Excellence Award
New Member of the Year Award: Jesid Acosta
Man of the Year Award: Marco Blanco
Chapter President of the Year: Sebastian Leon
Highest GPA of All Greek organizations at FSU – Fall 2010
2010 Chapter of the Year
Gamma Chapter
Fraternity of the Year
Lamar University Colony
Outstanding Community Service
Outstanding Chapter President
Outstanding Executive Officer
Outstanding New Member
Louisiana State University Colony
Order of Omega: Sam “Gringuito” Wheelock
Denison University Colony
Distinguished Leadership Award: Steven “Eclipse”
University of Houston Downtown Colony
Best New Organization
Georgia Southern University Colony
Highest GPA
Send awards and recognitions to [email protected]
5
PHIOTA!
Spring 2011
Board of Trustee
Nominations
The fraternity is now accepting Board of
Trustees (BOT) nominations for the 2011-12 period.
Nominees will be reviewed and accepted by the
BOT before the 2011 National Convention. Official
trustee candidates will be presented online to the
membership for consideration. Trustees will serve
a three (3) year term on the Board. If you are interested in being nominated or would like to nominate
a brother, please refer to the information below and
complete the attached form and send it to the Executive Director, FranciscoLugo at [email protected].
Responsibilities:
“The Board of Trustees shall be composed
of at least five and no more than thirteen alumni
members of the Fraternity and shall oversee and
govern the affairs of the organization.” [Phi Iota
Alpha Fraternity Policies, v011511 Article VI,
Section 3a” “In the exercise of its responsibility and
authority, the Board of Trustees determines policy;
reviews existing policy; periodically evaluates the
National Executive Staff and Management of the
organization; approves the mission, role and scope
of the organization and each of its major divisions;
and provides ultimate accountability to the active
members of the organization. Any authority delegated
by the Board shall be subject to the ultimate authority
of the Board. Chairman of the Board of Trustees
shall be able to form committees. An Executive
Committee will be formed to represent the Board in
meetings with the National Management team. This
Executive Committee will at a minimum include the
Chairman plus additional Board members required.
“Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity Policies, v011511, Article
VI, Sections 5b”
Eligibility:
To be eligible to become a Trustee, you must have served
as an Executive officer or have served a total of at least
3 years in the position of Regional Director or higher
(Governor, Director, former National Executive Board
member, i.e. Secretary General, National Secretary)
Five years of Professional Experience which may be
substituted for years of service to the fraternity at the
discretion of the BOT, particularly with the completion
of graduate work. A professional and fraternal resume
accompanied by an in-depth fraternal cover letter will
also be required.
Nomination Process:
Any brother in good standing may nominate himself
or any other brother in good standing for a seat on
the Board of Trustees (BOT). Complete online form
including: Professional and Fraternal Resume, Intent
Letter, and Public Statement of Purpose.
BOT Nominee Review: May 1 – May 31st
Decision on BOT candidacy from BOT: No later than
July 1, 2011, 11:59pm EST
Elections:
“The current Trustees shall report one or more qualified
candidates for consideration by the voting members.
“Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity Policies, v011511, Article VI,
Sections 3a-g”. Active members will elect their desired
candidate to the BOT via a secure, electronic voting system. Elections will be held during the week of July 1723.
For more information or questions please contact:
Francisco Lugo
Executive Director
[email protected]
Spring 2011
PHIOTA! 6
The
Start
of a
‘New
Era’
By: Javier “Albizualta” Cruz
7
PHIOTA!
Spring 2011
Do you remember that first
piece of apparel you bought
finishing your process?
I know I do.
All of the hard work it took to reach
that point, I just could not wait to
get on campus and show the world “I
did it.” As I got older, I wore apparel
less as a way of showing the world
what I had done, and more as way of
showing pride for what my fraternity
had done for me, and what the letters
stood for. Greek apparel, for the most
part, is an external representation
of the hard work and dedication it
took to earn your letters and of the
pride and love you have for your
organization.
Spring 2011
PHIOTA! 8
These three Greek
letters are a symbol that
can take a regular shirt,
hat or jacket and turn
them into so much more.
They can act as a bridge
between generations, races,
languages and cultures. It
was with that in mind that
brother Giovi “Libra” Ulloa
(Sp. 2000 Omicron Chapter
at NYU) and I started Sons
of 31 Ltd., a Greek apparel
company specializing in
hats.
Like so many other
brothers, the first thing
that Giovi and I did when
we crossed was go out and
buy as much apparel as
we could get our hands on.
Some came from online
stores, others from Greek
Apparel stores, and some
we created ourselves. There
was, however, one thing
that always stood out to
us, and that was the lack
of design, quality, and
uniformity there was with
our apparel around the
nation. When we started
Sons of 31 Ltd., we knew that the corner stone and
driving force behind what we wanted to do would
be quality and design.
We wanted to approach Greek apparel the
way any regular clothing brand would approach a
new project; with design at the heart of each piece.
In order to throw our hat in the ring, we knew we
would have to do something that caught the eye of
all Greek organizations, something that had not
been done before.
This is exactly what we have done. After
months of negotiations with the executive body of
Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity Inc. and New Era, Sons
of 31 Ltd. is very proud to introduce the first ever
official Fraternal x New Era Fitted Cap.
9
PHIOTA!
Spring 2011
Full circle for RPI grad’s
long-lost ring
Thoughtful beachcomber returns jewelry lost by RPI grad 50 years
ago
Juan Gonzalez wears a large ring with a red stone on his
right hand. Cracks and a story line run through it.
Now 83, he still remembers what the ring felt like the first
time it slipped off. It was June 1959. Gonzalez was splashing in the waves with his three children in the water behind the Caribe Hilton Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He dove down 5 feet with his snorkel to look for the ring.
His friends ran over to help. They were all bobbing in the water and running their hands through the soft sand.
Nothing.
The class ring Gonzalez had worn since his 1949 graduation from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was
gone. Class rings don’t mean as much to today’s college students. But for Gonzalez, 31 at the time, it wasn’t just a
sparkling hunk of red garnet, it was like his diploma.
“A class ring at that time, it was a fulfillment of our work as a student,” he said. “The fulfillment of our
young ideals.” It was essentially a second wedding ring. It reminded him of the time he was courting his wife.
Back then, he never took the ring off. It wasn’t something he could ever replace.But he never forgot it. He had
three more children. A man went to the moon. Gonzalez took over his family’s fertilizer business in Puerto Rico.
The U.S. went to war, three times. Gonzalez became a grandfather, nine times over. And, along the way, there
were great technologic advances in the equipment that the average person can use to cultivate a hobby in underwater metal detection.
Bill Dobbretz, a FedEx pilot, invested in it. And in April 2009, he had an unexpected layover in San Juan,
a place he didn’t usually land. He rented a room at the Hilton, and waded into the water to his waist. He heard a
beep and pulled out of the sea for the first time in half a century what looked like a red stone covered in coral,
metal and stone to him. An old man’s youth to Juan Gonzalez, whose name was inscribed inside.
Dobbretz contacted RPI’s alumni relations office, who tracked down
Gonzalez. The pilot cleaned the ring himself so it shined again. He
sent it, via FedEx, to Gonzalez at his home in Miami.
Dobbretz said he was just grateful for the thanks. Other people he
reunited with their lost rings never got back in touch.
Gonzalez’s ring is fragile now, and it has cracks. He only
wears it on special occasions, like when he’s back at the school that
shaped the course of his life. On Wednesday, Gonzalez wore his ring
as he shared his story with RPI’s class of 2012 during the Junior Ring
Ceremony where they put on their own rings for the first time.
Be careful with the things you value.
What’s easy to lose, after all, can be hard to find.
Orginally publised by Times Union
Reprinted with promission
Spring 2011
PHIOTA! 10
O My GOD!
PHIOTA’S IN THE
HOUSE!
by Carlos ‘Suazo’ Villegas
HOUSTON, TX.
Houston is home to countless universities.
Whether it be the University of Houston school
system, Texas Southern University, Houston
Baptist University, Rice University, or surrounding schools such as Prairie View University, Greek life is
not a new ordeal to the city. However, Phiotas are new to Houston, at
least when it comes to undergrads. Just like Houston is home to countless universities,
Houston is also home to around over fifty alumni brothers of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity Inc. The irony in this fact is that just seven months ago, there was no chapter or colony of Phi Iota Alpha established
in any of the before mentioned schools. With great strength, integrity, and perseverance of friendship,
Houston is now booming with undergraduates and events sponsored by the Oldest Latino Fraternity in
Existence. Whether it is mixers with well established organizations, community service events focused
towards children seven and younger, or fundraisers to promote the work of UNICEF, the undergraduate
members of Phi Iota Alpha have made Houston, TX a home
for one of the most prestigious fraternities in the nation.
PHIOTA TIGER BUILD
BEtTER LIVES
By Daniel ‘Chistiano‘ Toro
Greek Week is a community project in which LSU Greek
Life partners up with the Baton Rouge chapter of Habitat for Humanity to build two houses in one week at the Rosewood subdivision and this year more than $121,000 was
raised and participation record by Greeks was yet again broken.
“I can say that my Greek week experience was very fun and exciting,” brother, Oscar Melendez mentioned.
He describes his experiences:
“First, I arrived for my designated shift at 8 a.m. and got on the bus at the TKE/SAE parking lot. Appropriate name
tags and correspondent fraternity stickers were handed so the coordinators of Greek week and others participating
could identify us. We were asked to lay sod around the newly built houses done by other Greeks earlier in the week.
We got gloves and ‘had at it’ until we were finished. While doing this, we talked with several sorority girls since
we were the only men there. After we finished our task, we started painting the houses and caulking the roof. I
definitely had fun helping the community and meeting more Greeks. It was a nice friendly environment and it was
nice to see us, the LSU Greek community, come together for a common purpose of helping families. We are giving these families a new home and a brand new, safe neighborhood to live in and I know I will be forever proud of
what we had accomplished during that week. At the end of the shift, we all came together to inaugurate the newly
built houses of the two families. We all said a prayer and blessed the homes and the families that were going to live
there. It goes to show that when we all work together we accomplish great things.
11
PHIOTA!
Spring 2011
Young
Leones, Taking Over
The Jungle
By Pedro ‘ Pica Piedra’ Deharo
After only two semesters of showing their presence at Lamar University, the distinguished Dons take
home four Greek awards for Chapter President, Outstanding Executive Officer, Outstanding New Member,
and, as a colony, received an award for Outstanding
Community Service. The Lamar Phiotas have asserted their presence in Lamar Greek Life and they have
proved that they are here to stay. Individual recipients
of these awards were Luis Lopez for Chapter President,
Arturo Ortega for Outstanding Executive Officer, Manuel Mandujano for Outstanding New Member. Congratulations brothers and keep up the solid work.
Texas
State On
U.S. &
Mexico
Relations
-by Nathan ‘Chapo’ Salazar
On Mar. 3, 2011, the Dons of Texas State University presented a major event on campus titled “U.S.
& Mexico Relations” hosted by Jim Kuykendall, the U.S.
consulate of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Mr. Kuykendall
gave an impressive presentation with a focus on immigration, politics, drug trafficking, and the economy between the Unites States and Mexico. As a Hispanic
Serving Institution, some of these statistics were surprising to our audience including myself. In economic
terms, good relations with the United States have long
been critical for Mexico, given that its northern neighbor is its principal trading partner, both for exports
and imports. For its part, the United States gives serious consideration to its relations with Mexico because
of Mexico’s strategic location on the United States’
southern border as well as the fact that Mexico has the
largest oil deposits in Latin America. We constantly
hear the saying that “Mexico can’t advance as a nation
without the help of United States,” but it’s vice versa
that the United States can’t advance as a nation without
help of Mexico as Mr. Kuykendall pointed out.
Relations between the countries often have
been characterized by conflict. We often see this stereotype as Americans in the ongoing drug war Mexico faces. Drug trafficking is a pressing issue for both
Mexico, as a producer and point of entry of the drug
trade from South America into the United States drug
market, and the United States, as a major consumer.
“The trafficking of drugs would not exist without
the enormous and growing market in the United
States,” Mr. Kuykendall stated, thus implying that
responsibility fall on Mexico’s northern neighbor. Nevertheless, the corruption and crime provoked by the
growing drug business in Mexico have led the Mexican government to take domestic antidrug measures
as stated by Jim Kuykendall.
The presentation was followed by a 25
minute discussion panel opened to the audience. One thing is for certain; the two
countries are going to have to cooperate to fix the ongoing problem of drugs
and immigration. A crowd of 100 plus
left with the realization that relations
between the U.S. & Mexico affects everyone not, just Latinos and Latinas.
One notable figure in the audience was
mayor of San Marcos, Daniel Guerrero.
We also had regional support from the
Alpha Eta Chapter from UTSA and the University of
Texas Colony in. The event was a great success and the
Dons of Texas State are making a statement that they
are the premiere fraternity on campus.
Southwest Province
Southwest
Province
Spring 2011
PHIOTA! 12
Ramsey ‘Azar’ Rodriguez
After he puts on a shirt, hat,
and tiki sporting the letters of Phi
I A, the last words that go through
Enrique Martinez’s mind is the
fashion faux paux, multi-Greeking.
Enrique, along with two other
individuals, became a brother of
Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity spring
2010 semester but even more
intriguing than his nonchalance
to this fashion stereotype is the
fact that this fraternal neophyte
is older than both of his line
brothers combined. “I do it so
people can see who I am and
what I represent,” Enrique said.
Commonly seen as a tacky
practice, multi-Greeking is the
act of dawning more than one
article of clothing or accessory
representing one’s Greek letters.
What at first was looked down
upon by his chapter brothers
has become a positive staple in
Enrique’s everyday practices.
Along with two line brothers,
the ex-marine crossed into the
realm of Phi Iota Alpha as the
ace of the line at the age of 43.
Enrique first started college
in the spring of 1988 at the age of 19.
Entering his second year in the Marine
Corps, Enrique just returned from
a one year deployment in Okinawa,
Japan when he was reassigned to Camp
Pendleton in southern California.
“Being on my own and single was
particularly stressful but I also saw
it as a way to expand my horizons,”
Enrique said. “It was when I started
to really develop my personality and
13
PHIOTA!
Spring 2011
“The best experience
I had there was my first Mardi Gras
at Fat Tuesday and spending all day
on Bourbon Street,” Enrique said,
relishing in his memories. “Beside
the fun, it was a good life experience
because of the culture of the city.”
Being young and in the military,
coupled with the lifestyle of New
Orleans would soon cause Enrique’s
marriage to dissolve. Although
divorced, Enrique received several
merits for performance in the
service. He would
be reassigned again
to Camp Pendleton
where he would take
a two year hiatus from
his schooling but, in
1995, he was assigned
a recruiting job in
south Texas. Working
in the Rio Grande
Valley would become an
eye opener for Enrique
who found that he had
a talent for introspective
communication. “I could
communicate effectively
with a gamut of people from high
school students to cops,” Enrique
said. “I could easily make people
feel more comfortable talking
about personal issues and matters
they normally wouldn’t speak
on.” While his work hours didn’t
allow him to take classes, Enrique
would make the conscious
decision to change his major to
psychology.
In 1999, he was assigned to
San Diego, California where he
enrolled at National University
to pursue his new scholastic
endeavor. By this time, Enrique
felt that he intellectually outgrew
the military, now pursuing a
different life journey. He started
to establish himself financially
and in 2005, retired from the
Marines and earned his associates
degree. “It was like going from an
infant to a child in the new world,”
says Enrique. “I was going to miss the
comradery but I knew what was left
for me was giving back to those who
couldn’t give to themselves.” After
going through an emotional breakup,
Enrique decided to move back to
Texas and continued his education
at Texas State University in 2008. He
would transfer to UTSA in the spring
of 2010 and inevitably make his
decision to go Greek and pledge Phi
Iota Alpha.
Project UJIMA
Greek Leadership
Conference
By Julian ‘Fiable’ Reyes
On Saturday, Mar. 26, 2011, The
Alpha Epsilon Chapter of Phi Iota
Alpha Fraternity, Inc. participated in a
one of a kind event on the University
of Southern California (USC) campus. Project UJIMA Greek
Leadership Conference was an event hosted by the Phi Chapter of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Our very own Alpha Epsilon chapter served as a gold level co-sponsor.
Project UJIMA Greek Leadership Conference was open to members of the Southern California
Greek Community and provided a forum to discuss issues facing our diverse community, in hopes
of bridging the gaps created by a lack of cross-cultural awareness and spatial distances. UJIMA is a
Swahili term which translates to “collective work and responsibility.” It is part of a communitarian
philosophy that both organizations felt best described what was being promoted through the UJIMA
Project.
Greek lettered organizations from various councils and campuses, as well as USC campus
organizations, participated in this collective conference. Workshops facilitated the discussion of
issues facing LGBT and the Greek community, Stereotypes, Double Standards, Glass Ceilings, and
Defining and Developing Leadership. The USC Latina/o Student Assembly demonstrated their
support for this event by providing lunch for all conference attendees. Immediately following the
conference, Phi Iota Alpha and Omega Phi Beta made the drive to downtown Los Angeles’ Midnight
Mission to distribute the personal lunches still available from the event.
The conclusion of this eventful day was the Scratch the Surface II fundraiser party in Santa
Monica, Ca. Proceeds raised through the party will benefit the Japan relief efforts through the
American Red Cross as well as support the efforts of our national philanthropy’s
UNICEF TAP project.
Spring 2011
PHIOTA! West Province
Southwest Province
Age is
Nothing but
a Number
social skills.”
Since most of his friends were from
bigger cities, Enrique became more
urbanized than anything, adapting a
fondness for hip-hop which was just
becoming popular at the time. With
little guidance he did what he felt was
necessary to go to college and pursue
a degree. A little over a year later,
Enrique would find himself married
and reassigned once more to New
Orleans in June of 1989. New Orleans
would be a roller coaster of emotion
for Enrique, adjusting to married life
as well as the lifestyle New Orleans
had to offer.
14
LGLO’s
Stepping &
Strolling:
Is It Really
In
Our Roots?
By Ramiro ‘Retorico’ Funez
Note: I am a member of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity,
Inc., but the following editorial does not represent
the opinions of the fraternity, rather my opinions
as a Latino college student.
In the fall of 2009, I began my college career
at St. John’s University, a leading Catholic University in Jamaica, New York.
Throughout my first week on campus, fraternities and sororities paraded through almost
every social event imaginable, handing out flyers
and promoting their upcoming programs. As I
observed their behaviorisms upon attending these
social events, I began to notice something that I’d
never seen before; stepping and strolling.
At the Fall 2009 Greek Organization Fair,
I stood in awe as I watched members of various
black Greek-lettered organizations strolling to the
rhythmic sounds of hip-hop and stepping on the
hard concrete floors of the Residence Village.
Subsequently, members of Latino Greeklettered organizations stepped onto the yard and
proceeded onto their stepping and strolling routines.
Seeing this really confused me.
After becoming an interest of Phi Iota Alpha, speaking to brothers about stepping/strolling
and conducting research on the topic, I discovered
a few things.
Firstly, I discovered that stepping originates
from percussive dance routines, popularized by
black Greek-lettered organizations (Divine Nine)
15
PHIOTA!
Spring 2011
and R&B groups of the mid twentieth century,
that pays homage to the occurrences experienced
by black slaves in the southern United States during the 18th and 19th century. In fact, many academic sources say that stepping originates from
the means that slaves in the south would communicate with each other. Many of these sources also
mention slave owners forcing their slaves to step
as a form of personal entertainment.
Another thing that I discovered was that
strolling, historically referred to as “line dancing”,
was also practiced and innovated by black Greeklettered orgaanizations that wanted to exhibit remembrance of their roots as slaves of the southern
United States. Typically dancing in height order
and featuring synchronized dance motions, strolling is symbolic of the way that African slaves in
the United States were chained together by their
arms and legs in long lines that forced everyone in
the link to make the same body movements.
That’s why oftentimes you’ll see black Greeklettered organizations strolling and making movements that resemble the breaking of chains.
After digesting this historical informatizzon,
I began to think how remarkable and beautiful it is
that these black Greek-lettered organizations embed such a historical context to their performances. It truly has significance and creativity.
At this point, I started to wonder why Latino organizations step and stroll if its roots originate from hegemony imposed on black slaves in
the United States during the 18th-19th century,
not black slaves in Latin America.
Upon asking members of LGLO’s (Latino
Greek-lettered Organizations) that step and stroll,
I started to receive a plethora of disingenuous and
generic responses that didn’t really match up to
my research.
Some of the most common responses were:
“It’s in our roots, we all have African heritage,”
or “We’re paying homage to our African roots by
stepping and strolling,”
These comments made me even more opinionated:
Firstly, stepping and strolling originates
from black slavery in the UNITED STATES, not
Latin America. So that claim renders itself inaccurate and historically incorrect. Black slaves in
Latin America had a completely different culture
and complexity than black slaves in the United
States. It’s a common misconception to group the
culture of black slaves of the United States with
black slaves of Latin America.
Second, by LGLO’s using stepping and
strolling to represent the culture of Latin America,
they are oversimplifying the complexity of the Latino.
Although there was a significant presence
of black slaves in countries like the Dominican
Republic, Panama, Honduras, Colombia, Cuba,
Puerto Rico and Brazil, the black population of
Latin America accounts for less than 15 percent of
the total population in Latino countries stretching
between Mexico and Argentina.
Now by LGLO’s using these inaccurate and
historically incorrect claims that stepping and
strolling also has origins in Latin American slavery, members of these organizations are assuming
cultural traditions that aren’t even theirs to begin
with.
If you’re from a country like Uruguay, Argentina or Chile that has an extremely low percentage of black slaves in its history and you are
a member of a LGLO that steps or strolls, you
are oversimplifying your cultural complexity to a
standard that isn’t originally yours.
It is important to add that most LGLO’s have
a mission of uniting Latinos together and focusing
on cultural and social awareness. Now my question is, why are these organizations oversimplifying the Latino culture the fallacies of black slaves
in Latin America stepping and strolling?
I feel that many of these organizations use
this fallacy claim of “stepping and strolling being
in our African heritage” as a marketing technique
to join the bandwagon of minority organizations
that step and stroll.
I mean let’s face it, stepping and strolling
is beautiful, creative and definitely popular. Now
LGLO’s have capitalized on this and have tweaked
the history of stepping and strolling from black
slavery in order to give them reason to participate
as well. In respects to business growth and marketing development, this was a smart decision. Now
in respects to historical context and knowledge of
accurate roots, it’s completely false and disingenuous.
I don’t see members of BGLO’s that are of
Haitian background dancing to flamenco or music from Sevilla, claiming roots from Spain, as the
island was at one point ruled under the Spanish
crown. No. They stick to their own roots, and LGLO’s should stick to their own and not fabricate
fictitious historical fallacies that allow them to join
the bandwagon of stepping and strolling.
The reality of it is that stepping and strolling is not in the roots of Latin America. It is in the
roots of black slaves from the United States.
Now I GUARANTEE that there will be a ton
of people remarking this story as untrue or wrong.
However, a lot of LGLO’s are so indoctrinated with
this fallacy of stepping and strolling that they will
defend it to their death.
I just want to leave readers with this challenge. Before you embrace a particular cultural
practice, think about where it comes from and do
your research.
Now, I must fend off the people who will
comment on this story with hate and irrationality
controlled by their indoctrination of false historical context. I’m sure it will be exhausting.
Sources:
-Fine, Elizabeth. Soulstepping: African American
Step Shows. Chicago: University of Illinois Press,
2003.
-Malone, Jacqui. Steppin on the Blues. Chicago:
University of Illinois Press, 1996.
-Ross, Lawrence Jr. The Divine Nine - The History
of African American Fraternities and Sororities.
Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2001. a
Spring 2011
PHIOTA! 16
By Mike Paisner
W
hat does it mean to be the first person in the history of
your family to go to college? It means accomplishment,
moving forward, closing the gap between what could be
and what is. Taking it a step further, what does it mean to be the first
person in your family to go to professional school? For me it meant
realizing a lifelong goal that took me nine years of focus and dedication to achieve.
Getting into dental school was not an easy challenge. As a
matter of fact, it was the most challenging obstacle in my life. Being
a Latino I had to realize the average amount of Latino men applying versus those getting accepted was the lowest of all ethnic groups.
Even looking at the most diverse dental schools the number of Latino
students usually was less than ten out of one hundred fifty. I knew I
had a niche to fill, I was going to become a dentist that caters to the
underserved Latino population.
So what does it take to even qualify to get into dental school?
You have to maintain stellar grades, achieve a competitive score on
the Dental Admissions Test (aka DAT), create a resume that would
qualify you for saint hood and possess the ability to be good with
your hands (My line name means I’m good with my hands if you
were wondering). Sounds simple enough, good grades, plenty of
community service, another BS standardized exam, and having hobby that requires hand dexterity, such as building model cars. But here
is the catch, you are competing for 130 or so seats on average with an
applicant pool of over 5000 people. Statistically, your chances are low
just looking at raw numbers. In addition to the low acceptance rate,
applicants with family in the dental field have, and I wish I wasn’t
exaggerating, ten times the chances that any other applicant has simply because they have dentists in the family. But wait, remember that
Latino’s make up the smallest demographic of dental students which
gave me a good chance in hell.
How, on this earth did I make it into dental school with adversity that was all against me? I worked hard. When I was 15 years old
I toured dental schools close to my house and talked to admissions
deans about what I needed to do. I took up guitar building to better my hand skills. In college I never wasted a minute. I never went
to football games, always went to office hours, always kept my work
organized, and never let anything distract me from what I wanted to
achieve in life. I shadowed dentists for two years to get experience
in a dental office. I traveled to Nicaragua to work with local dentists
serving the underserved. And I kept my grades up only missing the
dean’s list a handful of times. I even scored above the national av-
erage on my DAT. The first time I applied to dental school I was
turned down at every institution.
Having all of your dreams of success robbed from you
with the phrase “application denied” was a cold reminder of reality. The reality that I needed to step up my game even further
to beat the statistic.
17
PHIOTA!
Spring 2011
Being the first person to ever attempt college in my
family let alone a Doctorate degree tells you how much I
knew about the process. So I got help from a college counselor that I had to fund myself. She taught me the “game”.
The game is what professional schools play with their
applicants to weed out people that don’t either understand
what they are getting into or just don’t understand that every aspect of your life from freshman English to facebook
is looked at with a fine tooth comb. I changed my personal
statement to reflect why I wanted to be a dentist, which
was the most important part. Dental schools don’t want
to have to ask you “Why dentistry”, although they will, because they want you to answer that in your personal statement. Always apply right when the cycle opens. I made
the mistake of applying the first time four months after
the cycle opened. Do not let anybody tell you to go into an
interview cold, with the expectation that the interviewer
wants to see a completely candid side of you. The person
in that room is going to ask you extremely specific questions about your life, your goals, the school in specific, the
location and the person you are and want to be in about
fifteen minutes. Stuttering, fumbling, incoherence, and
answering the questions in a way that they don’t like could
mean the difference between going to school and waiting
another year, spending another 5000$ on the application
cycle and putting yourself through enough stress to run a
small country.
Fast forward to my second time around when I dotted the I’s and crossed the T’s. I wrote and rewrote my personal statement so many times I have a folder dedicated to
the drafts alone. My personal statement was so go http://
www.denison.edu/leadershipawards/2011/flores.jpg
od
it was featured on my counselor’s website. I kept pristine
documentation of every school that sent me a secondary
application. Every schools wanted something different and
a different time in a different way. I would write out hundreds of possible interview questions and answer them according to the school. When I walked into my interviews
there was literally nothing that could have surprised me.
I interviewed at three schools and I made it into three
schools. The dream has become a reality and if you think
for one moment that you can’t do something in your life
based on a statistic, think again, open your eyes wider,
stretch your time farther, cut out the fat in your life and get
it done. Excuses are tools of the incompetent used to build
monuments to nothing, put down the bricks and pick up
the books.
Brother Earns
Highest Award at
Denison University
Source: http://www.denison.edu/leadershipawards/2011/
In
a ceremony held on April 11 in the Welsh
Hills Room of Burton D. Morgan Center,
Denison’s new Vice President of Student Affairs
Laurel Kennedy presented the university’s 2011 Distinguished Leadership Award to 24 deserving seniors.
The honor is awarded annually to graduating seniors recognizing their extraordinary commitment to excellence, leadership and dedication to Denison and surrounding communities. About this year’s event, Dr. Kennedy said, “For many years, I have sat in the audience and watched as these awards were presented. This year, I get
to make the presentations myself, and I am deeply moved by this opportunity, having read the impressive dossiers
of the students who are seated before me.”
Kennedy added, “While we hope that students are changed by their experiences while at Denison, we can
say that we have been changed as a college by your presence. You have moved us forward in important and visible
ways, and we will never go back. For that more than anything, we acknowledge you today.”
Midwest Province
How I Got to Dental School
Steve Flores
B.A. Economics; Hyde Park, Mass.
Posse Foundation Full Tuition Leadership Scholarship; Edwards Scholarship; Mary
C. McMackin Scholarship; Distinguished Leadership Award; Office of Campus and
Residential Life - Head Resident, Resident Assistant; Office of Admissions - Transportation Coordinator Intern; La Fuerza Latina – President, Treasurer; Denison
Men’s Club Volleyball – President; Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc, Denison University
Colony - Founder, President; Multicultural Recruitment and Scholarship Committee
– Student Representative; Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee – Student
Representative; Assistant Director of Residential Life Search Committee Member;
Big Brother/Big Sisters Lunch Break Program - Big Brother Volunteer; Gospel Choir;
Club Tennis; Zumba Club
Presentation Remarks:
Steve, you are president of Phi Iota Alpha, La Fuerza Latina and the Men’s Volleyball Club. You are a Big Brother,
a member of the Gospel Choir, and your recently were featured leading a Zumba class for Big Red’s Big Day. You
have been an RA and an HR and you have worked for Admissions. Sometimes a list as varied at that suggests
breadth without depth. But you are a deep guy. As Kim Showman writes, you have been an agent of change at
Denison: bright, motivated, talented, mature. Toni King wrote, “Steve becomes involved for the long haul rather
than the big splash. Shavely Peralta writes that you believe in the power of community. Your own comments attest that you know yourself well, because you talk about the importance of the interpersonal--of connecting at a
human level, of eliciting a smile not by being a jokester or keeping it light, but by going to the heart and learning
about others’ aspirations, and then seeing how we can achieve those collectively. La Fuerza has changed dramatically in the last few years, and Phi Iota Alpha didn’t exist when you arrived four years ago. It has been with quiet
persistence, attention to small details, and a spirit of kindness that you have pressed for changes. Each alone has
been subtle, but the totality is remarkable. Steve, we are better for your contributions to the college, and we are
better for knowing you. Thank you.
Spring 2011
PHIOTA! 18
Agenda
Thursday July 21, 2011
12:00 pm - 05:00 pm
01:00 pm - 05:00 pm
05:00 pm - 07:00 pm
10:00 pm
Friday July 22, 2011
08:00 am - 05:00 pm
09:00 am - 12:00 pm
12:00 pm - 02:00 pm
01:00 pm - 05:00 pm
03:00 pm - 03:50 pm
Covention on the Beach
Miami 7/21 - 7/24
It is with great pleasure that I invite you to Phi Iota Alpha’s 79th Anniversary
Convention and Banquet. During our 79 years of existence our brotherhood has become the most distinguished Latino organization in the country.
Our brotherhood has grown to include a plethora of prominent and accomplished, educators, politicians, businessmen, and four former presidents of Latin
American Countries. We have committed ourselves toward the empowerment of
the Latino community by providing intensive social and cultural programs and
activities geared toward the appreciation, promotion and preservation of Latin
American culture.
Aside from taking care of business, there will also be plenty of FamIliA time
since we have extended the length of convention to accommodate just that. These
events will take full advantage of the venues and resources available to us in Miami.
Our brothers in Florida have been working very hard to make this convention
one of the most exciting and
Registration
memorable conventions to
date, so you do not want to
Brother Registration
miss out. I look forward to
Regular Registration -3/1 - 4/30: $150 (Semper Leal: $125)
greeting all of you in Miami.
Late Registration -5/1 - 6/30: $175 (Semper Leal: $150)
Fraternally,
Francisco M. Lugo, M.Ed.
Executive Director
19
PHIOTA!
Spring 2011
Last Minute Registration - July $200
(Semper Leal: $175)
(Includes networking reception, ticket to the convention lunch and banquet, convention gifts, and some social activities.)
Convention Guest
Convention Banquet Ticket: $50 per guest
Convention Lunch & Banquet Ticket: $80 per guest
Greek Organizations TablesTable of eight (8): $500 per table
Registration Open
Board Meeting
Lunch
Greek Paraphernalia Vendor/s
04:00 pm - 04:50 pm
Open BOT Meeting: Increasing Undergradu
ate Participation in Fraternity Business.
Open BOT Meeting:
What Responsibility does FIA have in
Promoting Latino Rights in the US?
05:00 pm - 06:00 pm
07:00 pm - 08:30 pm
08:30 pm - 10:30 pm
11:00 pm
Town Hall Meeting
Alumni Reception
Dinner
Social Event
Distinguished Brothers and Guests,
Registration Open
Golf Outing
Dinner
Social Event
Saturday July 23, 2011
08:00 am - 12:00 pm
Check in
08:00 am - 05:00 pm
Area Tour
08:00 am - 05:00 pm
Greek Para Vendor
09:00 am - 09:25 am
Welcome Session
09:25 am - 10:30 am
Symbolism Review
09:30 am - 11:30 am
Alumni Association/
Chapter Meeting
12:00 pm - 01:30 pm
Lunch (Provided)
01:40 pm ‑ 02:30 pm
General Session
02:40 pm ‑ 03:30 pm
(2) Concurrent
Sessions
03:50 pm ‑ 04:40 pm
(2) Concurrent
Sessions
07:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Awards Dinner
Banquet
11:00 pm
National Convention Party
Sunday July 24, 2011
12:00 pm - 05:00 pm
nament
Spring 2011
BBQ & Soccer Tour-
PHIOTA! 20
Entertainment-Local Attractions
Top Picks from the Miami
Visitor’s Guide
• South Be ach / Art Deco
District
• Coconut Grove
• Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
• Jungle Island
• Wings Over Miami Air
Museum
• Coral Castle
• Vene tian Pool
Local Tour Ser vices
• Duck Tours Miami
• Miami Cultural Tours
• Miami Je t Tours
• Miami Cit y Tour
Local Acti vities
• Biking trail (0.5 mile(s)
• Je t-skiing (0.5 mile(s))
• Jogging/fitness trail (0.5
mile(s))
• Miniature golf
• Scuba di ving
• Snorkeling (0.5 mile(s)
• Squash (1.5 mile(s))
• Tennis (3.5 mile(s)
• Volleyball
• Water-skiing
• Golf Outing
Want to be part of a
group?
Contact Giovanni Abril
by June 15.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Golf outing
Contact Giovanni Abril by June 15.
Convention Hotel
This ye ar ’s Convention will be held at the Miami Marriot t Biscayne Bay. Right across the Bay f rom Miami
Be ach! With f ree Me tromover acce ss to Downtown
Miami and the Be ach right across the bay the Miami
Marriot t is at the center of all things Miami.
A block of rooms have been re ser ved f rom Thursday
night July 21th through Sunday night July 24th at a
discounted rate of $99.00 per night.
Miami Marriot t Biscayne Bay
1633 North Bayshore Dri ve
Marlins vs. Mets Game
Want to go to the game?
Contact Giovanni Abril by June 15.
Miami Seaquarium
Adult $35.95 + tax / Child(Ages 3-9)
$25.95 + tax
21
PHIOTA!
Spring 2011
Miami, Florida 33132 USA
Re ser vations
Do’s and Donts For Miami
Convention
Don’t
Do
1. wear socks and sandles
2. wear tennis Shoes to
the beach
3. wear speedos
4. take off your shirt
unless you got a tan.
5. get caught staring it’s
creepy
6. be surpise about price
7. act like your from jersey
shore, unless your from
jersey shore
1. bring enough money
2. enjoy the night life
3. start working out
4. be responsbile
5. eat Cuban food
6. register online
7. go to the beach
Average We ather Miami,FL, July 21-24
Thrusday,
July 21
Friday,
July 22
Saturday,
July 23
Sunday,
July 24
Hi 91oF
Hi 91oF
Hi 91oF
Hi 91oF
Lo 77oF
Lo 77oF
Lo 77oF
Lo 77oF
Ple ase make your re ser vations e arly!
Call Marriot t Re ser vations directly at
1 (800) 228-9290
(305) 374-3900
Spring 2011
PHIOTA! 22
Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity,
Inc. Visa®
Platinum Rewards Card
The Situation
We’re excited to announce a brand new way that you can support Phi Iota Alpha!
When you apply for and use the new Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Visa® Platinum Rewards
Card, our issuing bank (UMB) will make a $50 donation to the fraternity. Then for the life of the
program, Phi Iota Alpha will receive a portion of every dollar that every cardholder charges! This
great new card has no annual fee and a competitively low interest rate making it a smart choice
for showing your Phi Iota Alpha pride.
Enjoy enhanced Visa Platinum benefits and rewards – earn bonus points for FREE airline tickets,
merchandise, cash-back and more at participating merchants. No Annual Fee. Low Introductory
APR on purchases and no balance transfer fees for 6 months. Enhanced Visa Platinum benefits,
including 24/7 Emergency Customer Service, 100% Fraud Protection, Auto Rental and Travel
Accident Insurance and much more. See our FAQ for more information.
All the benefits of a platinum Visa card will be yours, along with the satisfaction of showing your
support of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity’s mission every time you use your card.
$
-Every day 4,100 children die of water-related diseases.
-Nearly 900 million people worldwide lack access to safe
drinking water. Almost half of them are children.
-Just $1 raised through the UNICEF Tap Project can provide a child with safe water for 40 days.
1
PHIOTA BELIEVES IN ZERO
No child without water
$4,000 is the goal
[email protected]
$1554.31 of $4,000
This program is only open to U.S. residents 18 and over.
23
PHIOTA!
Spring 2011
Spring 2011
40
Days
PHIOTA! 24
Alpha Gamma 10 Year
Banquet
BY RAMIRO S. FUNEZ
The Alpha Gamma Chapter of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. held a banquet in December celebrating a ten
year presence at St. John’s University and Queens College.
Several brothers from the Long Island and Metro
region of the Northeastern Province attended the event.
Some of the chapters that were present included Theta,
Beta, Zeta, Psi and Alpha Zeta.
Throughout the night, brothers from St. John’s and Queens College shared their experiences with the
fraternity. The main speaker and co-founder of the chapter, Roberto Saavedra, gave a speech that dialogued his
passion for the fraternal organization and also touched based on issues affecting Latin America.
Along with providing anecdotes, brothers also received awards of recognition for their contributions to
Alpha Gamma.
The event was held in the ballroom of the D’ Angelo Center at St. John’s University.
Phiotas and Delta Sigma Theta Bring Human Trafficking Home to
Hartford Students
BY: Bladimir “Tierra del Fuego” Ysabel and Jose “Bayaney” Soto
Brothers from the University of Hartford Colony teamed up with the Epsilon Upsilon Chapter of Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. to discuss human trafficking and the effects it can bring to society. Our brothers, along
with the sisters of Delta Sigma Theta, gave a presentation on the history, current issues and prevention of human
trafficking. Although many people are aware of the issues with human trafficking throughout the world, many
were surprised to hear of cases of human trafficking within the Hartford community, bringing the severity of the
issue home for the students.
The students were then split up into groups in order to discuss facts about human trafficking. The discussions
were very involved, with students coming up with ways to prevent those statistics from happening any further.
The event ended with an open floor discussion, where
everyone spoke about their views on the matter. Some people
went as far as sharing stories about their own exposure to human trafficking.
Overall, the event had a huge turnout with more than 40
students attending. Many of the minority Greek organizations
were in attendance, which shows the growing unity amongst
minority Greeks on campus, something seldom seen up to this
point.
25
PHIOTA!
Spring 2011
Alpha Zeta’s Midnight Run
BY: DAVID PINEDA
The midnight runs here at St. Thomas Aquinas College are a great experience for students to
do community service, as well as gain an acute understanding of the homeless. Being a senior here at
STAC, I have participated in these events for a couple of years and I must say; each experience has been
a humbling one.
The experience started around 6 p.m. with everyone who signed up to participate uniting in the
cafeteria. There, the faculty members explained to the students that we should try to gain something
from our experience along with going over safety precautions. Next, we started making peanut butter
and jelly sandwiches, and put them in brown bags with apples. Afterwards, we prepared lunch bags that
we loaded up into mini vans that we’d be traveling in. One minivan was full of clothes to hand out like
socks, underwear, long and short sleeve shirts, shoes, jackets,and covers. The second minivan was holding all the food which included the lunch bags, large jugs of warm soup, and utilities. After we loaded
up the minivan with the food, our next stop from the school cafeteria was in Dobs Ferry, Westchester.
There, we stopped by a shelter and replenished the minivan full of clothes.
The midnight runs actually take part in downtown Manhattan, where the faculty has a list of addresses
which are called ‘hotspots’ where homeless people are most likely to be found. An example of a hotspot
is 34th street by Madison Square Garden. There are at least 10 different locations that we had to stop
around there. The midnight run officially comes to an end when all of the food and clothes are given
out.
This was a great experience because the students actually have to come out of the minivan and
look for homeless people around the area. This part in particular was kind of scary for me because the
whole idea of approaching a homeless person does not sound too safe. Actually, we weren’t allowed to
get too close to some since there are homeless people that may be on drugs, or may want to try to rob
you. Even after the experience I had with the midnight runs, I still get nervous when approaching a
homeless person. Some do not want to be helped and just want to be left alone while others really do
want help. The ones that do come to the minivan come for specific things, the most popular things being
underwear and socks.
We weren’t allowed to give out more than two pairs to each person, because of all the stops we
had to make. Sometimes when a homeless person does not get what they want they become more aggressive, commanding, and annoyed. Some are very calm and respective. One homeless person that I
met was actually a doctor in Nicaragua, and when he came to the United States they told him that he did
not have the same educational experience. One of my chapter brothers actually met a person who graduated from Stony Brook, and wanted to start his own business, and had all his money and important
information in a storage unit that burned down. Apart from that incident, we also met a brother from
Kappa Alpha Psi, who just kept saying he was a Nupe. This community service event is an inspiring and
enlightening experience that made me remember how grateful I am to have my family and a home to
go to. The Alpha Zeta Chapter of Phi Iota Alpha of Fraternity, Inc. here at St. Thomas Aquinas College
always encourage students to participate in this charity event at least one time during their college experience.
Spring 2011
PHIOTA! Northeast Province
Northeast Province
26
Northeast Province
Capicu Dominoes Tournament
By: Daniel “Dante” Cuomo
Philip “Pating” Hollnsteiner
Christopher “Impecable” Vargas
In celebration of Dominican Independence Day, the Alpha,
Delta and Eta Chapters of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. held a Capicu Dominoes Tournament at Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute, the State University of New York at Albany, and at
Union College respectively.
On Feb. 18, the Alpha Chapter of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. held their annual Dominoes Tournament
in the Union Building at the campus center. The venue consisted of rice, black beans, and Latin style roasted
chicken. Thirty people showed up to support the tournament which awarded a grand prize of $100 Best Buy
gift certificate. The tournament was exciting to the
end with the winning team coming back from a deficit of 100 points to win.
On Feb. 28, brothers from the Alpha and Delta Chapters of Phi
Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. hosted a Dominoes Tournament in conjunction
with the Alpha Chapter of la Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. at the
State University of New York at Albany. The event started with a quick
history lesson about the Dominican Republic’s independence and the game
of dominoes. After the short lecture, the brothers asked some questions to
the audience about the history of the Dominican Republic, and those that
answered correctly received a free plate of food. The event continued with
friendly games of Dominoes among the attendees, while Dominican food
was being sold.
The proceeds made from food were all directed towards sponsoring
a child in the Dominican Republic. The attendees were made up almost entirely of students from the school,
along with some administration.
On Mar. 4, the Eta Chapter of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
held their first ever Capicu Dominoes Tournament at the Reamer
Campus Center in Union College. Half of the proceeds from
registration and any additional donations were directly geared
towards our national fundraiser, the UNICEF Tap Project.
Brothers from the chapter tabled all week long, having
a total of eight teams (two people per team) to compete in the
Dominoes tournament. Registration for the event was $8.00 per
team, with the winning team earning a cash prize of $40.00. Over
forty people came to support at the event listening to a variety
of music including bachata, salsa and meringue. During breaks,
people danced in the campus center.
The final match became intense as all the women in the crowd began to
root for the all-female team while everyone else rooted for the opposing
team which consisted of one male and one female.
29
PHIOTA!
Spring 2011
From The Archives
Phiota’s Core
Major
By Alberto ‘Demasiado’ Aelvira
One question I get asked often is
“How did Phi Iota Alpha grow from coast to
coast at a time when there wasn’t even TV?”
It’s a very good question. In an age
where the mass media was radio, and TV
had yet to be invented how did Latino men
find each other to form Phi Iota Alpha chapters? How could a fraternity grow from Massachusetts to California when all you had
was a telephone? No Facebook, No Twtter.
How do you grow a fraternity with just Ma
Bell and the mailman?
Well to answer this question let’s look
at some commonalities. RPI, LSU, Berkeley,
Columbia, Cornell, MIT, Indiana Tech…
What do they have all in common? The
answer is that they all have large engineering
departments. Engineering was the glue that
made Phi Iota Alpha what it was.
In the late 19th and early 20th century Latin American students coming to the
United States to study came to study engineering. They didn’t come to learn English
Lit, or Art History. They came to learn the
skills to build roads, bridges, buildings, and
even the Panama Canal. The industrial revolution came later to Latin American than
the rest of the world. Therefore the need was
great for skilled talent to build that Latin
America of tomorrow. Certain universities
like RPI have a Latin American engineering tradition stretching back more that 160
years.
That common engineering major
became the means of introduction of Latinos
studying in the US to become acquainted
with one another. From there it was a short
leap to be interested in becoming interested
in starting a chapter of Phi Iota
Alpha. It was from this bond that
chapters in got established from
California & Colorado all the way
to New York & Massachusetts.
That tradition exists to this
day. Phi Iota Alpha still retains a
major presence at some of the top
engineering schools in the United
States. Brothers of Phi Iota Alpha are
always a major presence in the leadership of the Society of Hispanic
Professional Engineers (SHPE.)
SHPE conventions at times resemble mini-Phiota conventions.
Of the overall membership
fully 10% are either engineering
majors or have graduated with
a degree in engineering. That is
significantly higher rate that the
national average. In the US only
6% of college undergraduates
plan to study engineering, and
the less than 1% actually obtain an engineering degree.
Engineering is a discipline
that has served Phi Iota Alpha well for
almost 100 years. It could also serve you
too. In you are undecided take a look
into engineering. In 2005 the American Society of Civil Engineers put out
a report assessing the state of America’s
bridges, dams, waterways, roads, schools,
etc. Of the fifteen categories rated the
highest grade was a C+ Ten of the fifteen were rated D or lower. Given today’s
uncertain economic times, it’s a good idea
to consider a career where
the supply of work is apparently inexhaustible, and the
possibility of outsourcing is
negligible.
Spring 2011
PHIOTA! 30
The A in ΦIA stands for
Amistad not Alienation.
Ramsey R Rodriguez
It’s one of the first thing we are taught
when we’re put on line. It’s an aspect of our
fraternity that, for many brothers, is the
reason for their decision to pledge. It’s what
many view as our most notable quality.
When I decided to pledge Phi
Iota Alpha in the fall of 2005,
it wasn’t the secrecy or the symbolism
that drew me into the fraternity. It
wasn’t the fact that this fraternity seemed
different from any other organization on
campus, including other Latino orgs. And
it certainly wasn’t the professionalism.
What convinced me beyond any other factor
was seeing how these guys related and got
along so well. Despite pledging as a dot, I still
formed bonds with my chapter brothers much
like line brothers would develop while on line.
When pitching the fraternity to a potential
candidate, I go straight for the brotherhood
aspect of our organization. “I look at these
guys as I would my real brothers,” I tell people.
It’s an easy marketing tool because it’s so true.
After I crossed, there was no distinction
between older brothers and neos, beyond
having to endure the ceaseless and often brash
teases and jokes that all brothers must listen
to as a rite of passage. No matter what line
you may have crossed in, we were all
brothers essentially striving towards
some form of professionalism whether
it be found in a degree or career or family. We
all respected each other despite our differences.
The stories brothers would tell of their times
on line was always my favorite subject when we
would get together. Brothers would top each
31
PHIOTA!
Spring 2011
other with extreme or embellished accounts of
different stages of the process or trade funny
moments that would randomly take place
while they were being pledged. Ribs of how
easy we have it, reminiscent of war heroes
and grandfathers sitting on a porch
proclaiming how we young folks don’t
know how good we got it. No one ever
saw a brother in terms of degree or level.
I’ve been around long enough to see this
fraternity transition into different pledging
procedures and though I may not always agree
with some of the decisions made concerning
this topic, I always keep faith enough that what
is being taught keeps true to the knowledge
that was bestowed on me when I pledged in 05.
The information and philosophical meaning
behind what we learn when pledging is the most
significant. No matter what method a brother
chooses to instill in their candidate’s educational
process, the worth of that brother should be
seen through their retention of the knowledge, not
their physical ability or stubbornness for letters.
There is no way I could compare my process
to the founders who pledged Alpha Eta in
2001, just as those founders can in no way
compare themselves to brothers who
pledged in 1984 and so on. The time
frame and intensity (whether brought
on physically or mentally) of your
process, at the end of it all, pales to
the connecting factor of fraternal wisdom.
We all are still striving for professionalism.
We are all still fighting for a cause. But what’s
most important; we are all still brothers.
PHIOTA HAS
GONE MOBILE
Don’t know what time that fraternity event is?
Need to look up a brother’s phone number?
Not near a computer? Well now you can find out on your
web enabled cellphone or iPod Touch with Phiota.mobile
From our mobile site you can look up the directory, or
check on upcoming events.
More coming soon!
Just go to: http://www.phiota.info/m/
Brotherhood...
There’s an App. for
that.
Iphone App.
How to Get It
Blackberry users: Go to http://www.phiota.
info/m/. Use the Application Loader in your
BlackBerry Desktop Manager to install.
Download it from iTunes
Today
Spring 2011
PHIOTA! 32
My Biggest Reward is a
Donation
Ramsey R Rodriguez
Ever since I was younger, I’ve always been afraid of
needles. Particularly, injection needles extracting blood or
putting some chemical compound into of my arm. Even after my donation, the thought of donating blood gives me the
creeps and a slight head ache.
This past March, I signed myself up for the National
Marrow Donor Program through the South Texas Blood and
Tissue Center; an utter contradiction to my, still existing,
phobia. With two very close relatives who have passed away
from Leukemia and Cancer, I took this as an opportunity to
give someone else a fighting chance.
When I first walked up to the registration
table I still held a few reservations. The first reassuring factor of donating marrow was the fact that a cotton swab is
used to initially test for a potential match, not a blood
donation. The coordinator assured me even further
that it could years to be called and even in some cases,
I could never be matched with a recipient. Mid November, I received a voice mail from the Blood and
Tissue Center explaining how I’m
a potential match for an eleven
year old boy with Leukemia. As I listened to the woman’s voice give a return number and extension with a tone of
enthusiasm, a slight wave of shock pulsed through my veins
as I dialed the number. The next few minutes seemed to
pass by in a haze as I made my appointment for the following week. I would have to go a Blood and Tissue Center to
donate a few samples for them to send out for testing.
A word to the wise: when you donate blood, make
sure you are hydrated. My first attempt to donate a blood
sample ended in failure due to my lapse in this obvious piece
of common knowledge. The samples would be checked to see
if I was the best match for this young boy to receive marrow
from. For confidentiality purposes the doctor’s won’t release
our personal information for a year, giving the recipient time
to fully recover from the procedure.
To find a match for bone marrow is much more
complicated than a blood donation. A donor and recipient
must practically be genetically identical if a transfer of marrow is to occur. Doctors look for a donor who matches their
patient’s tissue type, specifically their human leukocyte antigen (HLA) tissue type. HLAs are proteins found on most
cells in your body. Your immune system uses these markers
to recognize which cells belong in your body and which do
not. The closer the match between the recipient’s HLA mark-
33
PHIOTA!
Spring 2011
ers and mine, the better.
Two weeks before
Christmas, I received confirmation that I was the best possible match. By this time, I was
getting used to the fact that I
would have to give samples and
be subjected to needle pokes
here and there. The initial
shock had long worn off and I
found myself becoming excited at the notion of helping to
save a seemingly stranger’s life. The Monday before Christmas, I went to the Methodist Hospital for a physical examination to make sure I was healthy enough for a donation. I
also spoke with a doctor who explained the procedure and all
possible scenarios and effects that he assured me were rare in
occurrence.
They would be extracting marrow from my back hip
bone and I was to be put under anesthesia throughout the
surgery. The fact that I was going to be asleep while the procedure was going on eased my tensions as well. I received
another call on Jan. 4 from the Blood and Tissue Center verifying my clean bill of health and was scheduled for donation
on Jan. 18 at 7:00 a.m. The recipient would go into chemo
therapy a week before.
The morning of the marrow extraction, I filled out paper work, went through pre-op, and was given a general
anesthetic. I can remember the nurse telling me to start
counting backwards from 100
when they started wheeling me
into the O.R. 100, 99, 98, 9 ……
The pain I felt after the procedure was a little more than what I expected but still not as
excruciating as most of my friend’s believed. For the most
part when I would tell someone I was going through the process of donating marrow, the initial reaction I received was
much like if I had put their hands in a fire. A scrunched up
face with a hiss between their teeth and even an occasional
why? A lot of people supported me but thought I was a little
crazy to undergo something like this for someone I don’t
even know. I tell them I see it as more of an opportunity to
do the right thing than anything. If put into a similar situation, I pray somebody out who can donate, will.
I spent the first couple of days recuperating at a
fraternity brother’s apartment, reading on my stomach and
waddling around like a pregnant lady whenever I needed to
get up. I couldn’t bend down or sideways an inch so getting
up consisted of me rolling over on the bed until I reached
the edge. The fun part was getting off. A few days and a
bottle of pain pills later and I was moving around, practically back to my old self. I’m left now with a curiosity and
hope that this eleven year old is somewhere, alive and recuperating on the way to a full recovery and that one day I’ll get
a chance to meet him face to face.
INTERVIEW
WITH BOT
EW
I
V
R
E
T
IN
ED
WITH
S TO
N
O
I
T
UES
Q
D
N
TA.
E
O
S
I
H
P
R@
EDITO G
OR
PHIOTA! Mag
Deadlined
SEND QUESTIO
NS TO
EDITOR@PHIO
TA.
ORG
Summer: April 7
Published in May
Fall: August 7
Published in September
Spring: December 7
Published in January
Story of
1985 brothers
FIA
illar
Favorite P
SEND QUESTIO
NS TO
EDITOR@PHIO
TA.
ORG
FIA
ntry
u
o
C
e
t
i
r
o
Fov
Spring 2011
PHIOTA! 34
Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity
Inc. Est. 1931
The Oldest Latino Fraternity in Existence