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 .
WINTER 2009
The One Million
Penny Drive
The Spirit of
Latin America
Letter
From Iraq
www.phiota.org
Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
9322 3rd Avenue
Suite 412
Brooklyn, New York 11209
Winter 2009
Phiota! 1
PHI IOTA ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC CONVENTION
BOSTON JULY 23-26
Contents
PHIOTA! * Winter 2009
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 3
National Management
Jason Nicolau
Executive Director
Edwin Berroa
Director of Operations
Omar Lopez
Director of Marketing
2 Letter From Iraq
3 National Board
4 One Million Penny Drive
5 Feature Article
-Spirit of Latin America
8 Northeast Province
-Es Para Mas
10 Southeastern Province
-Sparkplug of Greek Life
-Inpacto
Jose Pizarroso
Director of Human Resources
12 Southern Province
Francisco Lugo
Director of Undergraduate Affairs
-UTSA takes Awards
Alberto Elvira
Director of Information Technology
13 Midwest Province
Phiota! Magazine
14 Western Province
Steven L. Garza
Editor in Chief
Please send all letters,
comments, and articles to:
editor@phiota.org
Deadline to submit for next issue: April 24, 2009
-Latino College Experience
-Providing Helping Hand
COVER IMAGE:Taken by Xavier Flores during his
tour in Iraq.
Do you want to have an image taken by you as the
next cover? Submit your image to editor@phiota.org
15 Union Foundation
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 oldest existing latino fraternity, establish in December 26, 1931 at Troy, New York, with its
roots beginning at 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
Winter 2009
www.phiota.org
Phiota! 1
LETTER
FROM IRA
Q
and more importantly
y
ar
lit
mi
a
as
Brothers,
e
w
at
th
gs
in
nt get to see the great th
aqi Army, are doing to get
Ir
e
th
It is unfortunate that you do
d
an
e
lic
Po
i
aq
Ir
e
th
), which include
lp make a difference.
he
to
s
ief
ch
e
lic
the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF
po
d
an
ls
ra
. I have worked with gene
this country back on its feet
behind bars and well
ys
gu
d
ba
me
so
t
pu
ve
ha
e
ith the above mentioned w
be an officer in the United
to
d
ou
Through the coordination w
pr
re
mo
lt
fe
r
ve
ne
ve
tell you that I ha
ided continual support
ov
pr
ve
ha
at
simply below ground. I will
th
ls
ai
em
me
to you all that have send
States Military and I owe it
u all and the fraternity.
yo
ng
ki
an
th
of
ay
w
my
is
and love. So this
and of my beloved fraternity
r
te
ma
ma
al
my
of
a
ili
rib
photos with memo
my weapon than on
on
s
nd
ha
my
ve
I have tried my best to take
ha
to
er
ef
pr
been but sometimes I just
to FOB Kalsu from which
to
d
da
at all the places that I have
gh
Ba
to
aq
Ir
of
tip
n
from the norther
, but I still have more
me
ho
me
co
to
a camera. So far I have been
y
ad
re
ly
ite
fin
I
en fun but I am most de
k you for your support and
an
th
I sent my first photo. Its be
n
ai
ag
d
an
ch
mu
ry
ve
rs, I love you all
than a month to go. Brothe
hope you enjoy the photos.
Xavier “Medico” Flores
Spring 2001-Tau Chapter
to
st these photos on any peer
po
t
no
do
se
ea
Pl
u,
yo
k
as
P.S. - I humbly
of reasons.
(myspace/facebook) for many
peer or social network
National Board
Saludos Hermanos,
First and foremost I would like to wish everyone and happy and safe 2009. As we start a new year
and new semester Phi Iota Alpha has chosen one (1) vendor to represent its unique paraphernalia
on a National Level. That vendor is Collegiate Greek.
COLLEGIATE GREEK is committed to serving all Greek Fraternities, Sororities both Nationals
as well as Locals for now 14 years. From the traditional merchandise to many unique items which
have not been seen before. Their commitment is now to Phiota members who take great pride in
the letters which represent the organization.
Collegiate Greek has a 72 hour turn around time and accepts all major credit cards. From this
point forward ALL Phi Iota Alpha merchandise should be ordered from this exclusive vendor.
Brothers from California to New York can now use (1) one vendor to order from crossing shirts
to teekees.
Your management staff has negotiated a 10% return for all Phiota merchandise ordered from this
vendor. That means the more you purchase Phiota Gear from Collegiate Greek, the more the National Fraternity makes which can potencially cut back on increasing fees in the future due to this
economy. The royalties will go for the day to day operations of the fraternity.
To make the process easy for all of our members we have purchased the domain name of
PHIOTAGEAR.COM, which will be redirected to our new and any future para vendors. Just go
to WWW.PHIOTAGEAR.COM to order ALL of your PHIOTA PARAPHERNALIA and help
your fraternity make money. This will be a long term fundraising project which will be carried
long after our place in office for future member to take advantage of.
New member committees are incouraged to order all of your candidates paraphernalia from www.
PHIOTAGEAR.COM.
Sincerely,
Omar Lopez
Director of Marketing
Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
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Winter 2009
Winter 2009
Phiota! 3
THE ONE MIL LION
PENNY DRIVE
For the six consecutive year, the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations
(NALFO) and its affiliate members unite in their “Quest for a Million Pennies” to benefit
St.Jude Children’s Research Hospital for a 10 week period. Last year the participating
organizations surpassed its goal of $10,000 and almost raised $13,000.
We, Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity Inc, have a large fundraising goal for the “Quest for a Million
Pennies” this year. The PHIOTA! Magazine would be coordinating the fundraising for the
“Quest for a Million Pennies” for the fraternity. Chapters and Colonies whom would like
to participate are ask to contact Steven Garza at editor@phiota.org.
If you only want to make a donation?
Please send checks or money orders to the following address:
Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
One UTSA Circle
San Antonio, TX 78249
-Thank you for your support-
4
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Winter 2009
An Analysis on the Writings of Simon
Bolivar and Jose Marti:
The Jamaica Letter and Our America
The history of Latin American Independence
and the spirit of the revolutionary period are reflected
and revealed in the writings of Simon Bolivar and
Jose Marti’ in The Jamaica Letter and Our America.
In The Jamaica Letter Bolivar discusses the passive
role of the natives, analyzes foreign governments and
champions unity among the Americas to resist further
Spanish suppression. Similarly, in Our America, Marti’
discusses the passive role of the natives and pushes for
movement, empowering the people of the Americas to
embrace the ideals of freedom, liberty and equality and
to question the state of oppression they are in, however,
Marti’ champions non-violent methods unlike Bolivar’s
revolutionary tactics. The writings of Bolivar and
Marti’ reveal the emerging spirit and atmosphere of the
Latin American Independence movement through their
discussion of the influence of foreign governments and
creole attitudes towards the Spanish and Natives, while
also stressing pan-Americanism and unity to stand
against the Spanish and other imperialist countries.
Along with the writings and movements by
key figures such as Bolivar and Marti’, changes in the
international scene also affected the revolutionary spirit
of Latin America along with the domestic changes taking
place at the time as well. Domestically, Latin America
was experiencing changes in relations between the
center and the periphery, or the old and new world, as
the Americas were becoming much stronger than Spain
through its development of cities and metropolitan
centers. These cities and centers provided a means
for commerce and the ability to trade with other states
besides Spain and a much more local identity starts to
dominate as people in the Americas realize that they
can in fact do very well without Spanish dependence.
However, the independence cannot be insulated from
international changes that were occurring politically
in the United States of America and Europe. On the
international scene a new system of change is established
in Spain with the end of the House of Hapsburgs and
the start of the House of Bourbons, which established
the idea that there needs to be more administrative
control of the New World because people have become
By: Miguel Castro
“too big for their boots” in the Americas. The imposed
administrative control on the Americas leads to the
development of resentment by the elite creole class in
the Americas towards the Spanish and other ideas of
freedom, liberty and equality that emerged from the
American, Mexican and French Revolutions, inspired
by the Enlightenment, served as catalysts for the
revolutions that would take place in the New World.
Marti’ calls for the people of the Americas to
step forward as individuals with their own ideas and to
think for themselves. Marti’ calls for a realization on
behalf of the natives who are “unaware of those giants
with seven-league boots who can crush him underfoot,
or of the strife in the heavens between comets that go
through the air asleep, gulping down worlds,” because
he is aware of the imperialist and exploitative natures
of the Spanish and the United States (Marti 11). The
diction utilized by Marti’ such as “giants,” “crush,”
and “gulping” alludes to the aforementioned natures
of foreign governments towards the Americas as
giants who seek to exploit the Americas for their own
interests, crushing and gulping down the culture and
history of these people. Marti emphasizes the need for
action stating, “these are not the time for sleeping in
a nightcap,” in other words, these are not the time for
living in a state of content, dependent on the Spanish,
“but with weapons for pillows, like the warriors of Juan
de Castellanos: weapons of the mind, which conquer
all others. Barricades of ideas are worth more than
barricades of stones” (Marti 111). This is the major
difference between Marti’ and Bolivar in that Marti’
advocated for non-violent methods for achieving Latin
American independence, while Bolivar was more of a
military, revolutionary activist. However, what Marti’
was emphasizing was the foundation of thoughts and
questioning of the current state of the Americas that
would fuel revolutionary movements like those of
Bolivar against the Spanish. Marti’ criticizes the passive
nature of the natives of the Americas and states, “we
can no longer be a people of leaves, living in the air, our
foliage heavy with blooms and crackling or humming
at the whim of the sun’s caress, buffeted and tossed
Winter 2009
Phiota! 5
by the storms” (Marti 112). Marti’s poetic style and
natural metaphors highlight the importance of the land,
which Marti’ uses to create an identity with the land
that possesses strength against the Spanish because of
its natural resources and ability to do well without the
Spanish with regards to commerce.
Bolivar also criticizes the passive nature of the
natives and advocates for a more active role on behalf
of the natives towards the Spanish. However, many
argue that Bolivar champions for a more elitist approach
towards the Americas and establishing a country based on
its wealth and superiority as opposed
to its politics and moral success.
While seemingly elitist as a ceole in
his approach towards the Americas,
Bolivar is inclusive and relates with
the natives through his consistent
use of the “we” in his document, for
example when he states, “we have
been harassed by a conduce which
has not only deprived us of our rights
but has kept us in a sort of permanent
infancy with regards to public affairs”
(Bolivar 110). Bolivar is inclusive
in the sense that as a creole elite he
identifies himself with the natives of
the Americas against the oppression
of the Spanish. Bolivar was born into a very prominent
family in Venezuela with a strong military background
and despite his elite status he gave up his status for a
more noble cause, and that cause was the independence
of Latin America from foreign rule. Bolivar lost his
parents during his childhood to tuberculosis and was
educated by Simon Rodriguez and Andres Bello and
was educated on the ideals of the enlightenment, and the
French and American revolutions. Bolivar’s education
influenced him greatly as he was studying in Europe
during the crowning of Napolean as emperor and he
solemnly swore that he will not rest his soul until
Latin America is freed from Spanish rule, indicating
that despite his seemingly elitist interests in Latin
America, he truly cared about making the Americas an
independent, unified, civilized entity that could flourish
without the Spanish imperialism and exploitation.
Bolivar discusses the atrocities committed by the
Spanish against the Natives, setting himself apart from
the homeland and sides with the Natives, developing
a sense of hatred against the Spanish on behalf of the
creoles. Bolivar makes use of an ambiguous “us” and
“we,” which connotes a relationship or tie with the
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Winter 2009
Natives, underlying his seemingly elitist nature towards
the people of the New World. If anything, like Marti’,
Bolivar emphasizes for an active role on behalf of the
Natives stating, they “have already seen the light, and it
is not our desire to be thrust back into darkness”, because
he believes the natives need to act for themselves and
establish their independence after seeing the changes
and ideals that are flourishing during the American,
French and Mexican revolutions (Bolivar 109).
In terms of attitudes towards the Spanish, Marti’
advocated for pan-Americanism or unity among Latin
America to stand strong against
imperialist and exploitative countries
like Spain and the United States and,
likewise, so did Bolivar. Marti’
states, “Nations that do not know
each other should quickly become
acquainted, as men who are to fight
a common enemy,” emphasizing
the need for the countries of Latin
America to get to know each other,
their cultures, their history and their
struggles in order to stand strong
against the Spanish and imperialist
countries. At some point during his
life, Marti’ lived in the United States
as an active leader in the Cuban
independence movement and he looked up to the
ideals established by the founding fathers of America
such as liberty, equality and the pursuit of happiness
for all. During his exile in the U.S., Marti’ grew to
admire James G. Blaine, especially during his first
tenure as Secretary in the Garfield administration in
1881 because he praised his efforts to resolve border
disputes among South American countries. However,
eventually Marti saw Blaine’s role as a leader of the
annexationists and expansionists, men who believed
the U.S. should possess Cuba after getting rid of the
Spanish. These men also believed that Latin America
should be the market for the expanding industrial base
of the U.S. The truth of this great nation was finally
coming to light for Marti. Marti’s view towards the
U.S. and the Spanish gradually changed as he became
more involved and exposed to politics and his writings
became informative warnings against the U.S. and the
Spanish and were strongly opposed to imperialism. In
his works stood out a profound respect for the dignity
of man, manual labor, democracy, equality and justice.
He felt that the average citizen was obliged to vote, to
punish corruption and to be an independent thinker.
Marti’ realized that there was too much imitation on
behalf of the natives of Spanish government, culture and
society and he promoted creation as the key to salvation
and independence. Marti’ states that “creation” is the
password of his generation and declares that even
though “the wine is made from plantain, but even if it is
sour, it is our wine,” making it clear that the people of
the Americas need to make their own errors and develop
their own system that works for them (Marti 117). This
is different from Bolivar who took pieces from the
social and governmental structures of the Spanish along
with other foreign governments, which Marti’ argues
is not true independence because
Bolivar is continuing the same form
of mimicking the Spanish and others
and not developing a system that
originates in the Americas.
While Bolivar also champions
unity, he questions the idea of having
a fully unified Latin America. Bolivar
believes that “it is a grandiose idea
to think of consolidating the New
World into a single nation, united by
pacts into a single bond,” but “this
is not possible. Actually, America
is separated by climatic differences,
geographic diversity, conflicting
interests, and dissimilar characteristics” (Bolivar 118).
Bolivar’s concept of unity revolves strongly around the
concept of getting to know thy neighbor because it is
only through an understanding of one’s neighboring
countries of both their history, culture and society that
one can work together in conjunction with another and
stand in solidarity against oppression and imperialism.
It is this type of union that Bolivar believes the people
of the Americas must provide themselves with in order
to expel the Spaniards and found a free government,
“but such a union will come about through sensible
planning and well-directed actions rather than by divine
magic” because “America stands together because it
is abandoned by all other nations,” emphasizing the
geographically isolationist nature of the Americas and
the aspect of solidarity that all nations of the Americas
share, that of not only isolation, but oppression,
slavery and exploitation (Bolivar 121). While Bolivar
emphasizes unity of the Americas, he also denotes a
creolization of his text through his ambiguous use of
“we,” stating, “we were cut off and, as it were, removed
from the world in relation to the science of government
and administration of the state,” basically saying that
the elite creoles were cut off from positions of power
in elite institutions such as the military, the church, the
government and commerce (Bolivar 112). Bolivar was
the son of creole elites so he was subject to the creole
dissatisfaction towards the Spanish and its systematic
changes towards more administrative control over
the Americas. However, from the beginning of The
Jamaica Letter Bolivar makes it clear that he is speaking
on behalf of his country, immediately establishing his
connection with the natives and identifying himself
with the land and the “tortures she has suffered from
the time of her discovery until the present at the hands
of her destroyers, the Spaniards,”
excluding himself from the Spanish
(Bolivar 103).
Marti was opposed to the
domination of the government by
any one class or party and was
thus against tyranny. He called
for economic reforms to reduce
the nation’s dependence on onecrop economies and warned
against dependence on the U.S.
economically. The inclusiveness
of the title, Our America, reveals
his identification with the natives
of the land and reading in
between the lines, Marti’s humble nature is revealed
because he speaks of the creole elites in third person
as “presumptuous man,” the bold man that excessively
pushes forward imperialism and exploitation for his
self-interests (Marti 112-113). Like Bolivar, Marti’
puts emphasis on the land and becoming one with the
people, but unlike Bolivar who says the people of the
Americas need to know the land to know what parts
of other governments to take, Marti’ says that they
need to know the land so that they can come up with
their own government that originates in the country
itself. For Marti’, “government must originate in the
country. The spirit of the government must be that of
the country” (Marti 113). Marti’ speaks with a tone of
caution with regards to the Spanish and other foreign
governments because he warns of “the day of the visit,”
which is near when an imperialist nation will attempt to
lay hands on the Americas, but if they stand strong and
show themselves as one spirit and united entity then “it
will remove its hands out of respect” for their apparent
strength and unity (Marti 119).
Continued on Page 11
Winter 2009
Phiota! 7
Northeastern Province
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute....Troy, NY
SUNY at Stony Brook...................Stony Brook, NY
SUNY at New Paltz.......................New Paltz, NY
SUNY at Binghamton...................Binghamton, NY
Hofstra University.........................Hempstead, NY
Union College...............................Schenectady, NY
Syracuse University.......................Syracuse, NY
Columbia University.....................New York, NY
Boston University..........................Boston, MA
Harvard University........................Cambridge, MA
New York University.....................New York, NY
Rochester Institue of Technology..Rochester, NY
Long Island University..................Brookville, NY
U. of Masachusetts at Amherst......Amherst,MA
Villanova University......................Villanova, PA
Es Para Mas
By: Joe Gonzalez
On November 15th, the Villanova Phiotas invited 14
high school students from Delaware ASPIRA and
the National Hispanic Institute (NHI) to participate
in their first college admissions conference entitled
the “Es Para Más” Conference. Sponsored through
the Villanova Admissions Office and facilitated
by Phiotas and NHI alumni, the conference was
aimed at encouraging students to apply not only to
Villanova, but any school that may have previously
seemed out of reach. At the end of the Saturday
conference, the participants felt confident and
reluctant to leave their new friends.
Jason Ferreira to Receive
2009 Humanitarium Award
The Friends of Lead Free Children, a non-profit
organization located in New York City, and it’s board
of directors has selected to recognize Jason Ferreira
for his humanitarian work both in New York and in the
Dominican Republic.
Jason will be receiving the award at the 2009 “Salute to
the Unsung Heroes” dinner on Thursday, February 19,
2009 at the El Morocco Club in Upper Manhattan.
Jason, a 1999 graduate of Syracuse University, is a vice
president/general manager for Met Foodmarkets, located
in New York. Jason has been honored for his work in Latino
community events promoting business opportunities,
partnerships, education and health awareness programs
thru his involvement, there has been a positive impact
in the communities he serves o both here and in the
Dominican Republic.
Additionally, as a member of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Jason and his fellow fraternity
members have developed and participated in many social assistance programs.
Jason will be traveling this March to the Dominican Republic to assist in the distribution of
pre-natal supplements to pregnant women, and also deliver support materials and foods to the
school children of Haina.
JOIN US IN RECOGNIZING JASON’S ACHIEVEMENTS!
Thursday, February 19
El Morocco Club
3534 Broadway @ 145th
Tickets $100
To support the:
The Friends of Lead Free Children
CALL 212-864-0915 TO RESERVE A TICKET
8
Phiota!
Winter 2009
Winter 2009
Phiota! 9
Southeastern Province
Southeastern Province
Florida State University........................Tallahassee, FL
Armstrong Atlantic State University.....Savannah, GA
Impacto
Sparkplug of Greek Life
By: Raimar Rivera
Since Fall 2008 the new Colony at
Armstrong Atlantic State University has strived to
be recognized on campus as a highly motivated and
involved fraternity. With only eight other Greek
lettered organizations, the Greek community was
and still is relatively small and undeveloped in
terms of inter-greek relations. This provided the
AASU brothers with a unique opportunity to make
a positive change.
10
Phiota!
Winter 2009
The most notable being the first ever
“AASU Greek Night” organized and hosted by the
colony brothers, which showcased every Greek
organization in their choice of stepping, marching,
chanting, dancing or skits. The Phiota hyperactivity
with coordinating and promoting successful events
on campus even led to the coining of the phrase
“sparkplugs of Greek Life” by campus staff.
By: Angel Valladares
The FSU Colony’s “Week of Phire” had an event on the political impact. With “Impacto” along with
the campus’ Hispanic/Latino Student Union the importance and impact of the Latino vote in this year’s
landmark elections was displayed. With participation from the official candidate campaigns of Barack
Obama and John McCain, the event featured how each candidate was addressing Latino voting issues.
The program also featured general election issues from healthcare and education to the economy and
foreign policy. The discussion portion of the occasion involved dozens of students in a discussion about
political issues facing all of us as college students.
Continued From Page 7
In The Jamaica Letter Bolivar discusses and
analyzes different forms of governments, emphasizing
the geographical and international standing of Latin
America and states that one cannot apply the laws of
one country to another due to the differences in their
cultural, political and historical past. Bolivar wants
a government for the Americas that is built to last
and he looks up to the British system for its stability,
different branches and system of checks and balances.
While Bolivar argues for republics he does not believe
that all of Latin America can be under one republic,
stating that it is impractical and impossible because the
Americas “need the care of the paternal governments
to heal the sores and wounds of despotism and war”
(Bolivar 115). Bolivar’s tone towards the Americas
may seem pessimistic but after the fall of La Gran
Colombia (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela), which
Bolivar helped gain its independence from Spain, due
to differences between the nations and political and
economic struggles that followed independence, it
makes sense why Bolivar suggests that these countries
need a paternal form of government that can look out
after them. Overall, the key point that Bolivar stresses
for the Americas is, “do not adopt the best system of
government, but the one that is most likely to succeed”
(Bolivar 118-119). This statement is key and applicable
to even modern day imperialist countries that seek to
spread and impose their ideals on others without truly
having an understanding of the country itself, its culture,
its people or its land, which is crucial in establishing a
government.
While different in their approaches and styles,
ultimately Jose Marti’ and Simon Bolivar stressed the
importance of pan-Americanism, the unification of Latin
America, emphasizing the need to come to terms with
the continents multi-racial identity and the importance
of teaching thoroughly the history of the Americas
for a better understanding of the peoples, the culture
and the land for the establishment of better treatment
and relationships. What works for one country does
not necessarily work for another and it is through the
understanding of each others’ similar and historical
differences that countries can come to a self-realization
to pursue what is in its best interest not only for itself,
but for the world.
Winter 2009
Phiota! 11
Southern Province
Midwest Province
University of North Texas.....................Denton, TX
Baylor University..................................Waco, TX
University of Texas...............................Austin, TX
University of Texas at San Antonio......San Antonio, TX
Texas A&M...........................................College Station, TX
Texas State............................................San Marcos, TX
University of Arkansas..........................Fayetteville, AR
Ranked by Chapter GPA
UTSA takes Awards
By: Mark Melchor
Last Fall semester the University of Texas at
San Antonio of Phi Iota Alpha obtain the Highest
G.P.A of All Greek Life out of 26 total groups, with
a 3.044.
On November 24, the chapter receive many
awards and recognitions at the Greek Life Awards.
The chapter receive a total of seven gold, silver and
bronze medals for their achievements in scholarship,
involvement, education, and philanthropy.
The chapter was recognize for “Most Money
Donated” in the Multicultural Greek Council
(MGC) in Spring 2008, for donating $2600 in
scholarships.
Brother Steven Garza receive the “Greek
Man of the Year” award for a second time in three
years for his involvement in the community and
the university. He was also presented a gavel and
swear in as the next MGC President for 2009.
The chapter appreciates the help and
support from the undergrads and alumni. Without
their support the chapter could not achieve its
accomplishments.
12
Phiota!
Winter 2009
Chapter
GPA
Phi Iota Alpha
MGC
3.044
Delta Sigma Theta
MGC
3.010
Sigma Lambda Alpha
MGC
2.953
Phi Gamma Delta
IFC
2.859
* Top 4-UTSA Greek Grade Report Fall 2008
Michigan State University................Lansing, MI
Lewis University...............................Romeoville, IL
Ohio State.........................................Columbus, OH
Ball State...........................................Muncie, IN
Council
Phiotas Enhancing the College Experience
By: Carlos Martinez
The 1st Annual Latino College Experience took
place on December 2. This was done in conjunction
with the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan and
consisted of bringing about sixty students from Grand
Rapids area high schools. As we all know, Latino
college enrollment and retention is shamefully low and
higher education is one of the key steps to ensure we as
a community are able to better our overall conditions.
During their college visit the students were able
to go to various college and department visits. Amongst
these were the College of Human Medicine, who had
their Latino Medical Student Association give the youth
presentations and a tour of their building. They were
also given presentations based on higher education and
Latino studies as well as college life by faculty and
students from the Chicano/Latino Studies department
and their mentoring program.
Another aspect of their day included a visit and
tour of our Botanical Gardens. Finally, the experience
concluded with various speakers from Admissions, the
High School Equivalency Program (HEP), the College
Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), the College of
Natural Science, and the Residential College in Arts
and Humanities who showed the students ways in
which they can actually attain a higher education. The
largest highlight however, was the on-site acceptance
of student Nancy Gomez who brought her application
and was admitted on the spot by the representative from
admissions.
Phi Chapter really appreciates all the support
from our surrounding communities who helped us put
these events together because as Don Simon Bolivar
said; “En la union esta la fuerza.”
Winter 2009
Phiota! 13
Western Province
San Diego State University..................................San Diego, CA
California State University: Dominguez Hills.....Dominguez Hills, CA
More than 75 years ago a remarkable group of university men who shared the ideals of
enlightenment and Latino brotherhood established a national organization called Phi
Iota Alpha Fraternity. At that time, the fraternity worked to educate and advance their
fellow Latinos and countrymen across the country. In recent years the organization felt the
need to create a new organization to live the mission that the fraternity espoused and to
benefit a much larger scope of the Latino population; Therefore the creation of The Union
Foundation.
Providing a helping hand during the holidays
By:Julian Reyes
Los Angeles County has approximately 90,000
people that are homeless – the largest homeless
population in the United States – with a large
concentration of them residing in the Skid Row section
of downtown Los Angeles. Several shelters service the
area, including Volunteers of America, Union Rescue
Mission, Downtown Women’s Center, and the Midnight
Mission.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, the
Southern California Alumni Association wanted to help
those in need of a meal. On the morning of Sunday
November 23, brothers from the Southern California
Region set up shop at California State University
Dominguez Hills to prepare 250 meals for our Feed.
The brothers then took the short drive north – roughly
20 miles – to 5th Street and San Pedro St to distribute
the meals. In less than 15 minutes, all the bags were
given out.
“The quickness in which the food is distributed
just goes to show you how little help the homeless
community actually receives in Los Angeles. It is
definitely a humbling experience to see the level of
poverty they face day in and day out and that provides
our region with great motivation to go out there and
help them in whatever way we can” says Hiram “Guali
Caona” Lucena (Mu Chpater Alumni).
In 2007, the California region organized a Greek
14 Phiota!
Winter 2009
Unity Feed the Homeless Event with The Midnight
Mission in Skid Row. We raised $1300 to fund their
Mobile Kitchen Program (serving 400+ homeless
outside of skid row) as well as served in the soup kitchen
to serve over 600 homeless with the help of 9 different
Greek organizations. Since its founding in Spring 2000,
the Alpha Epsilon Chapter of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity,
Inc. has held a Feed-The-Homeless community service
event several times a year, delivering more than 5,000
meals to date.
The foundation is an initiative designed to impact the lives of Latino
communities throughout the world in the areas of education, economic
development, and social progress. The Union Foundation is a private,
charitable non-profit organization. The Foundation was created in order
to:
*Provide scholarships and grants to Latino youths to enhance
their educational and career opportunities.
*Support community programs and other 501(c)(3) tax exempt
organizations that support civic empowerment and educational
improvement within the Latino community.
*To increase awareness of Latino issues to the greater philanthropic
community covering issues such as, but not limited to, educational
achievement, civil rights, state of the workforce, and overall
community health.
*To engage in other activities related to supporting and educating
the public concerning Latino issues.
For more information or to donate, visit the following website:
www.ufoundation.org
“In Union our Community has a Future”
Winter 2009
Phiota! 15
Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
The Oldest Existing Latino Fraternity-Est. 1931
THE ONE MIL LION
PENNY DRIVE
ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO:
www.phiota.org | www.nalfo.org
-SEE INSIDE FOR MORE DETAILS ON HOW TO PARTICIPATE-