Black Greek Network

Iota Phi Theta Fraternity performs for SJSU's 150th anniversary

LDockery — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 10:00:00 -0500

The Presidential Gala was held at the Fairmount downtown Hotel Thursday night as a grand finale to SJSU's 150 anniversary celebration.

More than 725 people, including faculty memebers, alumni, some city and county officials and students, joined together for a celebration of SJSU's recent achievements with dinner, dancing and a presentation of predictions on the school's future.

"It's a real reflection of the affection and support that they provide for the university," said President Don Kassing about the turnout of the event.

University of Michigan's Iota Phi Theta organized Jena 6 trip

Otis Collier — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 16:45:00 -0400

Drawn by a case tinged with one of the most hated symbols of Old South racism - a hangman's noose tied in an oak tree - thousands of protesters rallied yesterday in Jena, La. against what they see as a double standard of prosecution for blacks and whites.

The plight of the so-called Jena Six became a flashpoint for one the biggest civil-rights demonstrations in years. Five of the black teens were initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate.

Old-guard lions like the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton joined scores of college students bused in from across the nation who said they wanted to make a stand for racial equality just as their parents did in the 1950s and '60s.

Iota Phi Theta's 'Untouchables' take their routine to the national step show stage

Otis Collier — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 12:55:00 -0400

On a steamy night in Baltimore last week, Jordan Thomas drove his fraternity brothers through two-plus hours of running, calisthenics and dance. A videographer from ESPN followed their every move. Banter filled the air.

On a parking lot at Morgan State University, his squad -- Iota Phi Theta fraternity brothers from Morgan State and Coppin State universities -- was drilling for the Super Bowl of their sport.

It is hard to say what brought this unheralded group to the brink of

Divine Nine Students Help Fire Victim

Otis Collier — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 07:31:00 -0400

Some Albany State students came together Wednesday night to help out a fellow student in need.

Students paid $2.00 to watch a greek-organization-sponsored benefit basketball game.

They raised $500 for Finetra Chambers who lost her apartment when fire swept through the Hidden Oaks complex back in July.

"We do like to think of ourselves as a family so when we heard that one of our fellow rams was down and out after her apartment burned down, my fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi along with the rest of the Divine Nine

Free Greek Website Contest sponsored by Black Greek Network

Otis Collier — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:51:00 -0400

Black Greek Network has proudly partnered with the leading provider of Greek websites and web-based communication tools for Greeks! As a special promotion to launch this partnership, Black Greek Network will be giving away 10 free custom websites over the next 2 months. To enter this contest you must fill out this online form and enter the discount code "BlackGreekNetwork". Even if you don't win, your house is instantly eligible for a 10% discount just for entering. Also, we promise that 10 sites will be given away and to verify this, the winners will be announced on this site along with a review from a few of the officers from the winning houses

Greeks' new reputation will take time

RCollier — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:07:00 -0400

In 2006, a Sigma Phi Epsilon pledge ended up in the emergency room, his blood alcohol level a dangerous 0.49 percent -- more than six times the legal driving limit. The pledge recovered, but university officials rightly suspended Sigma Phi.

No one should have to die for such activities to stop. There has not been a hazing-related death at the Purdue unless you count the 1913 death that occurred during a "traditional battle under a water tank," according to Hank Nuwer, author of Wrongs of Passage: Fraternities, Sororities, Hazing, and Binge-Drinking. But hazing can kill. In 2005 a 21-year-old man died during a fraternity hazing at California State University, Chico. Cause of death? Water intoxication, which caused the swelling of his brain and lungs. more >>

Step Glossary

Otis Collier — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 17:41:00 -0500

Pitty-pat isn't for little kids, and grill face has nothing to do with the front of a truck. Get your stepping terms straight:

Stepping: Intense dance in which the feet and hands are used as instruments; often a synchronized line dance; rooted in African history and adapted by many black fraternities and sororities into a competitive art form.

Stomping: Synonym for stepping.

Step master: Captain of the step team, sometimes a choreographer, often a lead stepper and the caller in "call-and-response."

Call and response: A musical form sometimes embedded in step routines. The step master begins with a move, then cues other steppers to join in.

Grill face or mug face: The serious expression worn by steppers, especially when competing. more >>

Divine Nine ‘Step’ into Corvallis

Otis Collier — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 22:05:00 -0400

Black sororities and fraternities came from all parts of Northwest to perform for campus show.

It’s like a concert with the long line to get through security, getting a wristband and walking into an auditorium with blaring music.

This was the scene of the Fourth Annual Divine Nine Step Show Saturday afternoon in the LaSells Stewart Center.

Even before the show started, the auditorium was abuzz with the nine black fraternity and sorority chapters and friends from the Northwest representing in their colors and insignia-covered outfits.

Stepping is the most prominent tradition unique to African-American Greek organizations, according to the Black Greek Network Web site. more >>

Iota Phi Theta host a date auction

Otis Collier — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 16:01:00 -0400

Over $300 in donations was raised as more than 30 students were auctioned off for dates Tuesday night at the Third Annual Date Auction, titled “Unpredictable" and sponsored by the Freshman Action Team and the Gamma Kappa Chapter of the Iota Phi Theta fraternity.

OU football player Laenar Nixon drew the highest male bid at $30, while Natasha Smith, arts and sciences sophomore, drew the most money for the females at $35.

Jasmine Carrie, event coordinator, said this year's auction set the record for amount of money raised.

The auction featured both male and female students, greeks and athletes from OU football, track and basketball teams. The auction was held on the first floor of the Physical Sciences Center. more >>

John Slade, founding father of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. is keynote speaker

Otis Collier — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 10:19:00 -0500

A man who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s will give the keynote address at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s week-long celebration of the national holiday celebrating King.

John Slade, who produced the film, “Breaking the Chains of Bondage,” will deliver “Martin Luther King Jr.: The Man and His Message” during the Chancellor’s Program at 2 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N. 13th St.

Slade is one of the founding fathers of Iota Phi Theta fraternity at Morgan State College (now Morgan State University) in 1963. more >>