LETTERS
A STUDENT PUBLICATION FOR THE IOWA STATE SORORITY AND FRATERNITY COMMUNITY FEBRUARY/MARCH | 2019
ALPHA UNIVERSITY
Black Greek-Letter Organizations The year is 1776. Five months earlier, the United States declared its freedom from Britain. But on this day, December 5, Phi Beta Kappa was founded. The first fraternal organization in the United States came to be at the College of William and Mary. In 1906, 130 years later, the first Black GreekLetter fraternity was founded. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was established at Cornell University. Founded by seven collegiate men, “the fraternity initially served as a study and support group for minority students who faced racial prejudice”, according to the official website. Just two years later, the first sorority for African American women was established at Howard University. According to the official website, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. “has used the Sisterhood as a grand lever to raise the status of African-Americans, particularly girls and women.” NPHC chapters contribute a lot culturally. Black History Month was recently celebrated in February. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was founded at Howard University. Brother Carter G. Woodson is the founder of Black History Month.
Five fraternities and four sororities make up The Divine Nine; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. Iowa State currently has one active fraternity and four active sororities in NPHC. Each chapter has its own rich and unique history and has influenced communities and campuses across the nation. While each organization has rituals specific to themselves, The Divine Nine recognize the need for unity and peace. Membership has grown around the globe as well, with chapters in Europe, Africa, Asia, and more. Black Greek-Letter organizations are a vital resource for support. They boast social success and academic advancement for their members, while also serving as safe havens for members who face injustices daily.
Ashtyn Perrin LETTERS Editor
Iowa State University Is Alpha University At Iowa State, many prominent leadership positions are currently filled by members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Julian Neely completed his term as the student body president. Vernon Hurte is Iowa State’s Dean of Students. We talked to three other leaders on campus to highlight the influence of Alphas on campus. Reginald Chhen Stewart, Ph.D., Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Crossed: San Francisco State University, Spring 1991 What do you do in your role at Iowa State? The Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion serves as Iowa State University’s executive level diversity and inclusion strategist reporting directly to the President and supporting all functions of the university by utilizing the matrix leadership model. I provide support and leadership for a broad spectrum of inclusion initiatives encompassing accessibility services, equal opportunity and Title IX compliance efforts, intercultural affairs, women’s and gender equity programs, LGBTQIA empowerment, faculty/stafffocused resource groups, and town and gown diversity partnerships. Tell me a little about your Alpha experience. [Joining Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was] the single best thing I did for myself in college. There were all chapters of the “Divine 9” on my campus, and all were comprised of good people. I saw these members in the union, at events and socials. But when I went to class, that’s where I saw the Alphas! I knew that these brothers were not only attending college, they were pushing toward graduating from college, and that’s what solidified my interest. Some of my fondest memories of my undergraduate years were the afternoon hours we spent tutoring high school students in the Sunnyvale Housing Projects in {San Francisco]. Later in life, I had the honor of founding the Alumni Chapter located in Reno, Nevada.
What are some skills or experiences you’ve gained as an Alpha that have made you successful in your role at Iowa State? Everything I learned about mobilizing people, navigating different personalities and work styles, being humble, knowing when to lead and when to defer—I learned as president of my Alpha Phi Alpha chapter at both the college and alumni levels.
Reg Chhen Stewart
Kenyatta Shamburger, Assistant Dean and Director of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs Crossed: Eta Lambda Chapter in Atlanta, Georgia What do you do in your role at Iowa State? [I] provide administrative leadership for developing and implementing programs and policies for the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) which serves as a primary resource to students who self-identify as African American, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Latinx, Native American/Alaskan Native and/or Multiracial. In my role, I also support social justice, equity and inclusion initiatives through the management of programming and activities related to the holistic development of multicultural students. [I] provide institutional guidance and serve as a primary campus resource related to the multicultural student community.
Tell me a little about your Alpha experience. Overall, I would say that I have had a good Alpha experience. I have had the opportunity to hold a number of leadership positions in my local chapters, on the state, regional and national levels. Currently, I serve as the co-advisor of the Omicron Pi Chapter. I am the Director of Communications for the Midwestern Region, and I am a Board member for our National Education Foundation and serve as the National Director of Protocol. I have also had the opportunity to be a part of some monumental experiences. One of the highlights of my Alpha experience was being a part of the national unveiling of the Washington, D.C. monument dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in August 2011.
overall student experience. The best part of my day is when I can directly interact with students.
What are some skills or experiences you’ve gained as an Alpha that have made you successful in your role at Iowa State? This is a good question. I am not sure I gained any skills being an Alpha that have made me successful in my current role. I will say there are skills that I had that I have been able to utilize in my current role. For example, successfully operating in various positional leadership roles; understanding and managing the strategic direction of a department/committee; and building positive relationships across cultural boundaries.
Tell me a little about your Alpha Experience. This is hard for me to tell you “a little” about my Alpha experience. I joined late in my freshman year, and it was the springboard to my leadership development in college. My experience at the University of Toledo, Epsilon Alpha Chapter as Treasurer, President, and Dean of Pledges propelled me to other campus leadership roles. [Some] highlights of my college experience [were] hosting a forum with a new university president, step shows, the brotherhood experiences, and being named co-Greek Man of the Year in 1986. I was also named to prestigious honorary association for leaders in the sorority and fraternity community called “Blue Key.” After college, I joined my first alumni chapter in southern New Jersey. I became President of the chapter at [the] very young age [of 31]. I moved back to Toledo and became a member of Alpha Xi Lambda Chapter. I held key positions such as chair of the MLK Scholarship Breakfast, Scholarship Committee Chair, and Vice President [for four years]. The biggest role I played [was] chairing both the 2004 Midwest Regional Convention and the 2011 Ohio District Convention. One of the most rewarding roles was serving as advisor to my old college chapter, Epsilon Alpha, for 13 years. Since moving to Iowa in 2013, I am an active member of the Zeta Kappa Lambda Chapter, where I mainly serve in an advisory role.
Kenyatta Shamburger
Martino Harmon, Ph.D., Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Crossed: May 18, 1984 What do you do in your role at Iowa State? As Senior Vice President for Student Affairs, I serve as the leader of a major division at the university, consisting of 36 departments and over 800 employees. Our mission is to challenge, empower, and support students so they can succeed in college and go on to be successful citizens in a diverse global community. I meet every day with other administrators at Iowa State to enhance policies and procedures which affect the
What are some skills or experiences you’ve gained as an Alpha that have made you successful in your role at Iowa State? Alpha Phi Alpha not only provided me with excellent leadership experiences, I also learned team management, public speaking, budgeting, and how to serve others. Throughout my life, Alpha Phi Alpha has been a guiding light which encourages me to always strive for excellence in everything I do because I know I am not only representing myself, but I am representing a historic fraternity with a legacy of leadership and service.
Martino Harmon
LEADERSHIP RETREAT Once a year, at the Sorority and Fraternity Student Leadership Retreat, all sorority and fraternity community leaders are in one place to learn about leadership, develop their organizations, and build community. SFE staff work throughout the year to plan the retreat, but the planning and organizing becomes even more focused during the fall semester. A lot of intention is built into the retreat from individuals in each small group to the facilitators invited to help lead. Our large group sessions were facilitated by two lead facilitators. Thank you so much for your time and talents, Robby and Christina! Robby and Christina arrived at Iowa State on Tuesday, January 8th to begin lead facilitator training. Lead facilitator training ended on Wednesday, and our staff and the lead facilitators packed vehicles and headed out to the retreat location. Our thirteen small group facilitators arrived at the retreat site on Wednesday evening and began their training. Facilitator training ended on Thursday at noon. We had outstanding small group facilitators that lead small groups again this year. The facilitators this year were on campus, off campus partners and head quarter staff members. Our thirteen small group facilitators arrived at the retreat site on Wednesday evening and began their training. Facilitator training ended on Thursday at noon. We had outstanding small group facilitators that lead small groups again this year. The facilitators this year were on campus, off campus partners and head quarter staff members.
To see photos from the 2019 Leadership Retreat, check out our Facebook page.
Ninety-one students arrived to check in at the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Engagement at 11am on Thursday, January 10th. Attending the retreat in Manson, Iowa this year were council officers, chapter presidents, and auxiliary organization presidents. The retreat kicked off with a get-to-know-you game and retreat expectations, followed by further team building within small groups. During the retreat, students learned about themselves and their leadership styles by learning about the Johari Window, conflict resolution, team building, action planning, social justice, and responsible decision making. At night, students and facilitators played ninesquare, wrote notes of gratitude, played card games, strolled, and got to know each other. We formed new friendships, developed personally, and built community. The retreat concluded on Saturday, January 12th, and students were back to campus with plenty of time to prepare for the start of classes on Monday. The Office of Sorority and Fraternity Engagement staff wants to thank the Twin Lakes staff, our lead and small group facilitators, and students of the community for another wonderful retreat weekend.
Elizabeth Gillmore Assistant Director of Sorority and Fraternity Engagement
I represented Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. as the chapter president at the retreat. The most memorable moment from the retreat was the last activity we did. We each had to go around and touch people that affected or impacted us in some way during the retreat. It was cool to feel that appreciation and good energy in the room. My biggest takeaway from the retreat was that we can all learn something from one another and working together makes us better.
Satoria Williams
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