Dr. Guardia - Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc

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 .
SUMMER 2008
Dr. Guardia
Latin@
Fraternity-Sorority
Ethnic Identity
UNT Colony
Hosts Music Ed.
A Scholarship Benefit
Breast Cancer
Building
Latin America
Alpha Gamma Rebuilding
a School in Peru
Awareness
with a kick
Pan Americanism
in a Microscosm
www.phiota.org
Phi Iota Alpha National Convention 2008
The New Generation of Pan-Americanism
Long Beach, California
Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
49 East 41st Street
Suite 449
New York, New York 10165
Summer 2008
Phiota! 1
FROM THE DESK OF OUR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Saludos Mis Distinguidos Hermanos,
First and foremost, I hope this letter reaches
everyone and their family in the best of health and
well being.
Over the past year we have seen many improvements within the brotherhood, however this is only
the tip of the iceberg. As we continue to improve
internal operations, strengthen our financial foundation, increase membership services, continue to
expand and focus on community relationships, it
should noted that there is still much work to be
done to live up to the ideals of our pillars. These
improvements will serve to better our brotherhood, improve the communities we serve and to
continue to build on the greatness that is Fi Iota
Alfa.
This magazine is such one of those improvements
to our brotherhood. The magazine will serve as a
communication medium to inform the brotherhood
and our supporters of Fi Iota Alfa initiatives. It
will be a testament to the ideals of our pillars, to
the ideals that have kept Fi Iota Alfa alive and well
for over 75 years as the oldest latino fraternity in
existence.
Our members spread through many generations,
many professions, many walks of life but as I am
often remind by our brothers who were inducted
over fifty years ago, all Fiota men are men of
quality, man of professionalism and they are the
latino leaders of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Contribute to this magazine; submit your articles so
we may keep our brotherhood and the community
aware of our happenings and our contribution to
the Pan American ideal.
Semper un Fiota,
Jason “Promesa” Nicolau
Executive Director
Phi Iota Alpha
National Management
Jason Nicolau
Executive Director
Edwin Berroa
Director of Operations
Omar Lopez
Director of Marketing
Jose Pizarroso
Director of Human Resources
Francisco Lugo
Director Undergraduate Affairs
Alberto Elvira
Director of Information Technology
Phiota! Magazine
Steven L. Garza
Editor in Chief
editor@phiota.org
Wanted
Currently we are seeking writers for the magazine to
report on current Phiota events. Also, we are seeking
writers interested in writing on diverse topics, such
as cultural, professionalism, and etc. If interested
in a writing position, please email editor@phiota.
org to obtain an application form or if you have any
questions/comments.
Contents
PHIOTA! * SUMMER 2008
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1
2
Spring `08 New Members
3
PanAmericanism in a Microscosm
4
Dr. Juan Guardia
Latin@ Fraternity-Sorority Ethnic Identity
8
6
UNT
Music Ed-Scholarship Benefit
7
Breast CancerAwareness
7
Ms. Phi I A
Scholarship Pageant
Tau Chapter Hosts Phiota Cup
Building Latin America
Alpha Gamma Rebuilding a School in Peru
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.
Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc., 49 East 41st, Suite 449, New York, New York, 10165
Summer 2008
www.phiota.org
Phiota! 1
Congratulations
New Members of Spring `08
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Summer 2008
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FirstName
Oscar
Jaime
Victor
Jeffry
Raul
Jeff
Oliver
Rolando
Arturo
Joaquin
Nelson
Jonathan
Lucio
Jason
Richard
Anthony
Amed
Juan
Luis
Frank
Humberto
Jorge
Jose Ramon
Carles
Anthony
Aldo
Angel
Michael
Alex
Roussel
Jose
Jose
Chris
Charles
Daniel
Carlos
Jose
Rubem
David
Jose
Raimar
EmilioRene
Luis Gerardo
Jose
Hector
Diego
LastName
Orengo
Hermosillo
Padilla
Bolivar
Duverge
Munoz
Diaz
Gomez
Santiago
Camarena
Escobar
Nieves
Rojas
Morales
Rodriguez
Ortiz
Lopez
Lombert
Valerio
Berlanga
Albarran
Andrade
Valdez
Canamas
Fabre
De La Paz
Valladares
Paisner
Preito
Arias
Espinal
Hernandez
DeOliveira
Rivas
Vigil
Martinez
Garza
Garcia
Hernandez
Urbaez
Rivera
Garcia
Montes
Gonzalez
Equihua
Cota
Chapter
Nu
Nu
Nu
Psi
UMASS
UMASS
Lambda
Lambda
Lambda
Lambda
Lambda
Kappa
Kappa
Kappa
Kappa
Kappa
Kappa
Kappa
Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas
Alpha Eta
FSU
FSU
FSU
FSU
FSU
FSU
Delta
Delta
Eta
Pace
Pace
Pace
Phi
UNT
UNT
U-Hartford
Armstrong Atlantic State University
Armstrong Atlantic State University
Armstrong Atlantic State University
University of Texas
San Diego
San Diego
San Diego
*Please contact Mike Rivera, registration@phiota.org, if any corrections are
needed to be made to the above list.
Pan Americanism in a Microcosm
By: Jorge G. Muñiz
Pan Americanism can be defined in a variety
of ways. I define it as a movement towards the
economic, political and social unification of
all Latin American nations based on the ideals
promulgated by Don Simón Bolívar, Don José de
San Martín, Don Bernardo O’Higgins, Don José
Martí, and Don Benito Juárez. But how is it that we
can accomplish such a gargantuan feat? Where do
we start? Do we wait for diplomatic conversations
between the governments of each Latin American
nation (I consider the United States of America a
Latin American nation)? Reader, here’s a challenge
for you. How about starting the creation of Pan
Americanism with YOU!
How would you undertake such a colossal
peregrination? I could estimate that not everybody
we meet on a daily basis knows or understands our
ethnic background. So, you educate those you meet
on the culture and folklore of your native country.
After you establish a friendship or camaraderie with
another individual from a different Latin American
nation then you have the opportunity to enlighten
them with facts about your own country. This way
you start building a very tight friendship, where
frontiers and barriers no longer exist, thus, creating
a microcosm of Pan Americanism. Also, creating
socio-economic awareness of the daily life of Latin
Americans stems from this element of education.
You can approach education in a variety of ways:
poster board presentations, forums, community
service, meetings, or via this newsletter.
So do we wait for somebody else to create Pan
Americanism or do we start first in our microcosm?
Here are examples of important people I think
took it upon them to create an awareness of the
socio-economic situations of the people of Latin
America apart from the aforementioned historical
individuals: Rubén Blades, Roberto Clemente,
and Ernesto “Che” Guevara. Maybe someday you
could include yourself in this list or include other
persons I may have forgotten.
Here is another example of how creating
friendships amongst Latin American individuals can
be considered a microcosm of Pan Americanism.
A group of men in 1898 took it upon themselves
to establish Pan Americanism. They called
themselves Union Hispano Americana (UHA).
This organization later merged with the fraternities
Pi Delta Phi and Phi Lambda Alpha keeping the
name of the latter, the emblem and constitution of Pi
Delta Phi and the motto and ideology of the UHA.
On December 26, 1931 Phi Lambda Alpha and
Sigma Iota merged to create Phi Iota Alpha, making
it the oldest existing Latino fraternity currently in
existence, still living its Pan American ideology.
Reader, would you like to live that ideology? Start
in your own circle of acquaintances and look to
expand into the bigger cosmos.
Summer 2008
Phiota! 3
Dr. Juan R. Guardia
Latin@
Fraternity-Sorority
Ethnic Identity
Development
By: Dr. Juan Guardia
Since the founding of the oldest Latino
fraternity in the United States, Phi Iota Alpha
Fraternity, Inc. in 1931, and the first Latina
sorority, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. in 1975, Latin@ Greek letter organizations (LGLOs) have found homes on many
college and university campuses in the United
States. According to LatinoGreeks.com, as of
May 2007, there were 13 Latino fraternities,
28 Latina sororities, and 6 Latino/a co-ed organizations on American college campuses.
Monica Lee Miranda and Michelle Martin de Figueroa (2000) noted in Perspectives,
the publication from the Association of Fraternity Advisors, that LGLOs have adopted four
primary purposes from the Latin@ culture into
their organizations: advance Latin@/Hispanic
cultural awareness, advocate for Latin@/Hispanic goals, provide a family atmosphere at
college or university campuses, and solidify
the Latin@/Hispanic population. In addition,
I would add a fifth: LGLOs contribute to the
ethnic identity development of their members.
My first experience working with LGLOs
was as a student affairs administrator at George
Mason University (GMU) in Fairfax, Virginia.
In that position I worked with the only Latino
fraternity and only Latina sorority on campus.
Born: June 29, 1976
Line Name: Varadero..........#1
Semester Pledge: Spring 2005
School Pledge: Iowa State University
Biography
Director of Multicultural Affairs
and Visiting Instructor in the Higher
Education graduate program at
Florida State University. He received
his doctorate from Iowa State
University and his graduate and
undergraduate degrees from Florida
State University and Miami-Dade
Community College.
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Summer 2008
Although I was not the advisor to either organization, I was intrigued by the members’ commitment and dedication to their organizations.
It was clear that the Latin@ culture played an
important role in the cultural, social, and educational programs the organizations and their
members contributed to the GMU campus. In
addition, members constantly discussed how
participation in the Latin@ fraternity and sorority affirmed their ethnic identities. I discovered that the student members were empowered and confident in those ethnic identities.
Recently I completed my dissertation
on the ethnic identity development of Latino
fraternity members at a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Prior to my study, only one had explored the connection, that of Jennifer Nuñez
(2004) who wrote about a Latina-based sorority at a predominantly White university in the
Midwest. Findings from my study demonstrate
the powerful relationship between membership in a Latino fraternity and ethnic identity
development. Participants described joining
their Latino fraternity because they sought an
organization that embraced the Latino culture
and provided them with a familial (hermandad) atmosphere on campus. Students also described how speaking Spanish was reinforced
and supported by fraternity brothers. One participant explained: “When we’re together [as
a fraternity] we speak Spanish and Spanish is
kind of like our family language.” Moreover,
students described how the Latino fraternity helped them identify with those outside of
their nationalities and with the greater Latino/a
community, thus providing them with affirmed
messages regarding their ethnic identities.
At my current institution, I have the opportunity to work with LGLOs and directly advise one Latino-based, multicultural fraternity.
Through discussions with individual students
and participation in campus programs, I have
witnessed the same results being realized. As a
result of their participation in LGLOs, students
are more prideful members of the overall Latin@
community and their respective Latin@ nationalities, and they are more engaged on campus.
Throughout my undergraduate career, I
was not affiliated with a fraternity; I became a
member of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. as a
doctoral student in spring 2005. I found it an organization through which I can see myself making a lifetime commitment to education, community service, and brotherhood. In addition,
my own ethnic identity was enhanced after completing the educational process for my fraternity.
My own experiences have informed
my work with Latin@ college students
(and all students) as I have made it a point
to support students in their paths of identity development and encourage them to be
proud of their racial/ethnic groups, cultural backgrounds, and their various identities.
The college experience helps shape people into
more well-rounded individuals, personally, socially, and academically. For many students of
color, including Latin@ students, involvement
in ethnicity-based student organizations positively reinforces self-worth and pride in their
backgrounds. In addition, student involvement
in LGLOs and similar organizations enhances
ethnic identity development. These organizations allow their members to explore their individual and group ethnic identities, which contributes to a pluralistic society that benefits all
members of the higher education community.
This opinion piece was originally published in the
September 10th, 2007 issue of the Hispanic Outlook
in Higher Education.
Summer 2008
Phiota! 5
University of North Texas Colony
Hosts MUSIC ED.-Scholarship Benefit
By: Oscar Morales
UNT hosted their first scholarship benefit
music show on Thursday March 27, 2008 from
6pm-8pm at the University of North Texas Lyceum.
All money generated from the music show went to
benefit their first annual Phiota Scholarship that will
be given out to a Dallas and Denton High School
Senior Attending UNT.
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This event featured many local Latino artists
from the surrounding Dallas/ Fort Worth Area. It
was capped off by a well known band from Ft.
Worth called, “Amiztad”, a band that specializes in
Crunk Cumbias.
They raised funds from prominent businesses
in the Denton and DFW Area such as restaurants,
soda shops, makeup companies, Lawyers, and
our very own PFF (Phiota Friends & Family). All
the bands agreed to perform for free since it was
going towards a good cause and raffled off prizes to
those in attendance during our intermission. They
had support from Greek and Non Greek Student
Organizations as well as members of the Denton
Community and were filmed by a Latino Student
film show known as, Guateke.
All the brothers put in a tremendous amount
of work from planning, fundraising, decorating
and to the setup of the whole show. It was their
first big event and a huge success in that they were
able to exceed their goal of raising money for just
one scholarship and were able to raise enough
money to offer (2) scholarships (A $1000 and $500
scholarship).
Breast Cancer Awareness with a Kick
By: Paul Quillen
This past spring semester, the Tau chapter, Baylor University,
of Phi Iota Alpha held its annual All-University Women’s soccer
tournament. They had 9 teams competing this year for the chance
to raise the Fiota cup trophy.
Miss Phi I A
Scholarship Pageant
By: Mark Melchor
Last Spring semester, Alpha Eta, held its annual Miss Phi I A Scholarship Pageant at the downtown Buena Vista Theater on March 8, 2008. The
pageant theme was “Women’s History Month” to
dedicate the contributions Women have done to our
community. This is the reason the pageant was especially dedicated to one of our fraternity brother’s
mother, Mrs. Alicia S. Rodriguez, whom recently
passed away to cancer in February.
The event contained five ladies, students at
UTSA, whom competed in five different categories.
Three categories were completed before the day of
the event: fundraising, pre-day interview, and resume writing. The two other categories which took
place at the event were evening gown and question
and answer. The categories were to test on their professional skills; instead of judging for their beauty
and talent.
During the day of the pageant Alpha Eta
also awarded two high school scholarships, Don
The double elimination
tournament took place in a two
day span from March 28th to the
29th. Also, they team up with
the local Susan G. Komen breast
cancer foundation to help raise
breast cancer awareness. The final
day of the tournament they had a
Susan G. Komen representative on
hand to accept donations and give
information about the foundation.
The tournament was a great
success raising $500 dollars to
donate to charity, and all of the
players had a blast competing
against each other. The overall
winner of this year’s tournament
was Kappa Alpha Theta, whom
have now won Fiota cup two years
in a row.
Benito Juarez and Rigoberta Menchu Scholarships,
at $200 each. This year, they had received 10 times
the number of applications from students for the
high school scholarships.
This year’s winner was Andrea Garcia from
Sigma Lambda Alpha Sorority whom would be applying her scholarship to her first semester in law
school. Overall the Miss Phi I A Scholarship Pageant awarded $2,000 in scholarships and gifts this
year.
Summer 2008
Phiota! 7
BUILDING
LATIN AMERICA
MA
M
A
AG
H
P
ECT
L
J
A
O
R
LP
O
O
H
SC
In the summer of 2007, Alpha Gamma,were
presented with an opportunity to change the lives
of hundred of students in Palomar, Peru. The conditions that they studied in were way below the
standard that any child should have to deal with.
They currently study in a building that was intended to last only a few years, but which became
a permanent fixture because of the lack of funding provided by the community.
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The children were also playing in an unsafe environment because of the lack of proper
fencing needed to prevent them from possibly
falling off of the side of the cliff that the school
in located on. Their schooling conditions were below the standard, to say the least. Waldo Guevara
saw these conditions first hand and brought back
with him the promise to change the lives of these
students with the help of his friends and family.
We have been able to understand that this
feat cannot be accomplished by ourselves and we
appreciate the support that we have received thus
far. They were fortunate enough to fund raise
over $1,300 to assist in the start up costs needed
to have an architect come and make the plans for
the new building. Initially, that was going to be the
contribution needed from the chapter to help get
the ball rolling. Since the government would then
consider funding a major portion of the project as it
was designed and approved by a licensed architect.
Fortunately enough, they were
able to have this project picked up by the
mayor of Palomar and moved to the front of his
agenda. Being touched by our service efforts, the
mayor of Palomar, Javier Toledo, has decided to
personally fund the rest of the construction of the
school. This personal contribution by Toledo will
remove the burden of financing this operation
from the parents of the children and citizens of
the community. His decision to do so has also
sped up the construction process by over a year.
With his generosity and cooperation
in this project, Alpha Gamma have decided to
extend him the opportunity to come to New York
City, and personally speak on the conditions and
historical dynamics of Latin America. He will not
only speak about the current status of Palomar, but
the historical factors that have led to such situations
throughout Latin America. With his knowledge
in the field, it is our hope that he will be able to
shed light on how such situations have come to
existence, and what role we can play from overseas.
Alpha Gamma would like to
once again thank those for their generosity and
cooperation in this effort to change the lives
of hundred of students in Peru. This initiative
will not only touch the lives of those students
currently attending the school, but it will also
touch the lives of future generations of students
that will finally have the proper environment to
learn in.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
SEND AN EMAIL TO jorge.guevara.project@gmail.com
WITH THE FOLLOWING INFO:
*FIRST/ LAST NAME
*CHAPTER
*PHONE NUMBER
*EMAIL
Summer 2008
Phiota! 9