One of the charter members of Iota Phi Theta and the president of NPHC, Ryan Camon, also a junior public relations major and marketing minor, said, “The goal of the week is for our council to gain more visibility on campus as well as display the wide array of talents that our council possesses.”
Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, Phi Beta Sigma, Kappa Alpha Psi, Iota Phi Theta and Sigma Gamma Rho have hosted numerous big events on campus since they were founded back in 1998 at the University. This year is no exception and this week is just a small preview of what’s to come.
“Get ‘Em to The Greek” on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. in GC 140 is an event that is open to everyone. One of the stigmas that NPHC faces is the intimidation among students to inquire about the organizations. This event, which is a casual meet and greet allows the opportunity to anonymously inquire more information about a specific organization that a student is interested in.
“It is a time for the [FIU] community to come out and meet all the chapters within the NPHC,” said Camon.
One of the most distinguished assets of an NPHC organization is their historical ties to strolling and stepping.
Camon said, “Stepping is a popular performance tradition within black Greek letter organizations which originated in Africa. Strolling is a synchronized dance that began initially in the early 20’s and is done to a song each organization has uniquely choreographed for themselves.”
One of the most important things to keep in mind when attending any NPHC or MGC event is that strolling, stepping and saluting are all part of their history and tradition; only members of the organization are allowed to perform it and it is considered disrespectful if anyone who is not a member were to do it themselves.
Aside from the entertaining “Flip the Script” yard show at GC Ballrooms on Wednesday, Sept. 7, where the fraternities will perform the sororities’ strolls or steps and vice versa, the council is also hosting a community service day on
Saturday, Sept. 10.
As a whole, the council and the way they “recruit” is quite different from the Panhellenic Conference and Interfraternity Council. Unlike both these councils, interested candidates have to express interest in a particular organization, which will then privately inform the interested party on their particular recruitment process.
Camon recalls his reasons for choosing his fraternity and says that the motto of Iota Theta Phi, “Building a tradition, and not resting upon one,” spoke out to the man he wanted to be.
With eight different organizations, four fraternities and four sororities, all with an immense amount of history and tradition, NPHC will do its best to represent its best attributes during the week.
“These organizations help develop the necessary leadership qualities in young men and women so that they have the crucial tools they need to be successful in all areas of life,” said Camon.
For more information visit www.greeks.fiu.edu.
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