Alpha Phi Alpha- Xi Iota Chapter

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for black students. It had its beginnings on Tuesday, December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Alpha Phi Alpha started as a social study club that originally met at 421 North Albany Street, Ithaca, NY. The social study club was formed because social life, for blacks, was virtually non-existent. Furthermore, blacks were denied, for the most part, the mutual helpfulness which the majority of the students attending Cornell University regularly enjoyed. Seven brothers from the social study group had a vision of an organization encompassing the ideals of manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind. It was this vision that prompted those seven brothers to start the Alpha chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha.

The origins of the Xi Iota chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at the University of Central Florida parallel the beginnings of the Original chapter at Cornell University in 1906.

The University of Central Florida, in 1978, was quite different from what it is today. At that time the university was the only thing within miles. The population at UCF was approximately 14,000 and of that total three percent were African-American. There were already two black fraternities, the Omegas and the Sigmas, but those did not appeal to the needs of the nine brothers who initiated the pledge process. Most were familiar with Alpha Phi Alpha in some way so they went about finding out what would be needed to bring Alpha to UCF. The Graduate chapter in Orlando was brought into the process and a study group was started.

Brandon Hamilton - Chapter President 2009-2010
www.xiiota.com