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Iota Phi Theta, deans sign FOA

The University welcomed a new fraternity Wednesday when members of the Office of the Dean of Students approved a Fraternal Organization Agreement for Iota Phi Theta fraternity.

Iota Phi Theta joins three other fraternities in the Black Fraternal Council - the organization that oversees fraternities with traditionally black membership.

An FOA outlines a fraternity's formal relationship with the University.

Iota Phi Beta formed on Grounds after students started an informal interest group last spring, hoping to bring another traditionally black fraternity to the University.

The interest group "basically wanted to achieve some common goals in the unique brotherhood that is Iota Phi Theta," Asst. Dean of Students Aaron Laushway said.

The students conducted research and approached Laushway, who helped the interest group establish Iota Phi Beta's University chapter.

The fraternity plans to promote community service and positive change, Iota Phi Theta President Gordon Braxton said.

The fraternity has not yet planned specific service projects, but probably will collaborate with Madison House and other University organizations to promote change, he said.

Iota Phi Theta is a young national fraternity, he added.

The fraternity "was founded in 1963 in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement," he said, while all other BFC fraternities were founded nationally before 1930.

Braxton said this foundation has shaped the goals of Iota Phi Theta.

"That's where we get our progressiveness from," he said. "We were founded in a time of change."

BFC Co-President Michael McPheeters said Iota Phi Theta is a valuable enhancement to student life.

"The addition will strengthen the BFC and the community as a whole," McPheeters said. The fraternity "will be an essence to the community - both Charlottesville and U.Va," he said.

Iota Phi Beta is one of three fraternal organizations with traditionally minority membership to sign a FOA this semester.

Omega Phi Beta, a Latina-oriented sorority, and alpha Kappa Delta Phi, an Asian-oriented sorority, received FOAs from the University this fall.

McPheeters said this year's increased number of minority fraternities and sororities was prompted by added opportunities for the development of such organizations.

"Interest has always been there for students to have these types of fraternities, but the opportunities have just started to arise this year and last," he said.

Baxter said it takes more than just interest to establish a functioning organization.

"Interest by itself is not really anything," he said. "You have to have people willing to act upon [their interests] for things to get done."

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