For the first time since the creation of the Black Fraternal Council in 1992, a black fraternity has left the BFC to join the Inter-Fraternity Council.
The Iota Beta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha achieved the two-thirds vote necessary last Thursday to become full members of the IFC.
"Alpha Phi Alpha is a fantastic addition to the IFC because of the quality of their members, their organization and the presentation they gave to the IFC," IFC President David Bowman said.
Joining the IFC was a business move, Alpha Phi Alpha Secretary Cameron Webb said.
As the only black fraternity with a house, the constitution of the IFC matched the goals of the Alpha Phi Alpha better, Webb said.
Alpha Phi Alpha began looking at the switch this summer when comparing the constitutions of the two fraternal councils.
"It went from thought to reality very quickly," Webb said.
Now that the Alpha Phi Alphas have joined the IFC, they say they look forward to being able to show that they serve the University Community as a whole, not just the African- American community.
The biggest opportunity the IFC offers is "to be a part of a Greek community -- not just a black Greek community," Webb said.
The Alpha Phi Alpha chapter remains on good terms with the BFC.
"It was an organizational decision and we wish them the best," BFC Co-Chair Ryan Chatman said.
Alpha Phi Alpha president Brian Pennington agreed.
"We're going to make every effort to stay involved with the BFC and know their events and so support them," Pennington said. "Just because we are no longer a part of the black Greek council, it does not mean we won't still be involved with them. We are still unified."
As a part of the IFC, Alpha Phi Alpha is now subject to IFC rules of "party patrol" and the standards of conduct. They are fully active members with access to the same funds and governing board as all other IFC fraternities, Bowman said.
There has been little controversy surrounding the chapter's transition into the IFC.
"There has been mild opposition, but I think it's mainly from people who don't understand all of our reasons," Webb said. "We just have to show them the benefits of what we are doing."
The Alpha Phi Alpha's history of firsts is part of what inspired them, Webb said. Started at Cornell University in 1906, it was the first African American intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity.
"Alphas were the first to bring an African American perspective, the first ones to step out," Webb said.
Prior to the creation of the BFC in 1992, all fraternities fell under the umbrella of the IFC. From 1992 until 1999, there was no Alpha Phi Alpha chapter at the University, but when they returned in 1999, they became very involved in the BFC, offering three Co-chairs in five years.
The BFC plans to continue interacting with Alpha Phi Alpha as much as the chapter would like to still be involved, BFC Co-Chair Brandon Green said.
As a relatively smaller chapter compared to the other IFC fraternities -- Alpha Phi Alpha has 9 brothers as opposed to the usual 30 to 60 brothers -- there is no concern about their ability to be influential, Pennington said.
"When Alpha Phi Alpha was part of the IFC in the 80's and 90's there were upwards of 20 members," Webb said. "Eventually we may get back to that. Our membership is dynamic, it can grow"
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