Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity, Inc.
www.alphaphialpha.net (National)
www.XiIota.com (Chapter)

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. Social life at UCF, for blacks, was virtually non-existent and the brothers saw the potential for Alpha Phi Alpha to greatly improve the atmosphere, which it certainly did.

The pledge process itself was long and arduous and nine brothers soon became eight, then seven. The brothers who remained crossed the burning sands on June 16, 1979, with a gala event held in the Student Center, that summer to celebrate the occasion. Those brothers were:

Carlton "Bulldog" Evans

Wil Nix

Reginald Spann

John Stover

Victor Thomas

Byron Wilhite

Michael Wingfield

Many things have changed over the years, however Xi Iota is adapting to the changes and continuing to grow. We are still very active on campus and will continue to stay that way into the next millennium and beyond...