TALLAHASSEE- Fla.– On Tuesday evening, Florida A&M’s Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated along with their auxiliary organization, Iota Sweethearts revealed themselves to the campus during the ‘5000 Voter Strikes’ campus elections watch party.
Iota Sweethearts are an official auxiliary group that is constitutionally bound to Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated.
This new courtship of Iota Sweethearts has revived the organization, which has not had sweetheart intake since spring 2011. The courtship has girls from all corners of campus: Divas Dance Team, the Incomparable Marching ‘100’, Eternal Legendary Queens, Incorporated, Big Sister Little Sister Mentoring Program and Images Modeling Troupe.
FAMU’s The Gamma Chi chapter has seen more than 60 members since its chartering in 1998.
There were four new members of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated and four new Iota Sweethearts added to the lineage.
The chapter introduced its members with roaring applause from the audience as members were unveiled.
“It was unique and different. I was excited to see what they [sweethearts] were doing because other Greeks don’t probate with anyone else,” said Jameison Walker, 19, a business administration student from Detroit.
The probate was originally scheduled to be in the Grand Ballroom, however there were scheduling issues with the disc jockey. The campus advisor, Charlene Howard-Gordon, approved a last minute venue change to the Hansel E. Tookes Recreational Center after a suggestion from a member of the staff of the office of student activities.
“Andre Green and Ms. Brandi Tatum are phenomenal administrators who really assisted us in making sure the transition to the venue was a success,” said Gordon.
New intiate, Breanna Rittman, 20, a broadcast journalism student from Beaufort, SC was in tears after her show. “I am usually the one supporting my friends at their shows, so it felt great to get all that love in return,” said Rittman.
The new courtship of Iota Sweethearts hopes to raise the level of interest and awareness about the auxiliary organization.
“Through community service and social events, I hope we are able to reach out to girls so they can see what our organization is really all about,” said new intiate, Jolonda Cosby, 23, a pre-physical therapy from Madison, Ga.