Wikipedia

Wine Psi Phi

W.I.N.E. Psi Phi (WΨΦ), is an African American collegiate fraternity.[1] It was established at Howard University in 1959 as a non-exclusive alternative to the traditional black Greek letter organizations.

W.I.N.E. Psi Phi
WΨΦ
Historical crest of W.I.N.E. Psi Chi
FoundedHoward University
TypeCultural
EmphasisAfrican American
ScopeNational
ColorsBurgundy and Blue
SymbolBunch of Grapes
Headquarters756 East 111th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60628
United States
Websitewinepsiphisso.net

History edit

W.I.N.E. Psi Phi was formed as a social activist organization called HUMS.[2][3] Students Roy Brown, John Mason, and Allen Cherry establsihed HUMS at Howard University on March 2, 1959.[2][4] It formed from the social activism of the the Civil Rights Movement and as an alternative to the "ficticious title of Black Greek".[5][4] Its founders dismissed the notion that civilization stemmed from the ancient Greeks and instead considered ancient Egypt to be the "cradle of civilization".[4] The oraganization was created as a non-exclusive group.[5]

The motto of HUMS was "We Initiate New Experiences" [2][3][6] In 1962, HUMS became W.I.N.E. Psi Phi.[2][3][6] The fraternity was chartered with the university that same year.[7][6] One of its stated missions was "to reunite lost and wondering minds back to Earthly Understanding".[4]

Chapters was established at Florida A&M University in 1966 and at Bluefield State University and Cheyney State University in 1967 when members transferred from Howard.[8][6] This was followed by a chapter at Lincoln University in 1967.[2] W.I.N.E. Psi Phi continued to expand across the United States, mostly at historically black colleges and universities.[3]

W.I.N.E. Psi Phi was involved in campus activity committees and favored booking George Clinton's Parliment for events such as homecoming.[9] The fraternity is known for its performances in step shows.[10] Its members also participated in intramural sports.[11] Its charitable activities included food drives to privide holiday meals for families in need, funding scholarships, and sponsoring a breakfast program for Head Start students.[12][8][13] Its sister sorority was WINE Psi Phi Twins.[14] Later chapters, such as the one at the University of Illinois, operated as a coed "frarority".[12]

Beginning in September 2018, the fraternity's headquarters was hosted by the Durham City Graduate Chapter in Durham, North Carolina.[15][7] In the early 2010s, there was a rift in the organization, with the collegiate side of the fraternity obtaining the copyright and trademark of the name which had lapsed in October 2014.[16][17] At the April 23, 2022 graduate convention, the Durham City chatper's Grand Council met to discuss the problem and select a new name as it could no longer legally use the historic name WINE Psi Phi. The Durham City Graduate Chapter was reincorporated as Gamma Alpha Fei on September 28, 2022.[6]

Symbols and tradtions edit

The fraternity's name WINE is an acronym for its original motto, "We Initiate New Experiences".[2] Its pledge club is called the Grapes and its symbol is a bunch of grapes.[18][2] Its president was the Supreme Grand Grape or Grand Grapette.[14][13] Many of its chapter's names relate to types of wine.[19]

The fraternity's colors are burgundy and blue, with the former being selected as the color of wine.[20][18][2] The fraternity's motto is "To build rather than to tear down".[20][2]

Historically, Wine Psi Phi pledges were required to participate in the "Cross the Burning Sands" initiation ritual by drinking a fifth of wine.[21] Today, drinking alcohol is not required for membership.[2]

Chapters edit

Collegiate chapters edit

Following is an incomplete list of the collegiate chapters of Wine Psi Phi: Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters and institutions are in italics.

Chapter Charter date Institution Location Status References
March 2, 1959 Howard University Washington, D.C. [4]
1966 Florida A&M University Tallahassee, Florida [2][8]
1967 Bluefield State College Bluefield, West Virginia [2]
1967 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Cheyney, Pennsylvania [2][22]
1968 Lincoln University Oxford, Pennsylvania [2][23][14]
1969–1975 ? Kittrell College Kittrell, North Carolina Inactive [2][a]
Concord January 25, 1969 Saint Augustine's University Raleigh, North Carolina [2][24]
1972 Delaware State University Dover, Delaware [2]
Akadama Plum 1973 Lewis University [25][19]
Nu Viking 197x ? Elizabeth City State University Elizabeth City, North Carolina [4][18][2]
197x ? South Carolina State University Orangeburg, South Carolina [2]
197x ? North Carolina Central University Durham, North Carolina [2]
December 15, 1977 Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, North Carolina [2][20]
19xx ?–1979 Virginia State University Ettrick, Virginia Inactive [26][27][b]
Annie Green Spings October 1979 Chicago State University Chicago, Illinois Active [28]
Benedict College Columbia, South Carolina [2]
Pineapple Smash Bradley University Peoria, Illinois Active [19][29]
Sangria Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown College, and Spellman College Atlanta, Georgia Active [19]
Bali Hai Eastern Illinois University Charleston, Illinois Active [19]
Cherry Kirsberry Eureka College Eureka, Illinois Active [19]
Cold Bear Illinois Benedictine College Lisle, Illinois Active [19]
Spanada Illinois State University Normal, Illinois Active [19]
Ait Mo Gai Kennedy–King College Chicago, Illinois Active [19]
Morehouse College Atlanta, Georgia
Morgan State University Baltimore, Maryland [2][30]
Morris College Sumter, South Carolina [2]
Richards Northern Illinois University DeKalb, Illinois Active [31][19]
MD 20/20 - Wolf & Sons Olive–Harvey College Chicago, Illinois Active [19]
Shaw University Raleigh, North Carolina [2]
TJ Swan Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Illinois Active [19]
Southern University at Baton Rouge Baton Rouge, Louisiana [32]
Akadama Red Thornton Community College South Holland, Illinois Inactive [19]
Whiteport University of Illinois Urbana, Illinois Active [11][19][12]
Chianti University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point Stevens Point, Wisconsin Active [33][19]
  1. ^ Chapter was founded 1969, and incorporated on May 8, 1973. The college closed in 1976.
  2. ^ College closed the chapter after a death from a hazing incident.

Graduate chapters edit

Chapter Charter date Location Status References
Durham City Graduate Chapter April 30th, 2011 Durham, North Carolina Active [7][34]

Controversies edit

In 1975, pledge Richard A. Gowins died at Northern Illinois University as a result of a hazing incident that required him to drink a half gallon of a mixture of wine, tequila, and gin.[35][36] At Virginia State University, pledge Robert Etheridge drowned while trying to rescue Norsha Lynn Delk, a pledge for the sorority Delta Sigma Theta; both were attempting to swim in the Appomattox River, fully clothed, as part of a quasi-baptism ritual in 1979.[26][27] The university dissolved the chapter after the incident.[27]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Walter M. Kimbrough (2003). Black Greek 101: The Culture, Customs, and Challenges of Black Fraternities and Sororities. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-8386-3977-1.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "About Wine Psi Phi". Wine Psi Phi Social Fraternity, Durham City Chapter. Archived from the original on December 30, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ a b c d African American leadership: a reference guide. Santa Barbara: Mission Bell Media. 2015. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-9907300-3-3 – via Internet Archive.
  4. ^ a b c d e f The Viking (yearbook). Elizabeth City, North Carolina: Elizabeth City State University. 1988. pp. 136–137 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ a b Elizabeth Calvert Fine (2003). Soulstepping: African American Step Shows. University of Illinois Press. p. 159. ISBN 978-0-252-02475-7 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ a b c d e "About". Gamma Alpha Fei, Social Fraternity, Inc. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  7. ^ a b c "THE GAF At A Glance". Gamma Alpha Fei, Social Fraternity, Inc. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  8. ^ a b c "Wine Psi Phi Shows Purpose". Tallahassee Democrat. 1974-11-03. p. 156. Retrieved 2024-05-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Arthur Kempton (2005). Boogaloo: The Quintessence of American Popular Music. University of Michigan Press. pp. 371–. ISBN 978-0-472-03087-3.
  10. ^ Fine, Elizabeth C. (Elizabeth Calvert) (2003). Soulstepping : African American step shows. Internet Archive. Urbana : University of Illinois Press. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-252-02475-7 – via Internet Archive.
  11. ^ a b Peterson, Doug (January 25, 1974). "Nabor House triumphs". Daily Illini. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c "The Christmas Season". The Urbana Daily Citizen. 1973-12-15. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-05-11 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b "Breakfast Program Continues". The Urbana Daily Citizen. 1975-02-18. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-05-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b c "Members of LU's Newest Fraternity". The Lincoln Clarion. Jefferson City, Missouri. 1972-11-03. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-05-11 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Home". Gamma Alpha Fei, Social Fraternity, Inc. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  16. ^ "The Daily Vineyard". Gamma Alpha Fei, Social Fraternity, Inc. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  17. ^ "W.I.N.E. PSI PHI SOCIAL FRATERNITY". Trademarkia. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  18. ^ a b c The Viking. Elizabeth City, NC: Elizabeth City State University. 1982. p. 197.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Chapters". W.I.N.E. PSI PHI Social Service. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  20. ^ a b c The Fayettevillian. Fayetteville, NC: Fayetteville State University. 1978. p. 156 – via Internet Archive.
  21. ^ Matthews, Vincent; Amdur, Neil (1974). My race be won. Internet Archive. New York, Charterhouse. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-88327-023-3 – via Internet Archive.
  22. ^ "Jamison-Laster". Press of Atlantic City. 1972-10-22. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-05-11 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Dennis E. Gregory (October 2003). The Administration of Fraternal Organizations on North American Campuses: A Pattern for the New Millennium. College Administration Publications. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-912557-27-4.
  24. ^ The Falcon. Raleigh: Saint Augustine's College. 1974. p. 98 – via Internet Archive.
  25. ^ "History of the Black Student Union at Lewis University".
  26. ^ a b Hank Nuwer (2001). Wrongs of Passage: Fraternities, Sororities, Hazing, and Binge Drinking. Indiana University Press. pp. 248–. ISBN 0-253-21498-X – via Internet Archive.
  27. ^ a b c Nuwer, Hank (1990). Broken pledges: the deadly rite of hazing. Internet Archive. Atlanta: Longstreet Press. p. 303. ISBN 978-0-929264-72-1 – via Internet Archive.
  28. ^ Reflections (yearbook). Chicago: Chicago Normal College. 1980. p. 21 – via Internet Archive.
  29. ^ Anaga (yearbook). Bradley University, 1978, p. 176. via JSTOR..
  30. ^ Terry R. Matthews; Lynne P. Woodfork-Matthews (1 March 2004). Demon Chased Angel Watched. Xulon Press. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-59160-571-3.
  31. ^ "Student Association, 1955+ | Northern Illinois University".
  32. ^ "layborn 'Bee' Perks | EuniceToday.com | The Eunice News, Eunice, La". Eunice News. November 11, 2014.
  33. ^ "SPBAC approves additional budget requests" (PDF). UWSP Pointer. October 26, 1978. p. 8.
  34. ^ "Home". Wine Psi Phi Social Fraternity, Durham City Chapter. Archived from the original on 2022-01-15. Retrieved 2024-05-11 – via web.archive.org.
  35. ^ Nuwer, Hank (2001). Wrongs of passage : fraternities, sororities, hazing, and binge drinking. Internet Archive. Bloomington : Indiana University Press. p. 244. ISBN 978-0-253-21498-0 – via Internet Archive.
  36. ^ Nuwer, Hank (1990). Broken pledges : the deadly rite of hazing. Atlanta: Longstreet Press. p. 299. ISBN 978-0-929264-72-1 – via Internet Archive.

External links edit

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