12/15/2025
We can't let the day go by without acknowledging the 51st charter Day of the Mother of the Midwest, the Upsilon Chapter of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc!!
It all started 51 years ago when S.I.U. track and field athletes, Bahamas and LB, ran into Iota Phi Theta's John Davenport from Baltimore, Maryland, at a track meet in June 1974 in Austin, Texas. Bahamas noticing the Iota T-shirt Davenport was wearing and began to ask questions about the fraternity. Interest was sparked about starting a chapter in the Midwest. Davenport put the two in touch with Thomas "Tex" Dean the Grand Polaris at the time. And six months later, history was made as a group of 18 - 20 year olds came forward to build a tradition and not rest upon one.