Alpha Theta

In December of 1921, 12 Black students gathered to discuss the feasibility of chartering a chapter. The University of Iowa was one of the first public institutions of higher education to admit Black students, however, due to the unsatisfactory and almost intolerable living conditions, the University waived the two-year waiting period for the fraternity to be established. The General Organization sent Brothers William J. Powell (Tau Chapter), and David N. Crosthwait (Theta Chapter) to charter Alpha Theta. In its infancy, the chapter saw tremendous growth from the Black students who were coming to the University to pursue advanced degrees. In less than 5 years, the chapter doubled in size, secured a home, and was successfully executing the fraternity’s first Go-to-High- School, Go-to-College Program. Visiting brothers were always impressed by the warm welcome and invited to stay at the chapter house, as was the case when Brother Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visited the campus in 1959.