Wine Psi Phi Explained

Wine Psi Phi
Letters:	English: WGreek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΨΦ
Coat Of Arms:	File:Wine_Psi_Phi_fraternity_shield.png
Birthplace:	Howard University
Type:	Cultural
Status:	Defunct
Emphasis:	African American
Scope:	National
Motto:	"To build rather than to tear down"
Pillars:	Brotherhood, Character, Leadership, Service, Responsibility, and Scholarship
Colors:	Burgundy and Blue
Chapters:	34 (inactive)
Symbol:	Grapes
Address:	756 East 111th Street
City:	Chicago
State:	Illinois
Zip Code:	60628
Country:	United States
Affiliation:	Independent

W.I.N.E. Psi Phi (English: WGreek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΨΦ) was 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. In later years, many chapters operated as a co-ed "frarority". Today, its collegiate chapters are all inactive, with just a single graduate chapter remaining.

History

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

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

Chapters were 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] This was followed by a chapter at Lincoln University in 1967. Wine Psi Phi continued to expand across the United States, mostly at historically black colleges and universities.

Its sister sorority was WINE Psi Phi Twins.^[9] Later chapters, such as the one at the University of Illinois, operated as a coed "frarority".^{[10] [11]} However, the collegiate chapters dwindled over time and went inactive, leaving only a few active graduate chapters.

Reformation efforts

Beginning in September 2018, the fraternity's national headquarters was hosted by the Durham City graduate chapter in Durham, North Carolina.^[12] In the early 2010s, there was a division in the organization, with the Chicago graduate chapter obtaining the copyright and trademark of the name Wine Psi Phi which had lapsed in October 2014.^{[13] [14]} At its April 23, 2022, national grand cluster or convention, the fraternity's Grand Council met to discuss the problem and to select a new name as it could no longer legally use the historic name WINE Psi Phi.^[15] The Durham City chapter was reincorporated as Gamma Alpha Fei on September 28, 2022. The Chicago chapter continues to operate as W.I.N.E. PSI PHI Social Service Organization Inc.^[16] Both of these organizations claim Wine Psi Phi collegiate fraternity as their origin.

Symbols and traditions

The fraternity's name WINE is an acronym for its original motto, "We Initiate New Experiences". Its pledge club was called the Grapes and its symbol was a bunch of grapes. Its president was called the Supreme Grand Grape or Grand Grapette.^[17] Many of its chapter's names related to types of wine.

The fraternity's colors were burgundy and blue, with the former being selected as the color of wine.^{[18] [19]} The fraternity's motto was "To build rather than to tear down". Its principals or pillars were Brotherhood, Character, Leadership, Service, Responsibility, and Scholarship.

Historically, Wine Psi Phi pledges were required to participate in the "Cross the Burning Sands" initiation ritual by drinking a fifth of wine.^[20] As campus attitudes toward hazing and alcohol changed, drinking alcohol was no longer required for membership in the fraternity.

Activities

Wine Psi Phi was involved in campus activity committees and favored booking George Clinton's Parliament for events such as homecoming.^[21] The fraternity was known for its performances in step shows.^[22] Its members also participated in intramural sports. Its charitable activities included food drives to provide holiday meals for families in need, funding scholarships, volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and sponsoring a breakfast program for Head Start students.^[23]

Chapters

Collegiate chapters

Following is a list of known collegiate chapters of Wine Psi Phi. Inactive chapters and institutions are listed in italics.

Chapter	Charter date	Institution	Location	Status	References
		Howard University	Washington, D.C.	Inactive
	1966	Florida A&M University	Tallahassee, Florida	Inactive
	1967	Bluefield State College	Bluefield, West Virginia	Inactive
	1967	Cheyney University of Pennsylvania	Cheyney, Pennsylvania	Inactive	^[24]
	1968	Lincoln University	Oxford, Pennsylvania	Inactive	^[25]
Concord	January 25, 1969	Saint Augustine's University	Raleigh, North Carolina	Inactive	^[26]
	1969–1975 ?	Kittrell College	Kittrell, North Carolina	Inactive
Richards	1969	Northern Illinois University	DeKalb, Illinois	Inactive	^[27] ^[28]
	1972	Delaware State University	Dover, Delaware	Inactive
Akadama Plum	1973		Romeoville, Illinois	Inactive	^[29] ^[30]
Nu Viking	197x ?	Elizabeth City State University	Elizabeth City, North Carolina	Inactive
	197x ?	South Carolina State University	Orangeburg, South Carolina	Inactive
	197x ?	North Carolina Central University	Durham, North Carolina	Inactive
	December 15, 1977	Fayetteville State University	Fayetteville, North Carolina	Inactive
	19xx ?–1979	Virginia State University	Ettrick, Virginia	Inactive	^[31] ^[32]
Annie Green Springs	October 1979	Chicago State University	Chicago, Illinois	Inactive	^[33]
		Benedict College	Columbia, South Carolina	Inactive
Pineapple Smash		Bradley University	Peoria, Illinois	Inactive	^[34]
Sangria		Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown College, and Spellman College	Atlanta, Georgia	Inactive
Bali Hai		Eastern Illinois University	Charleston, Illinois	Inactive
Cherry Kirsberry		Eureka College	Eureka, Illinois	Inactive	^[35]
Cold Bear		Illinois Benedictine College	Lisle, Illinois	Inactive
Spanada		Illinois State University	Normal, Illinois	Inactive	^[36]
Ait Mo Gai		Kennedy–King College	Chicago, Illinois	Inactive
		Morehouse College	Atlanta, Georgia	Inactive
		Morgan State University	Baltimore, Maryland	Inactive	^[37]
		Morris College	Sumter, South Carolina	Inactive
MD 20/20 – Wolf & Sons		Olive–Harvey College	Chicago, Illinois	Inactive
		Shaw University	Raleigh, North Carolina	Inactive
TJ Swan		Southern Illinois University	Carbondale, Illinois	Inactive
		Southern University at Baton Rouge	Baton Rouge, Louisiana	Inactive	^[38]
Akadama Red		Thornton Community College	South Holland, Illinois	Inactive
Whiteport		University of Illinois	Urbana, Illinois	Inactive	^[39]
Chianti		University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point	Stevens Point, Wisconsin	Inactive	^[40]

Graduate chapters

Following is an incomplete list of WINE Psi Phi graduate chapters. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are indicated in italics.

Chapter	Charter date and range	Location	Status	References
Durham City Graduate Chapter	April 30, 2011 – September 28, 2022	Durham, North Carolina	Withdrew	^[41]
W.I.N.E. PSI PHI Social Service Organization		Chicago, Illinois	Active

Controversies

On April 5, 1975, a Northern Illinois University chapter's pledge, Richard A. Gowins, died after an initiation ritual that required him to drink a half gallon of mixed wine, tequila, and gin in an hour.^{[42] [43] [44]} A coroner's jury ruled the death accidental.

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 on March 22, 1979.^[45] The university banned the chapter and the sorority after the incident.

See also

• Cultural interest fraternities and sororities
• List of African-American fraternities
• List of hazing deaths in the United States

External links

• WINE PSI PHI Service Organization
• Gamma Alpha Fei

Notes and References

1. Book: Walter M. Kimbrough. Black Greek 101: The Culture, Customs, and Challenges of Black Fraternities and Sororities. 2003. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press. 978-0-8386-3977-1. 100.
2. Web site: About Wine Psi Phi . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20211230015228/http://www.durhamwinepsiphi.org/history.html . December 30, 2021 . May 11, 2024 . Wine Psi Phi Social Fraternity, Durham City Chapter . Internet Archive.
3. Book: African American leadership: a reference guide . Mission Bell Media . 2015 . 978-0-9907300-3-3 . Santa Barbara . 11 . Internet Archive.
4. Book: The Viking (yearbook) . Elizabeth City State University . 1988 . Elizabeth City, North Carolina . 136-137 . en . Internet Archive.
5. Book: Elizabeth Calvert Fine . Soulstepping: African American Step Shows . University of Illinois Press . 2003 . 978-0-252-02475-7 . 159 . registration . Internet Archive.
6. Web site: About . 2024-05-11 . Gamma Alpha Fei, Social Fraternity, Inc. . en-US.
7. Web site: THE GAF At A Glance . 2024-05-11 . Gamma Alpha Fei, Social Fraternity, Inc. . en-US.
8. News: 1974-11-03 . Wine Psi Phi Shows Purpose . 2024-05-12 . Tallahassee Democrat . 156 . Newspapers.com.
9. News: 1972-11-03 . Members of LU's Newest Fraternity . 2024-05-11 . The Lincoln Clarion . Jefferson City, Missouri . 2 . Newspapers.com.
10. News: 1973-12-15 . The Christmas Season . 2024-05-11 . The Urbana Daily Citizen . 1 . Newspapers.com.
11. News: 1975-04-09 . Booze Kills Student . 2024-05-12 . The Cincinnati Post . 10 . Newspapers.com.
12. Web site: Home . 2024-05-11 . Gamma Alpha Fei, Social Fraternity, Inc. . en-US.
13. Web site: The Daily Vineyard . 2024-05-11 . Gamma Alpha Fei, Social Fraternity, Inc. . en-US.
14. Web site: W.I.N.E. PSI PHI SOCIAL FRATERNITY . May 11, 2024 . Trademarkia.
15. Web site: Home . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20211220171654/http://winepsiphi.org/ . 2021-12-20 . 2024-05-12 . W.I.N.E. Psi Phi Social Fraternity, Inc. . web.archive.org.
16. Web site: Contact Us . 2024-05-12 . W.I.N.E. PSI PHI Social Service Organization . en-US.
17. News: 1975-02-18 . Breakfast Program Continues . 2024-05-12 . The Urbana Daily Citizen . 5 . Newspapers.com.
18. Book: The Fayettevillian . Fayetteville State University . 1978 . Fayetteville, NC . 156 . Internet Archive.
19. Book: The Viking . Elizabeth City State University . 1982 . Elizabeth City, NC . 197.
20. Book: Matthews, Vincent . My race be won . Amdur . Neil . 1974 . New York, Charterhouse . Internet Archive . 978-0-88327-023-3 . 115 . Internet Archive.
21. Book: Arthur Kempton . Boogaloo: The Quintessence of American Popular Music . University of Michigan Press . 2005 . 978-0-472-03087-3 . 371–.
22. Book: Fine, Elizabeth C. (Elizabeth Calvert) . Soulstepping : African American step shows . 2003 . Urbana : University of Illinois Press . Internet Archive . 978-0-252-02475-7 . 8 . Internet Archive.
23. News: 1975-05-23 . Big Brother, Sis Projec Detailed . 2024-05-12 . The Urbana Daily Citizen . 3 . Newspapers.com.
24. News: 1972-10-22 . Jamison-Laster . 2024-05-11 . Press of Atlantic City . 9 . Newspapers.com.
25. Book: Dennis E. Gregory . The Administration of Fraternal Organizations on North American Campuses: A Pattern for the New Millennium . October 2003 . College Administration Publications . 978-0-912557-27-4 . 84.
26. Book: The Falcon . Saint Augustine's College . 1974 . Raleigh . 98 . Internet Archive.
27. Web site: Student Association, 1955+ Northern Illinois University .
28. News: Blaska . David . 1975-04-23 . Jury Rules Gowins' Death Accidental . 2024-05-12 . The Daily Chronicle . De Kalb, Illinois . 2 . Newspapers.com.
29. Web site: History of the Black Student Union at Lewis University .
30. Web site: Chapters . 2024-05-11 . W.I.N.E. PSI PHI Social Service . en-US.
31. Book: Hank Nuwer . Wrongs of Passage: Fraternities, Sororities, Hazing, and Binge Drinking . Indiana University Press . 2001 . 0-253-21498-X . 248– . Internet Archive.
32. Book: Nuwer, Hank . Broken pledges: the deadly rite of hazing . Longstreet Press . Internet Archive . 1990 . 978-0-929264-72-1 . Atlanta . 303 . Internet Archive.
33. Book: Reflections (yearbook) . Chicago Normal College . 1980 . Chicago . 21 . Internet Archive.
34. https://jstor.org/stable/community.28614142 Anaga (yearbook)
35. News: 1977-11-03 . Disco Dance Saturday at Eureka College . 2024-05-12 . The Pantagraph . Bloomington, Illinois . 42 . Newspapers.com.
36. News: 1975-10-05 . Profile: Blacks on Campus . 2024-05-12 . The Pantagraph . Bloomington, Illinois . 26 . Newspapers.com.
37. Book: Terry R. Matthews . Demon Chased Angel Watched . Lynne P. Woodfork-Matthews . 1 March 2004 . Xulon Press . 978-1-59160-571-3 . 46.
38. News: November 11, 2014 . layborn 'Bee' Perks EuniceToday.com The Eunice News, Eunice, La. . Eunice News.
39. News: Peterson . Doug . January 25, 1974 . Nabor House triumphs . May 11, 2024 . Daily Illini.
40. News: October 26, 1978 . SPBAC approves additional budget requests . UWSP Pointer . 8.
41. Web site: Home . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20220115132508/http://www.durhamwinepsiphi.org/homepage.html . 2022-01-15 . 2024-05-11 . Wine Psi Phi Social Fraternity, Durham City Chapter . web.archive.org.
42. Book: Nuwer, Hank . Wrongs of passage : fraternities, sororities, hazing, and binge drinking . 2001 . Bloomington : Indiana University Press . Internet Archive . 978-0-253-21498-0 . 244 . Internet Archive.
43. Book: Nuwer, Hank . Broken pledges : the deadly rite of hazing . 1990 . Longstreet Press . 978-0-929264-72-1 . Atlanta . 299 . en . Internet Archive.
44. News: 1975-04-09 . Fraternity Initiation Drink Fatal, Illinois Coroner Says . 2024-05-12 . Fort Lauderdale News . 19 . Newspapers.com.
45. News: Ezzell . James . Everett . LeeNora . 1979-03-24 . 2 VSC Students Drown During Initiation Rite . 2024-05-12 . Richmond Times-Dispatch . 1,2 . Newspapers.com.