W.I.N.E. Psi Phi (WΨΦ) 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.
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.[2][4] It formed from the social activism of the Civil Rights Movement and as an alternative to the "fictitious 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 organization 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, also written as Wine 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]
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.
Beginning in September 2018, the fraternity's national headquarters was hosted by the Durham City graduate chapterinDurham, North Carolina.[12][7] 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.[6][15] The Durham City chapter was reincorporated as Gamma Alpha Fei on September 28, 2022.[6] 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.
The fraternity's name WINE is an acronym for its original motto, "We Initiate New Experiences".[2] Its pledge club was called the Grapes and its symbol was a bunch of grapes.[17][2] Its president was called the Supreme Grand Grape or Grand Grapette.[9][18] Many of its chapter's names related to types of wine.[19]
The fraternity's colors were burgundy and blue, with the former being selected as the color of wine.[20][17][2] The fraternity's motto was "To build rather than to tear down".[20][2] Its principals or pillars were Brotherhood, Character, Leadership, Service, Responsibility, and Scholarship.[15]
Historically, Wine Psi Phi pledges were required to participate in the "Cross the Burning Sands" initiation ritual by drinking a fifth of wine.[21] As campus attitudes toward hazing and alcohol changed, drinking alcohol was no longer required for membership in the fraternity.[2]
Wine Psi Phi was involved in campus activity committees and favored booking George Clinton'sParliament for events such as homecoming.[22] The fraternity was known for its performances in step shows.[23] Its members also participated in intramural sports.[24] 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.[10][8][18][25]
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][11][44] A coroner's jury ruled the death accidental.[30]
AtVirginia 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.[32][33][45] The university banned the chapter and the sorority after the incident.[33]
^ abcThe Fayettevillian. Fayetteville, NC: Fayetteville State University. 1978. p. 156 – via Internet Archive.
^Matthews, Vincent; Amdur, Neil (1974). My race be won. Internet Archive. New York, Charterhouse. p. 115. ISBN978-0-88327-023-3 – via Internet Archive.
^ abBlaska, David (1975-04-23). "Jury Rules Gowins' Death Accidental". The Daily Chronicle. De Kalb, Illinois. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-05-12 – via Newspapers.com.