In anticipation of The Department of Marketing release of the newest edition of the fraternity’s official publication, 7 Visions, we are revisiting some of the articles contained in our previous edition. The VP of Marketing Lateef Ipaye, the Branding Director Zachary Dominguez, and the Director of Content Luis A Gonzalez all worked arduously to put the finishing touches on the much awaited edition and they are currently working at warp speed for the Spring 2021 release.
We hope that the stories and voices contained here speak to you. ODPhi presses on in spite of a global pandemic and 7 Visions highlights the most honorable that as Knights we put forth. Enjoy!
Today we showcase and uplift the voice of our dear brothers who have faced extraordinary life experiences and whose journeys are a testament to the mettle they are made of. These brothers have found their tribe in Omega Delta Phi and they have allowed the brotherhoods principles to enhance them as people and the leaders this country so desperately needs.
Enjoy and again, enjoy this issue of the magazine and please share your feedback with us, it will be much appreciated!!
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For Ezekiel Acosta and his multigenerational familia, navigating change, transformation, representation, and the boundless love that unites them has not been without challenge. Acosta, a trans man from the Southside of Chicago, found his tribe in a group of honorable and upstanding gentlemen at the University of Illinois- at Urbana Champaign. His journey as one of the brotherhood’s first openly trans members has reaffirmed the love and support he has found in circles he has built.
Acosta grew up in the Southside of Chicago and in high school transferred to Indiana. He fondly remembers growing up in a big family, a maternal household where women have always been at the forefront. At the University of Illinois- at Urbana Champaign he studied Latino and Queer Studies and graduated in May of 2019. He joined the ranks of the Alpha Sigma Chapter at UIUC as a member of the Fall 2017 Tau Line.
Acosta credits his growing up in a Latino oriented background for the strength he mustered to be able to come out as a trans man. He was drawn to Omega Delta Phi due to his involvement on campus in many social justice groups. Acosta did not have his sights on greek letter organizations and he had been put off by negative behaviors he had seen from some fraternities on campus. One evening, Acosta found himself at an event at the Latino Cultural Center and an active brother, who would later on go on to become his big brother in the fraternity, announced their Fall Recruitment.
“I jokingly blurted out to my friend and to the brother making the announcement “Im showing up to that” and he seemed genuine and unorthodox in his excitement for me. What drew me to ODPhi is the fact that the Alpha Sigma chapter is very socially aware and always open to helping other people and extending a hand, very much in line with the original purpose of the organization” Acosta reminisced.
His interest in Greek Life didn’t come without controversy as many members of the UIUC Greek circle weren’t aware that I was trans which led to a lot of rumors and gossip. The loyalty extended by the actives and his LB’s was ever present. Acosta was well aware of the lack of representation of what a Latino Greek trans member looked like or what any other trans person looked like, for that matter.
“The brothers didn’t want to overshare out of respect to me because they understood it was my story to tell or not tell” Acosta remembered.
Fraternities can be hotbeds for toxic masculinity, homophobia, transphobia, and sexism. In spite of this, Zeke believes his experience was different and reaffirming in so many ways.
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