Profile: Zeta Xi Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc

Who Are We

Three young African-American male students founded Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. at Howard University in Washington, D.C., January 9, 1914. The founders, Honorable A. Langston Taylor, Honorable Leonard F. Morse, and Honorable Charles I. Brown, wanted to organize a Greek letter fraternity that would truly exemplify the ideals of brotherhood, scholarship, and service.

The founders deeply wished to create an organization that viewed itself as "a part of" the general community rather than "apart from" the general community. They believed that each potential member should be judged by his own merits rather than his family background or affluence...without regard of race, nationality, skin tone or texture of hair. They wished and wanted their fraternity to exist as part of even a greater brotherhood which would be devoted to the "inclusive we" rather than the "exclusive we".

Since its inception, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. has as a mechanism to deliver services to the general community. Rather than gaining skills to be utilized exclusively for themselves and their immediate families, the founders of Phi Beta Sigma held a deep conviction that they should return their newly acquired skills to the communities from which they had come. This deep conviction was mirrored in the Fraternity's motto, "Culture For Service and Service For Humanity".

Our Purpose
Our enduring motto is the embodiment of their vision, fortitude and dedication.  It has also defined our role as leaders in helping mankind for the common good.  While we must continue to build on the legacy, we must also offer support, growth and development our economy. 

The Zeta Xi Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. at the University of South Florida, believes that the improvement and economic conditions of minorities and college students is a major fact in the improvement of the general welfare of society. It is upon this conviction our Bigger and Better Business Program rests. Since 1926, Phi Beta Sigma as a way of supporting, fostering, and promoting minority owned businesses and services has sponsored the Bigger and Better Business Program on at the University and Tampa Bay area.