In the fall of 1975, six recent graduates of four Historically Black Colleges (HBCUs) moved into Craige Residence Hall to begin post-graduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. These graduates were Calvin Burney, A. Leon Miller, Kenneth Vinson, James Rogers, Jr., Jerry Carter, and Bryant Moore. Burney, Miller and Vincent were graduates of Fayetteville State University; Rogers, Hampton Institute (now University); Carter, Livingstone College; and Moore, A&T State University. Holding true to ideals of the House of Alpha, an unbreakable bond was formed between these Brothers. Burney and Miller were enrolled in the Department of City and Regional Planning in the Graduate School; Vinson, the School of Business; Rogers, School of Medicine; Carter, the Department of Public Administration; and Moore, in Biochemistry.
After becoming acclimated to life at UNC, the Brothers from Craige Dormitory began to meet other men of Alpha enrolled in the Graduate and Professional Schools at UNC. The total quickly increased from six to thirteen Brothers. The Brothers were ecstatic to have such a large group of Alpha men assembled at UNC. The additional Alphas joining the ranks of the original six were as follows:
Carl Biggs, North Carolina Central University
Elwood Becton, North Carolina State University
David Gore, North Carolina A& T State University
Ben Paige, North Carolina State University
Leon Peace, North Carolina A&T State University
Japhet Nkonge North Carolina A&T State University
Morris Clark North Carolina A&T State University
The Brothers began to reminisce about the college life they enjoyed in their respective chapters; a time which had so swiftly passed. These Brothers could not fathom the fact that an Alpha chapter had not been established at UNC, where the black male enrollment had skyrocketed in recent years. Plans to foster Alpha’s presence on the campus and establish an undergraduate chapter were developed. Each Brother was asked to wear Alpha paraphernalia daily, if possible, to let the UNC community know that Alpha was on the “yard” and would soon take its rightful place as a leader on campus. Within a month, interested young men began approaching Brothers about becoming members of the Fraternity. Many were glad to see the dawn of a new day at UNC. After spawning a presence and interest in Alpha at UNC, the original six men realized there was a greater problem facing the Brothers at UNC. For the first time in their brief fraternal lives, they would soon become a group of Alpha men without valid pass cards or membership in an Alpha chapter. On November 15, 1976 both their pass cards and undergraduate chapter memberships would expire relegating them inactive with the National Organization and destroying their dreams of establishing a chapter at UNC. Refusing to allow their dreams of a chapter at UNC to die, in late October 1975, Burney, Miller, Vinson and Rogers went to Raleigh, N.C. to meet with the late Augustus “Gus” Witherspoon , NC State Director, to forge a resolution to their soon to be “inactive status”. Brother Witherspoon, in consultation with the National Office, agreed to allow the Brothers at UNC to pay their grand tax in order to retain their active status and become members of the General Organization, since they were no longer were affiliated with their respective undergraduate chapters. During this meeting, permission was requested to begin the process of establishing a chapter at UNC. Brother Witherspoon gave verbal approval and Calvin Burney was designated as his point of contact. Upon returning to Chapel Hill, a majority of the Brothers met at Craige Residence Hall and agreed to pay the $50 grand tax to remain active with the Fraternity, and further committed to assist with founding a chapter at UNC.
Burney commenced the process of establishing a new fraternity on the campus with University officials. It was soon realized that in order to expedite the University’s process, Alpha needed a “university insider”. The Brothers began the search for a “university insider”. The needed intermediary was found in Brother Moses Carey, a staff member in the School of Public Health. After a brief discussion with James Rogers, Brother Carey agreed to assist in expediting the process. Brother Carey provided Burney with the names of the University’s “go to” people and when needed would personally followed-up with them. Early in January 1976, the University and the National Office of Alpha granted permission to establish a chapter at UNC. In order to implement chartering of the new chapter, Calvin Burney became Dean of Pledgees, A. Leon Miller, Assistant Dean of Pledgees; Kenneth Vinson, Treasurer; and James Rogers, Secretary and the remaining Brothers assisted where needed. In early February 1976, an Alpha Smoker was held in the Upendo Lounge on South Campus for those men interested in becoming members of Alpha Phi Alpha. Attendance at the Smoker was incredible with roughly 30 men in attendance. Approximately 23 applications for membership were ultimately received and after a thorough review, 18 men were accepted and initiated into the Sphinx Club. At the conclusion of the ‘six-week pledge period’ (which actually stretched to ten and one half weeks), 16 men were deemed worthy of being initiated into the Mu Zeta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The official charter date is Monday, April 5, 1976, but the Charter Line crossed the burning sands on Thursday, April 15, 1976 at 12:17 am.
Members of Mu Zeta’s Charter Line are:
Steven Allan White
Kenneth Earl Hill
Godfrey Ronald Tillman
Herbert Hoover Farrish, Jr.
Luther Timothy. Falls, Jr.
Samuel Levi Fulwood, III
George Steven. Forrest
William Wootson-Farmer, Jr.
Larry Alston
Thomas Leroy Johnson, Jr.
Spurgeon Fields, III
Elson Sylvester Floyd
Curtis James Parker
Brian David Delaney
George Paul Archie Newby, Jr.
Burton Davis Price
The Charter Line was pledged and initiated under the auspices of the late Augustus “Gus” Witherspoon, NC State Director, and the Durham, NC Graduate Chapter, Beta Theta Lambda. Brother Moses Carey became Mu Zeta’s first Chapter Advisor. Mu Zeta’s Charter Line was an instant success at UNC. The Sensational Sixteen Stepmasters as they were affectionately known were intelligent, witty, charming, and out-going. After many sessions of rehearsing the various Alpha steps with the graduate Brothers in preparation for the Chapter’s Block Show, the Charter Line became obsessed with their ability to perform. The Chapter’s Inaugural Block Show was a hit with the UNC community. The members of the Charter Line developed a strong desire to perform anywhere there was an audience. On one occasion, Burney and Miller caught the Charter line performing at one of their impromptu Block Shows. After a severe and much deserved reprimand, Burney began referring to the Charter Line as the Sensational Sixteen Stepmasters and the rest is rich and valued history.
The first chapter president was G. Ronald Tillman, a fifth-year pharmacy student.
Since that time, there have been 41 lines of Alpha men in the Mu Zeta Chapter. Among them, nine Brothers, Godfrey Tillman, Elson Floyd, Clinton Hunter, David Dickerson, Stuart Scott, Marcus Houston,Victor Blue, Sean Douglas, and Jacobe Foster have gone on to the Omega Chapter. May they rest in peace!
