After 18 years of being a social service club, Iota Kappa Phi announced their disbandment in an Instagram post shared on January 17. The Talon spoke with some of the members to talk about their experiences during their time in the club.
Jemma Arbuckle, who was Iota’s President in her senior year of 2022-2023, recounted her favorite aspects of being a part of the club.
“There are so many favorite memories for a club I invested so much in for 3 years. I think back to rushing and all the advice I received from the senior class at the time during senior talks throughout the year,” Arbuckle said. “I think back to leading my club in spring singing alongside Kinsley Flynt. I also loved my senior year and serving my club as President.”
Arbuckle additionally said Iota’s presence in the Intramural field made up some of her favorite memories.
“Even though Iota was never really known for their athleticism, sports holds a special memory for me,” Arbuckle. “Iota winning volleyball championships my sophomore year, Karla Ramirez being the best quarterback my junior year, and Iota soccer my senior year with a special team.”
Even though the club disbanded, Arbuckle said there is hope for Iota’s future.
“I have thought about the fact that Iota could come around again, and if it does, my advice is that whoever takes it over next keeps the core value of accepting anyone,” Arbuckle said. “Inclusivity is what Iota was founded on and I hope it remains that way in the future.”
Senior Brianna Hicks said her favorite memory of being in Iota was experiencing homecoming alongside her friends.
“My favorite memory of being in Iota was homecoming my sophomore year. It was the year we did a 48 hour push, and I remember taking the 12:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. shift and pomping a giant green canopy to hang from the business building ceiling,” Hicks said. “It was a lot of hard work, we were all very tired, but we had a lot of fun doing it. After it was done I was so proud of what we had created together.”
Other members, such as recent graduate Emily Martinez, said her favorite part of Iota was connecting with new rushees as rush director.
“I think my favorite memory with Iota was my junior year when my roommate and I were rush directors,” Martinez said. “Being able to connect with new owls and make new friends was one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.”
President from 2024-2025 Jillian Kumor said her favorite memory of being in Iota was being the club’s spring sing director.
“My favorite memory from Iota would have to be directing spring sing last year. Our members had such an amazing time and we all strengthened our friendships with each other,” Kumor said. “Our main goal for spring sing was that no matter what place we got, we wanted to have as much fun as possible and have zero regrets, and I feel like we surpassed that goal.”
Although the decision to disband was a hard one, Kumor said it was best for the club as a whole.
“This decision was certainly not an easy one, as Iota has been a meaningful part of our school community for 18 years,” Kumor said. “However, after careful consideration, we felt that disbanding the club was in the best interest of our members and the future of Iota.”
Kumor said the shared values between the members in Iota will still continue to inspire those around them.
“I want to express my gratitude to all the members who contributed their time, energy, and ideas,” Kumor said. “Iota wouldn’t have been what it was without their dedication, and I’m confident that many of the values we shared—like teamwork, leadership, and creativity—will continue to inspire them in other pursuits.”
Kumor added even though Iota as a club has ended, the memories will outlast the disbandment.
“Though Iota is no longer active, the friendships and experiences built within the club will remain with us, and I look forward to seeing how our members continue to grow both personally and within the broader school community,” Kumor said. “Pinkies up forever.”
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