The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) held their fall informational on Wednesday, Sept. 14 in the War Memorial Student Union to give freshmen an opportunity to learn about the different African-American Greek organizations on campus.
“I feel that [the fall informational] is important because it gives the student body information about the National Pan-Hellenic Council, and without it, they might have a hard time finding all the information,” said Avery Hinyard-Tate, a junior majoring in fashion merchandising and a Kappa Alpha Psi member. “The fall informational gives them a venue to collectively come and get the information they need without having to search for it. Also, it gives them the opportunity to mingle with members of the organizations they wish to become members of.”
The fall informational began by introducing the NPHC executive board, and then Hinyard-Tate led the attendees through an icebreaker.
In addition, Monique Dykes, Zeta Phi Beta president and NPHC vice president, presented a slideshow that detailed how community service projects are a big part of their organizations. She listed several yearly projects that members of their Greek organizations participate in; they volunteer with the Special Olympics, Move-in Mania, and the Big Event, as well as hold Toys for Tots events and help show potential Lions around campus during football recruitment.
“In the spring, it is always highly anticipated,” said Dykes on new students joining the NPHC. “We expect a great turnout because we give back to the community, and we hope people see that and want to be a part of it.”
Afterwards, each sorority and fraternity had a group of members come up and give an informative presentation on their individual organization. The organizations that presented were Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
“It was very helpful,” said Paris Vinnett, a freshman majoring in mass communications. “I learned a lot about each fraternity and sorority, even the ones I wasn’t interested in.”
After the organization presentations were finished, refreshments from Subway were available for everyone who attended. During this time freshman had the opportunity to write down any questions they had and submit them to the executive board.
Before the fall informational came to a close, the executive board answered all remaining questions. The NPHC stressed that all students should do their own personal research on the Greek organizations that they are interested in. Also, they stated that once dues are paid to a Greek organization, one is a member for life, but one is only considered active if they continue to pay dues each semester.
The National Pan-Hellenic Council hopes that all freshmen who attended the fall informational were able to take in all the information on the Greek organizations and use it to decide which organization they want to join. For additional information on the individual organizations involved with the Pan-Hellenic Council, contact Pan-Hellenic Council president Jacy Carpenter at jacy.carpenter@selu.edu.