African-American fraternities and sororities provide a supportive educational environment for our members during college and also nurture social and business networks beyond college.

We are well aware of the opinions of others and they have every right to express how they feel. It does not equate to the truth, however. The black Greek-lettered organizations are just as infallible or imperfect as everyone on this campus. You are in the light often and individuals that are not organizations are not centered on when it comes to their personal life. It is sad that we are striving for unity and we have our own people disrespecting us in this way and publicly putting out slanderous comments about us without coming forward. It shows that we truly need to come together as a people.

We know that many “individuals” have personal issues with our organizations. Either due to non-selection, romantic relationships, damaged friendships or other situations with us evolving from balancing leadership roles with personal commitments. This also happens after college as well.

NPHC [National Pan-Hellenic Council] is not hurt by it. There are many things that we can say about others that we personally feel would be immature to discuss, so we will let the creators of the document have their moment in the spotlight. They have everything from brand new members to watching the very sweat on our foreheads.

They obviously have it out for us or are really taken by us to try to find every detail or lie they can.

Each institution was established under various specific circumstances, but the underlying theme in all cases was a special emphasis on providing support to minorities in hostile environments, whether on campus or within the broader environment of the United States.

Society has changed a lot since our organizations were created and they are directly responsible for a great deal of those changes. We will continue making these changes in the world and on NIU’s campus with or without the comments of others. We will definitely step back and let them have their moment in the spotlight. We have work to do for the community.

Below are the nine black fraternities and sororities and the dates and locations when they were founded:

– 1906: Cornell University; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
– 1908: Howard University; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
– 1911: Indiana University; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
– 1911: Howard University; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
– 1913: Howard University; Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity
– 1914: Howard University; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity
– 1920: Howard University; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
– 1922: Butler University; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority
– 1963: Morgan State University; Iota Phi Theta Fraternity


Rashida Olayiwola
President, National Pan-Hellenic Council

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