The Brotherhood: a look at Ohio University’s black greek letter organizations
On a cold April night in Athens, a group of young black males files into the photo studio, each one in different red and white attire, or “crimson and cream,” as they will politely correct you.
As each member holds poses for solo shots, the rest of the group can’t resist teasing whoever is in front of the camera. As they await their turn in the spotlight, some casually twirl their canes, which match their outfits.
The canes are a signature item in their step shows, like the one being held at Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium on May 29. Anyone waiting for a cane to hit the floor on this night shouldn’t hold his or her breath. The canes are like an extension of their bodies naturally dangling between their fingers, like a cigarette resting in the hand of a chain smoker.
Photographs by Pete Larson
When they step, the group moves as one. It’s the kind of dexterity and precision that only comes from hours of work, and the type of ritual that is rooted in deep and immense pride. These are the members of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, and their cohesiveness is undeniable. Their behavior is comparable only to that of brothers,
and that’s exactly what they consider themselves to be.
The Kappas, or Nupes as they’re nicknamed, are one of six historically active African American fraternities and sororities at Ohio University, and one of nine governed by the National Pan-Hellenic Council. And although the words “fraternity” and “sorority” conjure keg-stand-type images for most undergrads on campus, others find the Greek social scene dominated by a world of stepping and strolling, colors and calls.
Some see these Black Greek letter organizations as prestigious institutions based in the strongest of African American traditions. Others see the groups as glorified social clubs, a far cry from what their founders intended. The average OU student though doesn’t see these groups at all, and misses out on a world of Greeks with a vibrant culture, controversies and challenges all very much their own.
Perceptions and opinions aside, Black Greek life is undeniably a huge part of OU’s black student community. Although numbers might be fewer than those at an historically black college or university, the percentage of black students involved in Greek life at OU is high, which some attribute to the student body make-up.
Starla Ford, a junior member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, does not deny how integral Greek life is for black students’ social life. “It’s a highlight,” Starla said. “When you come to OU, there is limited access to [social events] for the black community.”
A look at black faculty members affirms the pervasiveness of Greek influence in Athens. Vice President of Student Affairs Kent Smith was an Alpha. And it can’t hurt for an Omega Psi Phi chapter on campus to have one notable chapter alumnus back in Athens: President Roderick McDavis.
Nick Jones, a junior in the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, credited the influence of alumni like these and the rich history as his reasons for joining.
“I wanted to be a part of an organization I knew I could make a contribution to that would be around for years to come,” Nick said. “A lot of organizations come and go … [but] no small group can bring down the tradition of a black fraternity.”
Any conversation with a current member about Black Greek letter organizations includes mention of prominent members and the organization’s extensive history. It won’t take long to learn that Martin Luther King was an Alpha and Michael Jordan was an Omega. If there’s something besides race that sets these groups apart from other Greeks on campus — though being black is not a requirement for pledging — it is an emphasis on history.
Perhaps this is why so many feel adamantly that this history is not being preserved through the actions of today’s organizations. Dr. Akil Houston, a visiting professor in the department of African American studies, said that what he sees today is a far cry from what once was.
“They have essentially become social clubs,” he said. “They still do service but that isn’t the focus like it once was.” Starla, who cites the legacy of the organizations’ prominent female founders as her reason for joining AKA, said that these types of criticisms aren’t always valid.
“They have to look at how the college landscape has changed. As more African Americans are coming to school it has taken on a social aspect.” She said she admires the fact that some of the organizations were born out of necessity when black students were not allowed to join traditional fraternities and sororities. She also said she believes that in the same way these original founders used the system as a support group at OU, the Greek life system helps black students identify with their new home.
“While academics is always most important, you have to like the school you’re going to,” she said. “NPHC is there to create outlets and make the college experience feel more like home, more comfortable.”
To help accomplish this, on top of programming and community outreach, the organizations take turns putting on social events that include variety shows, step shows and icebreakers. An icebreaker is far from the stuffy, forced mingling the name implies. It is the equivalent of a traditional Greek social, except all of the organizations
are invited as well as non-Greeks — so the only true minority at an icebreaker are those not dancing. Fraternities and sororities weave through the crowd performing strolls unique to their organization. Imagine long lines of high-energy synchronized moves that make the choreography of today’s brightest pop stars fall nothing short of mundane.
Marco Maldonado, a Kappa who joined in the fall, said that all the stepping and strolling business was not what attracted him to his newfound family. He said he was drawn in after attending a program put on by the Kappas about minorities in college when he was a freshman. Marco stressed that his time is not all spent making up dances, but he admits that it does have a significant place in the group.
“When we stroll that shows our unity,” Marco said. “We’re in a line [of] brothers to represent what we’re about.”
When Marco made the decision to become a Kappa, he did his research. Unlike other organizations, Black Greek letter institutions make members choose wisely. Pledges have one shot and then they’re done — one of many formalities that separate them from the rest of Greek life on campus. Their letters always appear in their organization’s colors. Pledge classes are smaller, sometimes including only a single pledge, and their required knowledge of the Divine Nine (the nine historically Black Greek letter organizations governed under the NPHC) is extensive.
This extreme pride has often gotten chapters across the nation into trouble when it led to tension and even violence. Just last fall at Ohio State, all Black Greek social events were suspended for the following quarter because of altercations, one of which involved a firearm, according to OSU’s student newspaper The Lantern. Baker University Center has added security at icebreakers because of previous altercations that have occurred during or after the events according to Angela Davis, Associate Director of Operations for Baker Center.
Marco claimed that Black Greek rivalries aren’t an issue at OU though.
“Altercations may occur between anybody, but if two who are coincidentally Greek get into an altercation, then it would probably be seen as a Greek vs. Greek thing,” he said. “It’s a waste of time. We have to stay unified
because there is such a low number of [minorities].”
With every issue facing Black Greek life, there seems to be an added challenge when operating at a whitewashed campus like OU.
Starla said incidents that draw attention like the one at Baker Center are clearly a matter of logistics. “We have to do all our parties as entertainment on campus because we don’t have off campus space,” she said. “Off campus things happen, but they’re not going to get reported. Here we are under a spotlight.”
Nick said being at OU forces the organizations to function in a lot of ways that other Black Greeks don’t have to. “It’s different because we, as members, have to cross racial boundaries,” he said. “It’s impossible for us to accomplish anything trying to appeal just to the black community [at OU]. If we were at a historically black college, we wouldn’t have to deal with it, everything would be black, black, black.” The added challenges, Nick said, make the groups that much tighter.
“That’s the whole purpose of the fraternity,” Nick said. “That bond that you build is so strong … you feel like you can accomplish anything together. In school and society.”
This bond will be on display as the Kappas take the stage at the end of the month to compete against other fraternities and sororities in their biggest step show of the year. Greeks and non-Greeks will make up a raucous crowd, but the atmosphere is more celebration than competition. The girls will be just as loud as the boys as they stomp, and Mem Aud will be overflowing with colors and letters that hold century-old meaning. As they exit the stage in a line, no matter where those in attendance feel about Black Greek life, there is no doubt that they share a bond as strong as their originators. There is no doubt that they are brothers.
K appa Alpha Psi Fraternity Members (Back L-R) Jordan Sims, Sam Freeman, Greg Turner, Victor Moore, Kenji Horton, (Front L-R) Devin Palmer, Alan Grigsby, Marco Maldonado, Jordan Penn, Rafael Bibb