When Greek life is the talk of the table, some organizations are often left out of the conversation. Outside of the College Panhellenic Association and the Interfraternity Council lies another huge part of Greek life that is more prominent at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, but began and still remains at Predominately White Institutions.
The National Pan-Hellenic Council houses nine Black Greek-Lettered Organizations (BGLO), also known as the Divine Nine or D9. It consists of five fraternities and four sororities: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated; Zeta Phi Beta, Sorority, Incorporated; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated; and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated.
Despite originally being created as a safe space for African Americans and Black people, due to the racial turmoil in the 1900s when they were founded, D9 opens its doors to people of all races and ethnic backgrounds. On the University of Tampa’s campus, six of the nine organizations are present.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated
Colors: Black and old gold
Motto: “First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All.”
Principles: Scholarship, fellowship, good character, and the uplifting of humanity
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., both the first BGLO organization and fraternity, was founded by seven men on Dec. 4, 1906, at Cornell University. The Thunderous Tau Pi Chapter was chartered at UT on Nov. 1, 2003.
More information about this organization can be found on its website: http://www.apa1906.net/
Chapter Instagram: @taupi_alphas
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
Courtesy of Shayla Rheams
Colors: Salmon pink and apple green
Motto: “By Culture and By Merit.”
Principles: Sisterhood, scholarship, and service to all humankind
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the first BGLO sorority, was founded by 16 women on Jan. 15, 1908, at Howard University. The Sassy, Yet OH So Classy, Always SophistAKAted Sigma Nu Chapter was chartered at UT on Dec. 7, 2003.
Shayla Rheams is the chapter’s social media manager and membership chair. Her favorite part about being in this organization is the sisterhood and the number of networking opportunities.
She believes with a sisterhood so strong, no matter where you are, there is someone you can call.
Rheams wants the UT community to know her organization is diverse, multicultural and community service based.
“We look for high scholastic and ethical standards,” she says. “We look for people who are involved in their community.”
More information about this organization can be found on their website: http://www.aka1908.com
Chapter Instagram: @utampa_akas
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated
Courtesy of Shayla Estelle
Colors: Crimson and cream
Motto: “Intelligence is the Torch of Wisdom.”
Principles: Sisterhood, scholarship, service, and social action
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was founded by 22 women on Jan. 13, 1913, at Howard University. The Tenacious Tau Iota Chapter was chartered at UT on April 22, 2001.
Shayla Estelle, chapter president, loves her sisterhood and the opportunities her organization has given her.
“I love my sisters,” she says. “Meeting them was the peak of my year last year.”
She enjoys meeting new sorors/sisters and doing community service in the Black community.
The workshops she has attended helped develop her leadership skills for the professional world and bettered her as a person.
There are many characteristics her organization looks for in potentially new members.
“Grades matter, we are an organization of college-educated women,” she says.
They also look for those who are respectful, have good morals, and are aware of what is happening in the world in terms of social action.
The UT community is welcome to attend their events and workshops on resume building, financial literacy, etc. even if they are not interested in the organization.
More information about this organization can be found on its website: http://www.deltasigmatheta.org
Chapter Instagram: @utampadeltas
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated
Courtesy of Nicholas Rivera/Aaliyah Houston
Colors: Royal blue and pure white
Motto: “Culture For Service and Service For Humanity.”
Principles: Brotherhood, scholarship, and service
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., the only fraternity to be constitutionally bound to a sorority, was founded by three men on Jan. 9, 1914, at Howard University. The Infamous Alpha Beta Gamma Chapter was chartered at UT on Nov. 21, 1998.
Nicholas Rivera, chapter president, says the brotherhood is his favorite part.
“It provides an opportunity to seek the rest of the world, develop new relationships and have support,” he says.
His organization looks for those who are seeking the ability to become true men through brotherhood, have great academic success, and dedication to achieving their goals.
More information about this organization can be found on its website: http://www.phibetasigma1914.org/
Chapter Instagram: @utampasigmas
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
Colors: Royal blue and white
Motto: “A Community-conscious, Action-oriented Organization.”
Principles: Scholarship, service, sisterhood, and finer womanhood
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., the first and only sorority to be constitutionally bound to a fraternity, was founded by five women on Jan. 16, 1920, at Howard University. The Illustrious Kappa Lambda Chapter was chartered at UT on Jan. 30, 1982.
Aaliyah Houston, chapter president, says her organization looks for women who help the community and hold themselves to higher standards because Zetas are finer women.
They look for those who are doing very well academically to maintain their principle of scholarship and for those who can uphold sisterly love since it is a sisterhood.
Houston is very grateful to be part of a sisterhood that has a brother fraternity.
“I love the forever family that I have made,” she says. “Everyone is always there for each other no matter what.”
She would like the UT community to acknowledge and become more knowledgeable about organizations like hers.
More information about this organization can be found on its website: http://www.zphib1920.org
Chapter Instagram: @utampazetas
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated
Courtesy of Kimberly Blackmon
Colors: Royal blue and gold
Motto: “Greater Service, Greater Progress.”
Principles: Sisterhood, scholarship, and service
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded by seven women on Nov. 12, 1922, at Butler University. The Sensational Sigma Zeta Chapter was chartered at UT on March 5, 2010.
Kimberly Blackmon is the current advisor and a Sigma Zeta alumna. Although there are no current members on campus, their advisor actively participates in events to connect with the UT community.
“We look for ladies who have a high drive for completing professional and scholastic goals,” she says. “Ladies that want to be involved in the community to educate and uplift where needed.”
Blackmon loves that she can be herself in her sorority without having to conform to unrealistic standards. She has also met like-minded women who want to see her win. When she was a UT student, it was important to have women she could look up to while navigating a new phase in her life.
Her organization has a passion for educating its community, especially women and children. They have many partnerships, for instance, USA swimming, in which they teach Black and Brown people how to swim.
She wants the UT community to know this chapter brings something different to UT’s campus, not only in terms of their colors or mascot but also in their personalities & desire for leadership.
She hopes to gain more members who can contribute to and continue the legacy of Sigma Zeta.
More information about this organization can be found on its website: http://www.sgrho1922.org/
Chapter Instagram: @utprettypoodles
I believe a lot more students would be interested in these organizations if they knew about them and the different cultures they bring to UT’s campus. Even though they were founded because of hate that was spreading across the country, they open their doors to sisterly and brotherly love for others regardless of skin color. These organizations show that there is more to a person than what they look like on the outside. They do a lot of work for countless communities and could always use extra helping hands.
D9 as a whole is the epitome of Black excellence and Black progression.
