Other Stories in today's FridayFOCUS

Fraternities, sororities bring unity and community service

t's nine o'clock on a Saturday morning and Engineering senior Shawn Ward has just arrived at Scarlett Middle School in Ann Arbor.

While the majority of the University student body spends Saturday mornings sleeping in, Ward and the brothers of his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, spend their Saturday mornings tutoring students ages 12 to 16. Serving as a role model to the youngsters, Ward patiently helps a young girl with mathematical word problems.

Meanwhile, Kia Berry and the women of her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, arrive in an Ann Arbor suburb and apply a fresh coat of paint to a house they helped build. Berry and her sorority sisters have also decided to dedicate some of their Saturday mornings to work on a construction project with Habitat for Humanity.

Ward, Berry and about 150 students are all members of the Greek system -- but it is not the Greek system most students are familiar with. Instead it is a system of fraternities and sororities whose membership is composed mostly of African Americans and whose main focus is on community service. It is a system that is quickly making its presence felt throughout the campus and community.

History

In 1906 at Cornell University, seven African American male students decided to join together to form a fraternity for black men, who, because of the color of their skin, were denied membership to the all-white fraternities on campus. They named their fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha and three years later a chapter opened at Michigan.

Twenty-three years later, Alpha Phi Alpha was joined on campus by its sister sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. Like its brother fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha was also founded at Cornell University because of the discriminatory practices of white sororities.

The fraternities and sororities have expanded nationally and internationally since the early half of the century. On campus there are nine predominantly African American Greek organizations in addition to groups that serve the Latino/a and Asian American communities.

A number of the black sororities, such as Sigma Gamma Rho, have hundreds of chapters throughout the nation, Europe, the Carribbean and in Africa.

"It's like having a whole bunch of sisters," said Patrice Petway, vice president of Sigma Gamma Rho. "Anywhere I go I know there is someone who I have a special bond with."

The growing number of these organizations reflects the increasing number of minorities who are not interested in joining the "mainstream" Greek system, but instead are turning to another facet of Greek life.

Why People Join

Last fall, Chua and 12 other women formed the campus chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta Phi -- the first in the Midwest.

"We want to provide a stronger voice for Asian American women because we are considered a double minority," Chua said.

Isaias Nono Cantu Jr., president of the Latino fraternity Sigma Lambda Beta, said his fraternity helps him "keep (me) where (my) roots are."

Many of the members of the minority Greek system echoed Cantu's sentiments and said a stronger bond is formed between people of the same race because of their similar backgrounds.

"I never considered joining a white sorority because that's not who I am," said Jenna Buan, a member of Tau Kappa Omicron. "I want a group that will fit me. I don't want a group that I have to fit in."

Tau Kappa Omicron Sisterhood is the first multicultural sorority in the country.

Richard Rountree, a Business senior, said he doesn't think he closed his eyes to a white fraternity, but instead said he could identify with the black Greek system.

"I wanted to join a fraternity that represented my struggle at the University and in life," Rountree said.

Others, including Black Greek Association President Petway, said they were drawn to the culturally based Greek system because of the vast amount of community service the organizations perform.

"I decided to join because the focus is different," Petway said. "Most community services are based on uplifting the black community."

Notion of Separatism

All the fraternities and sororities interviewed by The Michigan Daily said this is false and membership is open to all races.

Berry, who is president of Delta Sigma Theta, emphasized that although historically the sorority has been predominantly African American, "all races are welcome to join."

Berry noted there are white members in other chapters.

Darilis Garcia, president and co-founder of the Latina sorority Delta Tau Lambda, said Latino/a sororities and fraternities are necessary because they address specific needs of her group.

"I'm not trying to separate myself," she said. "I'm trying to help my people. If I don't take care of mine, no one will."

Community Service

The Alpha Gamma Psi Sorority Inc. set up the "Rites of Passage" program with schools in the Ann Arbor area. They visit the schools during lunch break to discuss issues like date rape.

Alpha Kappa Alpha has scheduled a bucket drive this month for the Africare program -- to help industrialize underdeveloped villages in Africa.

"I don't think we're being separatist -- we're uniting black people," said Ena Randolph, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha. "This is an organization where you can have pride in your race."

How to Join

In the fall, BGA, an umbrella organization for the nine predominantly black fraternities and sororities on campus, hosts an open house for every organization to speak about themselves.

Almost all of the minority Greek organizations have less than 20 active members.

"I like the fact we're not huge because it's a lot easier to get to know 20 people," said Jason Kang, president of Lambda Phi Epsilon.