Caroline Wilkerson ~ Copy Editor
On Wednesday, Feb. 13, the University of Lynchburg’s National Pan-Hellenic Council hosted a game night in the West Room of Drysdale for a chance for students to get to know the different fraternities and sororities offered on campus.
The four different Pan-Hellenic fraternities and sororities represented at the game night was Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and Alpha Psi Lambda National, Inc.
According to the National Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity website, the fraternity “works to develop leaders, promotes brotherhood and academic excellence, while also providing service and advocacy for their communities.”
University of Lynchburg Alpha Phi Alpha President, Tyrome Harvey, said, “We have recently started mentoring students grades 6-12 at the Fort Hill Community School.” Harvey also emphasized, “We really just want to bring people together and awareness about our Greek life.”
As stated on the University of Lynchburg Multicultural Greek Council website, Alpha Psi Lambda National’s mission statement is, “to promote continued personal and collective growth of our membership, success, and unity through education, leadership, cultural awareness, and community service.”
Secretary of the co-ed Latino fraternity, Shannon McGovern, said, “We are a social fraternity, however, we are very service oriented and care about educating the public about Hispanic needs, as well as other minorities…we really just want it to be an inclusive place.”
Additionally, Alpha Kappa Alpha also has a similar mission statement. The national website states, “Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s mission is to cultivate and encourage high scholastic standards, to promote unity, and friendship among college women, to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their social stature, to maintain a progressive interest in college life, and to be a “Service to All Mankind.”
Vice President, Membership Chairman, and Director of Public Relations, Manal Sayed, said, “We focus on many different philanthropic projects. One in particular is Soles4Souls, which is where we collect used or new shoes for those in need.” Formal Rush for Alpha Kappa Alpha begins March 5, 2019.
Kappa Alpha Psi is one of the newest fraternities on the University of Lynchburg campus. In reference to the national website, Kappa Alpha Psi serves to be “in service to communities with particular emphasis on African American communities.” David Lovette II, said, “We stand on achievement…and really just want to motivate one another to be great.”
Each organization put emphasis on inclusion and the fraternities and sororities are welcoming to a variety of students on campus.