Members of five of the Divine Nine city-wide chapters introduced their organizations at the Black Student Union’s (BSU) annual Meet the Greeks event held in the Perch on Oct. 8.
The Divine Nine consists of nine Black Greek letter organizations of the historically Black National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). These city-wide chapters encompass students from Drexel University, LaSalle University, Saint Joseph’s University, the University of Pennsylvania and Villanova University.
This year, representatives from the Gamma Epsilon chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA), the Psi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and the Epsilon Phi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated presented their organizations’ histories and cultures with lively dancing and chanting.
Alyvia Benson ’22, president of BSU and a member of AKA, said that having sorors on campus has enhanced her experience at St. Joe’s.
“Being a member of AKA has led me to create another home [on Hawk Hill],” Benson said. “Being together, especially through this event, having my line sisters here and having my friends [brought] together as one has just made me feel very complete.”
Despite being the only member of his organization present at the event, Keenan Wise ’22 of the MU chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated (OPP), said that being a part of OPP has made him feel less alone on campus at Drexel University.
Members of five of the Divine Nine city-wide chapters introduced their organizations at the Black Student Union’s (BSU) annual Meet the Greeks event held in the Perch on Oct. 8.
The Divine Nine consists of nine Black Greek letter organizations of the historically Black National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). These city-wide chapters encompass students from Drexel University, LaSalle University, Saint Joseph’s University, the University of Pennsylvania and Villanova University.
This year, representatives from the Gamma Epsilon chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA), the Psi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and the Epsilon Phi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated presented their organizations’ histories and cultures with lively dancing and chanting.
Alyvia Benson ’22, president of BSU and a member of AKA, said that having sorors on campus has enhanced her experience at St. Joe’s.
“Being a member of AKA has led me to create another home [on Hawk Hill],” Benson said. “Being together, especially through this event, having my line sisters here and having my friends [brought] together as one has just made me feel very complete.”
Despite being the only member of his organization present at the event, Keenan Wise ’22 of the MU chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated (OPP), said that being a part of OPP has made him feel less alone on campus at Drexel University.
“If I need to help someone on campus I know I can have 10 people automatically come and help me, rather [than] it just be me trying to scavenge some people up.” Wise said.
Wise, who has been a member of OPP since April 2020, said the chapter has been “reinstated and reaccredited with Drexel,” but is looking to grow in its membership by attending Meet the Greeks events on other campuses.
“This [was] my first time at St. Joe’s. We’re trying to do the same thing here and connect with all five of our schools, and then our chapter,” Wise said.
Both AKA and Delta Sigma Theta have seen an increase in members at St. Joe’s. Camryn Honesty ’22, president of the Gamma Epsilon chapter of AKA, said the chapter has experienced a general increase in membership this year.
“It’s been really good to see how the girls have come into the chapter and wanted to do more than they were doing before without the chapter,” Honesty said. “It’s really nice to see more of the campuses involved. It gives you a wider range of resources on the campus to get to more people.”
Taylor Stokes ’22, technology chair for DST, said that being a part of DST means working for policy change to help Black women grow into their legacies. “It’s a legacy that’s being continued, and being able to do as much as you can to work to contain that legacy, but also to bring women into their legac[ies] as well,” Stokes said.
Chris Ellis ’22, president of the Psi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, said the fraternity helped him when he was getting acclimated to school. He said he continues to help other first year students and sophomores get acclimated as well.
“When you have somebody that looks like you reaching out to you and helping you with all these things, I think that opens up a lot of doors for you,” Ellis said. “It kind of gives you different opportunities to help you to get acclimated, gives you a little bit more confidence, and makes you feel welcome.”