After several years with only graduate membership at the University of Wisconsin, some first-year students are excited about the black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc. reviving a chapter for undergraduates.
UW freshman Sasha Williams said she looks forward to the possibility of joining the sorority.
“I can’t pledge this year because I’m a freshman and they want you to wait until you’re a sophomore, until you get a good foundation GPA,” Williams said. “I like AKA because they’re more flamboyant, but in the end, they get down to business and give a lot of attention to community service.”
Williams, a Milwaukee native, came to UW through the Pre-College Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence. Her exposure to historically black sororities came through attending step shows and conferences put on by the organizations.
“I’ve been coming to the campus since middle school through the PEOPLE Program,” Williams said. “There are a bunch of people who are friends here and in Milwaukee. We’re already involved in community organizations in Milwaukee, and we decided that this would be a way for us to stay involved and connected.”
While AKA has received attention from freshmen like Williams, other historically black Greek organizations for women have plans to revive dwindling undergraduate chapters, said Kristina Engeseth, president of the UW National Panhellenic Council.
The executive board of the UW National Pan-Hellenic Council discussed Tuesday the revival of undergraduate chapters and the important role black Greek organizations play in diversity.
“These sorority chapters are part of what is called the Divine Nine,” Engeseth said. “What sets these nine [sororities] apart is that they are community service-oriented organizations, not social organizations.”
Other members of the UW NPHC executive board agreed the community service focus is what motivated them to join their respective fraternity and sorority.
“All the organizations have an undergraduate chapter and an alumni chapter,” Engeseth said. “Our connection to the larger community and the effectiveness in addressing an issue comes through that connection.”
Erica Garry is a graduate member of the AKA St. Louis chapter. She is working in Madison for the New Voters’ Project.
Garry said she realizes AKA is often noted for its famous graduate members such as Oprah Winfrey and Maya Angelo but feels prestige drives involvement.
“I travel a lot for work, and wherever I go, whatever situation, I can meet women like me who have a similar passion for service,” Garry said. “Chapters do not make or break someone. I feel these women come to the organization as leaders.”
UW NPHC Council members agreed that at one point their organization played a role in keeping in Madison.
“Last summer I couldn’t find a job, so I sent out an e-mail,” said Marcus Hill, council representative for Omega Psi Phi Inc. “The next day, I received three offers back and one from a different fraternity.”
Delta Sigma Theta sorority member Martina McWilliams said reviving chapters will play an important role in increasing African-American presence on campus.
“We can do big things because we have brotherhood, sisterhood that extends into the highest reaches of corporate America and to elected officials,” Hill said.
Williams shares similar views.
“It’s about fellowship. We started that fellowship in the PEOPLE program, and as [a] community that came from that program, and in Greek organizations we can carry on that relationship and the responsibility the university has given us,” Williams said.
