An Introduction to the National Pan-Hellenic Council

Ryan Barnes| Contributed

Hello Class of 2020! On behalf of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) it is my pleasure to welcome you all to join the Wolfpack community here at NC State. I am Ryan Barnes, the 2015-2016 President of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. NPHC is a collaborative organization comprised of the nine historically Black Greek lettered fraternities and sororities: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. We are sometimes referred to as the “Divine 9” or “D9” for short. Of the nine, we currently have seven actively operating on our campus. Each organization is unique with its own colors, symbolism, mottos, chants, etc. However, despite the outward differences, all our organizations are rooted in brotherhood/sisterhood, scholarship, and service to the community.

Individual organizations were founded during the early to mid 1900’s  when this country was in both a racial and political turmoil.  To combat these issues, NPHC was founded in 1930 on the campus of Howard University with the purpose and mission of achieving “Unanimity of thought and action as far as possible in the conduct of Greek letter collegiate fraternities and sororities, and to consider problems of mutual interest to its member organizations.” Since its foundation, NPHC has continued to provide a voice for the African-American community.

On the campus of NC State university, our council works to provide a place of community for African-American students. For some people It can be overwhelming and intimidating to attend a large university and even more so as a minority student. Through our council- wide and individual events, we strive to educate our community and provide places for our students to come together meet one another. Last year, we hosted 90 educational programs, accumulated 3,446 volunteer hours, and also donated $1,635 dollars to charitable organizations!

Choosing to be a member of a fraternity or sorority is an individual decision. For some it may not be a good fit. However, for most joining a Greek organization can be a rewarding and enlightening opportunity and adds value to to the college experience. If you are interested in joining an NPHC organization, I strongly advise you to do independent research, practice discretion, and handle expressing your interest in a professional manner.

Make sure you attend “Meet NPHC” on Friday August 19th in the Witherspoon Student Center from 5:00-7:00PM. This will be an opportunity to get to know our council members. Also mark you calendars for the week of September 25th – October 1st which will be NPHC week! Follow our Instagram pages so that you can receive updates on our programs throughout the year. Good luck with your first week of classes and welcome to NC State! We look forward to meeting you!

Best,

Ryan Barnes,

National Pan-Hellenic Council, President