The Black Fraternal Council announced yesterday that they have chartered and affiliated with the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. in a move that will integrate the University's black Greek life with a national black organization.
The BFC, now called the NPHC, is composed of eight African-American chapters, fraternities and sororities at the University.
Aaron Laushway, associate dean of students and director of fraternity and sorority life, saw the move to the larger national organization as a positive one, saying the BFC has "taken a step to solidify their fraternal obligations here at the University and beyond."
The NPHC student leadership also expressed enthusiasm about the group's future in the NPHC and the opportunities it would add to existing members.
"Being in the NPHC gives a lot of leadership development opportunities for members," NPHC President Isaac Noye said. "Now we fall under a national umbrella that provides these opportunities."
The organizations will approach alumni and ask for additional funds, a process they expect to become easier with the national affiliation, Noye said.
With the new development opportunities available, the NPHC has articulated three main goals for the coming year: promoting awareness about African-American organizations, enhancing and promoting community service and equipping every chapter with the tools to sustain themselves at the University.
NPHC Treasurer Brandon Smith said he sees the move to the NPHC as a way to strengthen ties to the Inter-Fraternity Council.
"[The move] puts us in the mainstream with the rest of the Black Greek systems and IFC/ISC," said Smith. "It gives us a sense of global structure."
The NPHC has developed positive relations with other Greek bodies on Grounds, Noye said.
The NPHC and IFC have "strong relations built off of constant work experiences all summer," Noye said. "We also met numerous times to talk about joint programming initiatives."
He said with the national affiliation, the two organizations will continue to evolve strongly together.
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