With more than 100 clubs and organizations, there is no shortage of ways for students to get involved on campus – and that includes Methodist University’s Fraternity and Sorority Life.
With more than 100 clubs and organizations, there is no shortage of ways for students to get involved on campus – and that includes Methodist University’s Fraternity and Sorority Life.
Any student is welcome to join one of the seven fraternities and sororities available on campus, including the four that are part of the historic “Divine Nine” – Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, and Alpha Kappa Alpha. Along with five other fraternities and sororities, these D9 organizations were established in the early 20th century as a way for Black college students to connect with each other and have gone on to make a big difference in their communities for more than a century.
“Our Divine Nine organizations continue to be committed to embracing the values and missions of what it means to be a member of their organization and our Fraternity and Sorority Life community through their involvement in leadership, scholarship, and community service,” said Hannah Key, assistant director for Campus Engagement and lead advisor for Fraternity and Sorority Life. “They are organizations who impact the retention of our students, the success of our students, and provide them with a sense of belonging.”
For senior Marquis Dreher, president of Kappa Alpha Psi, the opportunity to join a Divine Nine fraternity as a freshman helped him find a purpose outside of academics.
“Coming here, I was looking for the right fit for me,” said Dreher, who plans on graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and minor in Marketing this December. “When the Black Lives Matter protest started in 2020, it really made me reflect and I started to look into the Divine Nine fraternities. I decided to join Kappa Alpha Psi because I felt like the group related to me the most and I love the fact the group is always reaching out to the community. It’s a brotherhood.”
While the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities provide a sense of belonging for the students, each one of them mentioned the importance of community service. From food drives to visiting elementary schools to volunteering for the Salvation Army to helping people register to vote, each organization strives to serve others in the greater Fayetteville area.
“On Ramsey Street, we do a roadside cleanup twice a semester. We also help with blood drives,” said junior Syone Beckford, president of Omega Psi Phi and an Accounting major. “But we also host events focused on mental help because we want to make sure everyone knows we care about them. We understand life is hard, and we want people to know that we are here for them in any way that we can.”
Senior Romone Belk Jr., president of Alpha Phi Alpha, mentioned the importance of MU offering four different Divine Nine fraternities and sororities on campus – one of the many reasons why Methodist University was listed as the No. 1 Most Diverse University in North Carolina in 2022.
“Honestly, it’s nice,” said Belk Jr., a Health Care Administration major. “It screams diversity. To see the strides this University has made over the years is really nice.”
The strong bonds created through the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities was palpable during the University’s “Cool Down with the D9” event on Aug. 16 – a lively night that allowed current students to learn more about the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities. The event even brought back many MU alumni, including Jacqueline Young ’21, who joined Alpha Kappa Alpha while a student.
“I believe that having minority students see graduate members come back and actively participate helps the college experience,” said Young. “I didn’t just graduate and leave. I love Methodist University and I care so I traveled all the way over here to visit, be a big sister, and provide a helping hand.”
To learn more about the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities, visit the MU Fraternity and Sorority web page.