Multicultural sororities and fraternities at Washburn University are a way for some students to find their home away from home, and these organizations are open to anyone on campus.

Multicultural Greek Council is an organization made up of organizations that focus on social justice and identify with a race, ethnicity or other manner that is outside the InterFraternity Council, which is for fraternities, or Panhellenic Council, which is for sororities.

“It provides for community governance, shared identity, those kinds of things for a number of organizations on our campus that don’t affiliate with IFC or Panhellenic,” said Christopher Miofsky, the assistant director of the Office of Student Involvement and Development.

There are four organizations that make up the council: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority Inc., Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc. and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

Members of these specific organizations can apply for a position on the Multicultural Greek Council. There are many positions on the council including president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and social media/ marketing. The applications are found on Bods Connect.

After submitting an application, applicants will move to the interview process with the current council members. Finally, there will be an open election for all of the positions. Elections usually occur during the month of November and the applications are on Bods Connect.

According to the website, Alpha Kappa Alpha’s mission is to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, to promote unity and friendship among college women, to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their social stature, to maintain a progressive interest in college life and to be of “Service to All Mankind.”

Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority Inc. is a Latina-oriented sorority focused on sharing their cultural values and experiences. Sisterhood remains the core foundation, and the sorority strives to empower women through set goals.

“We are committed to the values of diversity and inclusion in order to attain and maintain excellence within our sisterhood providing women an equal opportunity without regard to race, age, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status or disability,” according to its website.

Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc. is a historically Latina-based national sorority with a multicultural membership in chapters and alumnae associations across the nation. This sisterhood of women have chosen this affiliation as a way to achieve personal development and awareness of the responsibility of community involvement for the betterment of communities. The sorority continues to be a pioneer in the fraternal world through development of innovative programming initiatives.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. whose website said that the fraternity seeks to raise the sights of Black youths and stimulate them to accomplishments higher than might otherwise be realized or even imagined.

To join one of these organizations, you can go through Bods Connect to find the organization’s information. Another way to join is to go to www.washburn.edu/getalife and click on the sorority and fraternity section.

If you are interested in a multicultural greek organization, but it is not already at Washburn University, you can bring it here. Contact Christopher Miofsky at [email protected] if you are interested in bringing a new sorority or fraternity to campus.

Edited by Matthew L. Self and students in MM422 Editing.