The Multicultural Greek Meet and Greet event was held on Tuesday, Sept. 14. This event was a chance to meet the different fraternities and sororities that have founding members of different ethnicities.

At this event, all students were invited to attend. Eight different fraternities and sororities attended to spread their messages and invite students to join their organizations. These fraternities and sororities included Alpha Kappa Alpha, Zeta Phi Beta, Phi Beta Sigma, Sigma Lambda Gamma, Kappa Alpha Psi, Gamma Phi Omega, Delta Sigma Theta and Alpha Phi Alpha.

Some of these fraternities and sororities are not on campus but were invited to join the event because some were graduate chapters. The on-campus fraternities and sororities really stuck out to the students.

“I think what sets our sorority apart from others is one, the importance of academic excellence, just making sure that we get our degree and we are successful when we come to college. After you put aside academics it’s very nice to be able to relax with sisters who share the same values and relationships,” said Megan Dorantes, a junior public administration major and member of Gamma Phi Omega. “One fear is always that once I’m done with undergraduate I will never see them again, which is not true. We have sisters in different states, in fact, some of our sisters will go out of town to spend time with other sisters and just continue to build those connections and have those memories to bond over.”

Many sorority members are on campus a lot and help to build connections with others. With these connections, members are able to do a lot for the community and others around them.

“Alpha Kappa Alpha is committed to service of all mankind, community service is very important to us,” said Ayawna Singleton, a senior psychology major and leadership minor. “Sisterhood is something that is very much instilled in our organization. I love being part of this organization for the fact that I get to serve my community and I get to meet new people and have a network across the country, the globe really.”

Yesenia Castro-Rangel, a senior forensic investigation major and psychology minor, and Leslie Ayala, a junior dental hygiene and music major, were both excited to share information about Sigma Lambda Gamma.

“What sets us apart from other sororities is when we talk about other cultures. That way we can embrace each other by learning about each other and growing, not only that but teaching each other about our cultures and backgrounds,” said Castro-Rangel. “I think for me that’s the most important part of the sorority just because people are more comfortable being themselves and being at home.”

“With our sorority, we focus on empowerment and empowering women. When I joined I was really shy and didn’t want to say my opinion, I didn’t think it mattered,” said Ayala. “I had a group of women that were like ‘hey your voice matters’ and I just think it’s a really great home away from home.”

The fraternities and sororities are overseen by Megan McGinnis, the Assistant Director of Student Involvement & Development.

“This event is an opportunity for students at Washburn to learn about the multicultural organizations that they could be a part of that we currently have on campus and some that are out in the community that they might see around, but aren’t necessarily at Washburn,” said McGinnis. “These organizations are founded historically in multicultural roots, whether that’s Latina or historically Black organizations.”

Though some of the organizations are not on campus, curious students can take McGinnis’ advice to get involved.

“Some of them have flyers around campus that have contact information for who they could contact, but they can also reach out to me in my office,” said McGinnis. “I can put them in contact with the student organizations and advisors in order to gain more information.”

McGinnis offered some insight into these multicultural fraternities and sororities.

“These organizations were historically founded based on their cultural identity. They are open to students of all ethnicities, races and backgrounds, but their historical founding was for a place for students that looked like them that didn’t have a place before so that is how they got started,” said McGinnis.

This event was open to all students and helped spread awareness of the different multicultural fraternities and sororities that Washburn has to offer.

Edited by: Alijah McCracken