On Saturday, May 4, the University of New Mexico Divine Nine Greek Life chapters established the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) in a milestone over a decade in the making.
The Divine Nine consists of nine historically Black fraternities and sororities.
Kaelyn Moon, president of the NPHC and member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., made a speech during the chartering ceremony on the history of the Council at UNM.
The effort has been ongoing since 2010 with undergraduate Black Greek life members researching, writing proposals and speaking with UNM leadership and Albuquerque’s Black Greek life alumni community, Moon said in her speech.
“After over a decade of advocacy, we were finally able to establish (UNM’s) NPHC,” Moon said in her speech. “We thank all the former student leaders who came before us and passed down the work so that we can achieve this milestone today.”
Rene Matison, UNM alumni and member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., was the keynote speaker at the event and encouraged students to build upon what former student leaders were starting with the formation of the council.
“Through this charter, I set (up) all organizations to continue to build our legacy through cooperative work, as emphasized in the mission and values of the NPHC,” Matison said in his speech.
The NPHC chapters were impactful even before their official chartering, Moon said.
“The chapters at UNM have upheld the legacy of activism, student involvement, community empowerment, academic success and collective effort to positively impact the campus community,” Moon said.
Patricia Lott, Fraternity and Greek Life specialist and NPHC advisor, has three main goals for the Council, she said.
“The three main things (are) to continue recruiting, retain the chapters within the Council and then hopefully matriculate (the students) up to graduation,” Lott said. “And trying to be leaders to cultivate change on our campus for our students and within the councils.”
One of Moon’s goals for the NPHC is to establish it as a “well-rounded campus identity” that shows its unique capabilities, while also making it well known at UNM.
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“Right now, (Interfraternity Council) and Panhellenic are the two mainstream conversations in Greek life, specifically at UNM, but on a broader level,” Moon said. “So the goal is to merge into that mainstream channel and have UNM’s NPHC be a household name for UNM Lobos.”
Elizabeth Secor is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted on Twitter @esecor2003
Elizabeth Secor is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted on Twitter @esecor2003
