Diversity Equity and Inclusion
The Beta Gamma chapter of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity is committed to creating a space where all people are welcome regardless of race, religion, or ability. Here you can find resources related to the DEI movement and the weekly newsletter written by our DEI chair, Ayo Kolawole.
Divine 9 newsletter: Week 4
Delta Sigma Theta
11/7/22
As we move into the third chapter of the D&I newsletter, I would like to highlight Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Delta Sigma Theta was originally founded as a sorority in 1913 by 22 students at Howard University, however, they have now transitioned into a non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through programs in local communities throughout the world. The sorority currently is made up of over 200,000 Black college-educated women. This is an international organization that currently has over 900 chapters located in the United States, England, Japan (Tokyo and Okinawa), Germany, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Republic of Korea.
The major programs of the sorority are based upon the organization's Five Point Programmatic Thrust:
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Economic Development
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Educational Development
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International Awareness and Involvement
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Physical and Mental Health
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Political Awareness and Involvement
No part of the net income or contributions of the Sorority are utilized to the benefit of or is distributed to members, officers or other private persons except as authorized by the Sorority to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered or to make payments in furtherance of its purposes.
Flower: African Violet
Motto: Intelligence is the Torch of Wisdom
Colors: Crimson & Cream
Symbol: Pyramid, Lady Fortitude, Delta Torch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zetaxideltas/
Divine 9 newsletter: Week 3
Alpha Phi Alpha
10/31/22
To kick off the second rendition of the weekly newsletter, it is my pleasure to present Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity incorporated. Alpha Phi Alpha, less formally just known as the Alpha’s, were the first African-American, intercollegiate Greek-lettered fraternity. Their founders are known as the Seven Jewels. These founders being; Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy.
Alpha Phi Alpha was initially a literary and social studies club organized in the 1905–1906 school year at Cornell University, which was monumental at the time for an African-American organization to gain such esteem at an ivy league institution. The group later evolved into a fraternity with a founding date of December 4, 1906.
Symbol: the Great Sphinx of Giza
Colors: Black & Gold
Flower: Yellow rose
Motto: First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All.
Current advisor at UW: Kyree Brooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mightyge_alphas/
Divine 9 newsletter: Week 2
Alpha Kappa Alpha
10/16/22
I will begin with the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at UW Madison. Founded on Wednesday, January 15, 1908, on the campus of Howard University in Washington D.C., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is the first Greek Letter Organization to be established and nationally incorporated by college-trained African American women.
The purpose of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 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 all mankind.
The Epsilon Delta Chapter became the First Black Sorority on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, as well as the first Undergraduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha in the state. Given the small number of Black students enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison at the time, the presence of this sorority is very important, and the history remains.
Symbol: Ivy Leaf
Colors: Salmon Pink and Apple Green
Flower: Pink Tea Rose
Motto: "By Culture and By Merit"
Current President: Shaden Ibrahim
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epsilondelta_aka/?hl=en
Divine 9 newsletter: Week 1
9/20/22
For those of you not familiar, my name is Ayo Kolawole, and I am currently the acting diversity and inclusion chair for Delta Tau Delta. My goal in this platform is to help inform, initiate and implement policies and changes that bring awareness and support for issues of diversity and inclusion.
To spearhead this effort, I would love to begin with an informational piece. With the inclusion of the Divine9 monument on Johnson last semester, I realized that not much is known about some of the other greek life organizations on campus. I would like to help spread awareness on this topic.
For those of you interested, each week, I will be compiling surprising information about each of the 9 organizations week by week.
This week, I will begin with a short background article.
Founded in 1930 at Howard University, the National Pan-Hellenic Council is tasked with oversight of the nation's nine historically African American Greek-letter fraternities and sororities, colloquially known as the Divine Nine. In 1949, the Pan-Hellenic council was first introduced to the University of Wisconsin Madison and began oversight of six of these nine groups. These include Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.