By Aaron Allen
& Chris B. Bennett
The Seattle Medium
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity recently re-established their presence on the University of Washington campus with the initiation of six new members to their local undergraduate chapter, Kappa Lambda.
According to Everett Bond, secretary of the Epsilon Epsilon Graduate Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma, the men of Sigma, as they are commonly referred, have been looking to re-activate the chapter for some time. With the new initiates, the organization is not only re-establishing their local undergraduate chapter but they are also helping to re-establish the presence of Black Greek letter organizations on the campus as well.
“Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Lambda Chapter is the only NPHC/Divine organization at the University of Washington,” said Bond. “There are NPHC Alumni Chapters in Western, WA, however, there has not been a fully active [undergraduate] chapter at UW in over 4 years.”
Black Greek organizations, who operate under the umbrella of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)/Divine 9 Organizations, have been an intricate part of Black College and college life in general to generations of African Americans since the beginning of the 20th century. Most were founded on Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) except for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity which were founded on predominately White universities, all provided environments stressing community service, fidelity and achievement.
The University of Washington is no exception. Its Black Greek Fraternity and Sorority organizations have had a rich tradition on its campus for more than 50 years.
Due to the diminishing population of African Americans on campus, NPHC member organizations on the West Coast are finding it harder and harder to recruit on predominantly white institutions and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. is not immune.
According to Ron Bennett, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and President of the Seattle Pan-Hellenic Council, all of the organizations are working hard to re-establish their undergraduate presence on the campus.
“I think it is very important to note that Greek fraternities and sororities have not had a presence on the University of Washington campus in some time as they have in the past,” said Bennett. “But, it is also important to understand that a lot of the Greek organizations are coming off of sanctions.”
A large crowd of supporters, including many members of Phi Beta Sigma, their sister organization Zeta Phi Beta, and their youth affiliate groups the Sigma Betas and Archonettes, recently came out to support the return of the chapter during their probate show held at the UW Intellectual House.
Probate shows are an important aspect of NPHC organizations. They are a grand introduction of membership to the campus Greek Community. In addition to learning some information regarding the organization, the men who have been undertaking the Membership Intake Process for the last several of weeks are permitted to unveil their affiliation. It is also a proclamation of the organization’s commitment to being a good steward to the University Greek Community.
“It has been exciting to usher in this new beginning, and we’re honored to have been able to do so with hundreds of family in attendance from all across our region,” said Julian Heyward, President of Epsilon Epsilon Graduate Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma. “Not to mention the evenings special guests four out of the eight Kappa Lambda Chapter charter members, “The Phoenix” also known as the “Elite 8″ Hon. Bro. Levi H. Christopher, Hon. Bro. Tim Collins, Hon. Bro. Dexter Hart, and Hon. Bro. Ray Livingston.”
According to Heyward, Kappa Lambda Chapter has a legacy of excellence academically, socially, and within the community, and these young men are excited to uphold that tradition to the highest degree.
Black Greek organizations have fostered a plethora of leaders throughout the history of Black life from Percy Sutton, George Washington Carver, Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King, Dr. Maya Angelou to Lena Horne, Reginald Lewis and many, many more.
The Kappa Lambda Chapter hopes to continue to do their best to continue this rich tradition with their new class of leaders at the UW. The new initiatives, nicknamed the Resurgence of K.I.N.G.S. include:
Joel Allen, a junior communications major with a 3.5 GPA. Allen is on the Dean’s list and is a Civil Rights Passage Alumnus.
Yarid Mera, a junior pre-med major with a 3.7 GPA. Mera, who is also on the dean’s list, is a Husky 100 Scholar. In addition, he is co-president of the Minority Association of Pre-health Students (MAPS).
Kolawole Akinlosotu, a junior technology and mass media major with a 3.2 GPA. Akinlosotu is an Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity Ambassador and Vice-President of the Hip-Hop Student Union.
Devin Pegues, a junior electrical engineering major with a 3.25 GPA. Pegues is a STARS recipient and serves as Vice President of UW Futsal.
Trayvon-Conrad Webster, a doctoral candidate in education administration with a 3.4 GPA. Webster is the founder of the first African-American Leadership Conference in King County, founder of Get Me to The Prom Foundation, and founder of Kent/Auburn Juneteenth Celebration.
Joshua Dawson, a junior pre-med major with a 3.3 GPA. Dawson is a Costco Diversity and Gates Millennium Scholar. He is also co-president of the Minority Association of Pre-health Students, a UW Athletics Sports Medicine Intern, and an undergraduate researcher at Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center.
