Greek Life for African-American Students At FSU

Frostburg State University has several organizations that students can join, and sororities and fraternities are some of students’ top choices.

Omega Psi Phi, Iota Phi Theta, Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi and Delta Sigma Theta are the current five African-American Greek sororities and fraternities offered at Frostburg State University.  These organizations are all under the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Incorporated (NPHC), a national organization that specializes in unifying men and women to obtain leadership and philanthropy skills.   In the past, Zeta Phi Beta was also a Greek sorority of Frostburg’s, but “they didn’t have enough intake, so all of its members graduated,” stated Jamie Winters, assistant director of Student Activities and Greek Life.

Greek fraternities and sororities have been essential to Frostburg State University.  In 1977, Omega Psi Phi was the first African-American fraternity established at FSU.  The fraternity is an organization founded in 1911 by three males at Howard State University in Washington D.C. The primary purpose of the fraternity is to congregate college men and prepare them for manhood, social, emotional, and intellectual success.

Hassan Bangurah, junior and president of the Phi Beta Sigma organization, stated, “the Phi Beta Sigma is a service-oriented fraternity. We help out with the homeless, do community service, and have events where we put on a great show.” Bangurah crossed and became a member of Phi Beta Sigma during the fall semester of 2013.  The fraternity includes 10 males, all of them African and African-American.  “Most of us are African.  We didn’t mean to do it on purpose, but it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done,” he stated.

David Bennet is also a member of Phi Beta Sigma, having crossed spring of 2011. “I joined the fraternity for the brotherly aspect. Being a sigma puts you in contact to network a lot. It can get you a job, and  it can help you out with your career,” Bennett explained.

Winters and Robert Cooper, director of Student Activities and Greek Life, oversee all of the Greek sorority and fraternity activities. In order for a student  to become a member of Greek Life he/she must be a current full-time student, have a GPA of 2.3 or higher, be a second semester freshman and have a minimum of 12 credit hours.

For more information on Greek life fraternities and sororities, visit the following links:

http://involvement.frostburg.edu/sci/student-activities/greek/

http://involvement.frostburg.edu/sci/student-activities/greek/greek-life-principles1/