An official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Plaza at Southeast Missouri State University is planned for 11 a.m. Oct. 13 as part of Southeasts Homecoming festivities.
While Southeast students marked the opening of the plaza on Aug. 17, the new facility will be dedicated on Homecoming day, providing an opportunity for Southeast students and alumni to come together and celebrate the proud traditions of Southeasts NPHC chapters and their contributions to the campus and community, said Dr. Bruce Skinner, associate vice president for student life.
The Plaza, located on the north end of Parker Field, recognizes Southeasts eight historically African-American fraternities and sororities, including Alpha Phi Alpha, Iota Phi Theta, Omega Psi Phi and Phi Beta Sigma fraternities and Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Gamma Rho and Zeta Phi Beta sororities.
The NPHC Plaza provides Southeasts NPHC chapters with a voice and more prominent presence on campus, while also providing a greenspace for student recreation and events.
Southeast student and current NPHC President Jaleea Hudson-Wilson will open the ceremony with a brief welcome followed by Southeast alumna and past NPHC President Andrea Cox who will share her story about the development of the plaza and what this means to her and her organization.
Southeast President Carlos Vargas will provide details about the Universitys support for the plazas development and future use.
Additionally, each of the active NPHC chapters currently at Southeast will make a brief statement about their support of the plaza and what it means to them.
The plaza design features markers with information about each of the eight NPHC chapters recognized at Southeast, highlighting the work of NPHC students and alumni on the Southeast campus. The black Greek-Letter organizations are known as The Divine Nine, or D9, referencing the first nine fraternities and sororities founded between 1906 and 1963 for African American men and women. The Plaza showcases eight of the Divine 9 organizations recognized at Southeast. These organizations were originally created to unite African-American students with common core ideas and principles.