Excerpt from the Wright State Guardian
Three National Pan-Hellenic Council plots on the Dayton campus of Wright State University were vandalized last week. The Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. markers are the impacted plots.
NPHC is a coalition of nine historically African American, Greek-letter fraternities and sororities that was organized in May 1930 at Howard University. Traditions of Black, Greek-letter organizations can be traced back to days of slavery, according to Gabrielle Brown, president of the Epsilon Chi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
The nine organizations, also called the Divine Nine, are Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. (the first historically Black fraternity), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. (the first historically Black sorority), Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc.
At Wright State University, there are nine plots that symbolically and physically represent each of the organizations between University Hall and the Mathematical and Microbiological Sciences buildings near the BART sculpture.
“We often get disrespected at the plots, this isn’t the first time that something like this has occurred,” Treyah Gray, the NPHC president said.
“We are extremely disappointed that someone defaced a space that holds great significance and is meant to be a source of celebration, education, and direction for visitors, students, employees, and alumni alike. That’s why we are asking for everyone’s help,” WSU Chief of Police Kurt Holden said in a university-wide email.
