Mizzou Greek Life goes Multicultural
Diversifying the University of Missouri's Greek System
Greek Life at the University of Missouri has taken the initiative to create a more vibrant, diverse and unified Greek System. This year, groups of MU students have brought new multicultural sororities and fraternities to campus.
Delta Xi Nu is the first multicultural sorority to start on MU’s campus. President Jessica Hoyos and seven of her sorority sisters founded it this year.
“We wanted an organization where everyone regardless of ethnicity could feel comfortable,” Hoyos said. “A multicultural sorority allows us to embrace the differences that we have and build on a sisterhood that unites us. We all have the common goal to empower and unite women of all backgrounds.”
Amy Chen, president of Alpha Phi Gamma, MU’s Asian Interest sorority, believes in the potential power of having a more diverse Greek system on campus.
Mizzou's Greek Councils
“Two multicultural greek organizations just chartered on campus this semester and one chartered two years ago, so we’re growing!” Chen said. “Although we’re small, we’re tight knit. We are pretty unrepresented on campus, but I think that with the growing number of us we will start making a greater impact on Mizzou.”
Kappa Pi Beta Asian Interest Fraternity Incorporated is another multicultural Greek chapter that was brought to MU this year.
"This blending of differences has ended up being one of our greatest assets."
[as a member of the Greek community]
-Andrew Brosman, Lambda Theta Phi member
IFC, the national association collegiate fraternities, has 31 chapters at MU. The only historically multicultural fraternity within MU’s IFC chapters is Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity Incorporated. The Mizzou chapter of Lambda Theta Phi was founded on April 22, 2012.
“Having a Latin fraternity like Lambda Theta Phi on campus provides a real world example of what diversity can accomplish,” Lambda Theta Phi member Andrew Brosman said.
“As far as fraternities go, ours is highly diverse. This blending of differences has ended up being one of our greatest assets. Perhaps as we learn from them, other IFC fraternities can learn from us about how diversity is not just a catch all term to describe apportionment, but an opportunity to maximize the strengths of their fraternity.”
“There are a lot of culture differences that we are faced with,” Kappa Pi Beta member Vincent ‘Odin Su said. “We are taking small steps by reaching out to different Greek organizations, hosting and attending events.”
Along with the new multicultural Greek chapters that have established themselves on MU’s campus, the long standing Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic Association (PHA) have embraced the inclusion of multicultural chapters and Greeks in recent years.
“When I first joined the Greek system at MU, diversity was not very prevalent,” Kappa Delta sorority member Spencer Barry-Jenkins said. “This year for Greek Week NPHC were included in the pairings and Greek Allies, a group that represents those who are gay in the Greek System was started. Now as a sophomore this year, I think that Greek life has made strides trying to be more inclusive and diverse.”
This year, the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), consisting of the nine largest historically African-American fraternities and sororities, is participating in the annual Greek Week. Although NPHC has been present on MU’s campus since the 1960’s, 2014 marks the first year that NPHC will participate alongside IFC and PHA, the national assocation of colliegte women's sororites. They compete in sporting events, service events, and a theater production.
“We are really excited to be a part of Geek Week.” NPHC member, Tyler Tucker said. “I can always say when I graduate my fraternity was part of the first multicultural Greek Week at Mizzou. For my NPHC brothers, they have been pretty excited and happy to be welcomed by the other fraternities and sororities.”
"Greek life has made strides trying to be more inclusive and diverse.”
-Spencer Barry-Jenkins, Kappa Delta member
Mizzou is on the way of becoming a space where different kinds of culture can co-exist to make campus life more colorful, with the expansion of thriving multicultural fraternities and sororities.
Story by Siqi Lin
Infographics by Eva López