The deep, gravelly voices of Sigma Beta Rho’s six new members echoed around the Life Science auditorium as they introduced themselves as Sigmas for the first time. They stood side by side, chanting “S-s-s-sigma c-c-c-cobras. S-s-s-sigma s-s-s-soldiers,” with their arms bent at their sides and their chins tilted up at the sky. Cloaked by black tracksuits, black masks and black hoods, the only skin showing was around their eyes.

New member presentations, like Sigma Beta Rho’s on April 19, are a tradition deeply entrenched in cultural Greek life, in which new members—called neophytes or neos—are introduced as members of their Greek organization. The event, also called a probate, usually involves chanting, strolling, reciting the history and values of the organization and an introduction to each neo. Probates began within the National Pan-Hellenic Council of historically Black fraternities and sororities, but have since been picked up by other cultural Greek councils and organizations, including Sig Rho. Antonio Mejia Hernandez, a sophomore member of Sig Rho at SU, remembers the deep connection he felt to the chapter at his probate last spring.

“We had brothers from as far as Albany coming over, just to see us. Having this large mass of people who’ve had the same experience learning the same organizational values as you, while you’re presenting, was very empowering,” he said. “I felt jittery. Thinking back, I feel the excitement I had during that night and I wish I could have it again. But you only get one chance with it and it’s something I’m never going to forget.”

Typically, the identity of a neo is kept secret until the probate, when their identity is revealed. The secrecy of the new member process protects its integrity, said Siya Angras, a freshman member of the South Asian-Interest Sorority Delta Phi Omega at SU.

“It’s so secretive because it’s such an intimate process. It's so special and unique to every organization that publicizing it would take away from that closeness and intimacy. When that process is over, there’s a sense of ‘we’re proud to show what we’ve done,’” she said.

Greek life emerged in 1776 with the birth of Phi Beta Kappa, a group of white men looking to discuss current events and literature. Segregated universities and racist policies prohibited students of color from joining Greek life, so, in the early 20th century, Black students began to form their own Greek organizations. Alpha Phi Alpha emerged as the first Black Greek letter organization in 1906, followed by eight other chapters. The National Pan-Hellenic Council of historically Black fraternities and sororities—also known as the Divine Nine—emerged in 1930.

D9 organizations formed at a time when segregation dominated education. Throughout history, they have supported the empowerment, progression, scholarship and service of Black students on campus, in addition to fostering community. The success of the NPHC led to the formation of the National Multicultural Greek Council and The National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations, Inc., both established in 1998. At predominantly white institutions like SU, in which over half of the student body is white, cultural Greek organizations offer comfort, said Angras.

“Going to a PWI as a minority… it feels really overwhelming, especially when you grew up in a space where a lot of people look like you,” she said. “It’s not to say that Syracuse isn’t a welcoming community otherwise, I have never felt really on the outside of things, but I feel more seen ever since joining MGC… I feel a lot less overwhelmed by the whiteness of Syracuse.”

Greek life at SU consists of six councils, including all three national cultural Greek councils—NPHC, MGC and NALFO. The other three councils include the Professional Fraternity Council and the Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils, both of which have no cultural ties and have remained predominantly white since their beginnings. Lael Pierce—the assistant director of fraternity and sorority affairs at SU and a member of the D9 organization Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.—believes cultural Greek organizations at a PWI are integral in creating an inclusive campus community.

“When a student of color is considering attending Syracuse University, one of their primary aims and goals, I would assume, in addition to getting their education, is to find a space where they can belong and find a sense of friendship, siblinghood and safety. A place where there are individuals like them that relate to some of the challenges they faced when they first came to Syracuse. A place where they can receive resources from people who were in their shoes. Each and every one of those councils, and the organizations within them, exist for that very foundational purpose,” she said.

While Panhel and IFC also aim to cultivate community, the ramifications of their exclusive beginnings remain. A study by a University of Connecticut sociology professor found racial prejudice to be the common denominator of historically white Greek institutions as institutions, regardless of geographic, socioeconomic, religious or gender lines. He referenced SU’s chapter of Alpha Chi Rho, which was suspended in 2019 after members accosted a Black student with a racial slur in 2019. The numbers reflect his sentiment—95 percent of historically white Greek life still identifies as white, According to an Oxford journal article published in the last decade.

SU’s office of fraternity and sorority affairs does not track the demographics of each council. As a South Asian woman, Angras did not feel welcome in the Panhellenic community like she did in MGC.

“Having the multicultural Greek organizations and having that awareness made me feel like I could be included in Greek life. Otherwise, I felt like joining Greek life was out of the picture,” she said. “It’s not like Panhel or IFC is exclusive to white people—obviously there are people of color that join both councils—but having multicultural Greek life makes it feel like you’re not ‘othered’ in the organization because everybody else looks like you.”

The impact of these organizations are extremely special, said Maya Wallace, a sophomore at the University of Michigan and a member of the D9 organization Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc.

“There’s something so special about sisterhood, especially Black sisterhood at a PWI. At Michigan, the Black population is 4%, and it’s very crucial, at least for me, to have like minded people around so I know I have a safe space,” Wallace said. “We’re all Black women going through the same things at the university and are interested in the same things within [the focus] of the sorority, so it’s definitely given me more of a family.”

Aside from community, multicultural Greek organizations can provide students with a sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves, said Wallace, noting that during the civil rights movement, the NPHC formed close ties with the NAACP and other powerful organizations fighting for equity.

“It’s really bigger than just the school you join at,” Wallace said. “Each organization has their own rich history that has pushed the culture in the United States. Thinking about everyone who came before you, what they stand for, what your organization stands for and everything you're doing in the community, it’s very special to be part of and know you’re connected to something like that, especially at a PWI.”

Membership to cultural Greek organizations extends far past undergrad, providing networking opportunities, friendships and experiences that extend into the rest of your life. The benefits of these organizations are particularly noticeable at probates, Wallace said.

“It’s to showcase all the hard work you put into becoming a member and the brotherhood or sisterhood you’ve gained. When I was having my probate, I had chills almost the entire time because everyone there is just supporting you,” she said.

At Sig Rho’s probate, the feeling of support and community was palpable, not just from the brothers themselves, but also from those who came to watch. Greek letters from different chapters littered the room on bomber jackets and hoodies. As the neos from Sig Rho acknowledged members from other chapters at SU, they responded with words of support. “We see you, congratulations y'all,” they called.

The quietest voices in the room were from Panhel, IFC and The Professional Fraternity Council. Although probates are open to the public, Angras doesn’t see much support from outside of the cultural Greek community. She says the cultural Greek organizations operate on a “different side of campus.”

Hernandez, the member of Sig Rho, said Panhel and IFC overshadow the cultural Greek councils.

"That’s not really because they’re doing something inherently wrong to suppress [the other councils]. It’s just because IFC has 16 fraternities and Panhellenic council has 13 sororities. Panhellenic council and IFC have houses on fraternity row where [they] get to display all their letters. They have a bigger presence on campus. With MGC, we do what we can to cater to the audience we want to engage with."

According to Pierce, that audience is predominantly students of color. Cultural Greek organizations tend to be smaller at schools with more white students and bigger at HBCUs in the South, she said. They also have a more intimate recruitment process, which may impact their visibility on campus.

However, with the rise of social media, things may be changing. Probate videos have been going viral on TikTok, including Wallace’s probate at the University of Michigan last November. The video, which shows the neos of AKA wrapped in scarves and strolling in a neat line with their heads bowed, has racked up over 50 million views on TikTok alone. Wallace believes social media has significantly increased the visibility of D9 organizations on campus.

“Black Greek life has been around since 1906 and it’s just now kind of catching the eye of the general public,” she said. “People like MLK, Shaq, Kamala Harris—[they’re] in Greek life. But because there was no social media during these times, no one really knew about it and no one knew that these big figures that everyone knows and loves were actually involved in it as well.”

However, social media attention does not come without its difficulties, Wallace said.

“Our videos will go viral from the probates, but there will be a lot of questions in the comments like, ‘what is this?’ I appreciate that social media has helped spread the visibility and the impact of what we’re doing, but I would also like to see more education so people can be less confused if they’re interested.”

In the past semester at SU, things have changed a bit, but not enough, said Hernandez.

“We notice when [Panhel] shows up. We noticed [at probates] this semester when we say greetings to IFC, to the Panhellenic council, we heard a couple of voices we’ve never heard from before,” Hernandez said, noting that last semester, there was not as much engagement from Panhel and IFC as he would like to have seen.

“I think Greek life should be more interconnected and not separated on these types of lines.”

SOURCES

Siya Angras
Maya Wallace
Antonio Mejia Hernandez
Lael Pierce

PHOTO CREDIT

Header Photo and Gallery Photo 3 New members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc. are presented at the University of Michigan in 2023. Their probate would soon go viral on TikTok with over 50 million views.

Photo credit to Maya Wallace

Gallery Photo 2 New members of Delta Phi Omega, including Angras, at Syracuse University celebrate after their probate.

Photo credit to Siya Angras

Gallery Photo 1: Sigma Beta Rho welcomes their new members, including Hernandez, in 2023.

Photo credit to Antonio Hernandez

“It’s bigger than just the school you join at”: Multicultural Greek life Provides Belonging, Fights for Visibility