The National Pan-Hellenic Council had its joint interest meeting canceled twice as a result of hurricanes Katrina and Rita; however, each chapter is still recruiting members throughout the semester.According to Judy Daniels, dean of student life, NPHC has a different way of recruiting new members when compared to the other Greek councils on campus: Inter-Fraternity Council and Panhellenic. NPHC does not allow first-time freshmen to join. Each NPHC fraternity or sorority has a required amount of hours students must take and a minimum grade point average that must be maintained in order to be eligible for recruitment.
“You have to show that you can function well as a student, and you have to have the education foundation before you begin,” Daniels said. “That’s part of the reason why I think first-time students are not allowed.”
First-time freshmen are allowed to attend the fall joint interest meeting to see if they may be interested in joining a Greek organization at a later date, Daniels said. NPHC will recruit members again in the spring semester, which may make some freshmen eligible for recruitment at that time.
“Fall grades will be in place,” Daniels said. “People may be available to join.”
Normally once a joint interest meeting has been held, the individual fraternities and sororities have their own interest meetings, where prospective Greeks learn a little more about what makes each chapter unique. There are three active NPHC fraternities on campus, which are Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi and Omega Psi Phi. Nicholls has two active NPHC sororities, which are Delta Sigma Theta and Zeta Phi Beta.
“Pledges learn about history, what that chapter does and philanthropy,” Daniels said.
According to Tommy Ponson, NPHC adviser and alumnus, students interested in joining a NPHC fraternity or sorority must fill out an application with the number of hours the student has taken, his/her GPA, academic standing and overall standing with the University in terms of not being on disciplinary probation.
“All of these are taken into consideration when the application is completed,” Ponson said.
When recruiting new members from the prospective Greeks, Daniels said that the chapters look for members that exhibit four qualities that are common to all Greeks.
“Brotherhood/sisterhood, scholarship, leadership and community service are the four ideals that you will be involved in (as a Greek),” Daniels said. “Each is unique, but all of them have that criteria.”
Daniels said that NPHC offers students a unique experience because it is the only Greek council to have step shows, but she added that all three councils offer a unique experience.
“Most people identify the step shows as something unique to NPHC, which comes from the (African American) culture,” Daniels said.
Although NPHC is made up of mostly black students, Daniels said that all three councils on campus are open to all races.
“Any student no matter his/her race or religion, can join any of the three,” Daniels said. “I don’t think it is perceived that only blacks can join NPHC. All groups honor and respect diversity.
