Students seeking to join a Greek organization during spring rush
this week should not overlook other options in alternative houses
besides the rows of fraternities and sororities on Hilgard and
Gayley Avenues, say students in other Greek organizations.
The Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council govern the
31 national and international Greek houses located just off-campus.
Most of these organizations have houses and all are sponsored by
the university, unlike many of the other Greek organizations that
are not sponsored by the university.
But students say IFC and Panhellenic are not the only Greek
organizations that provide students with social networks and
professional connections.
Some of the alternative houses fall under the Asian Greek
Council, the Multicultural Council or the National Pan-Hellenic
Council, which governs historically black Greek letter
organizations. Others are not under a specific council but are
centered around specific interests, religions or cultures.
The Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, part of the National
Pan-Hellenic Council, is dedicated to community service, especially
toward serving the black community, said Jerome Price, a third-year
political science student and former president of the
fraternity.
“The focus on community service sparked interest for me. I
was really shocked at how powerful a brotherhood could be,”
he said.
The group participates in outreach efforts in the black
community which focus on encouraging high school students to go to
college, mentoring teenage black males and building the political
power of blacks.
Though the organization focuses on issues in the black
community, Price says all students are welcome.
“Non-African Americans should be interested because (the
organization) is geared toward helping humanity as a whole,”
he said.
The Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority is another historically black
Greek organization on campus.
“You learn so much about each other. You learn your
strengths, weaknesses and deal with real life situations in
careers,” said President Jamie Williams.
Just like Price, Williams says all students, not just blacks,
are welcome.
“If your values align with our values then you’re
good to go,” she said.
Students in the “Christ-centered” fraternity Alpha
Gamma Omega organize weekly Bible study, but members also do
community service and go to events like ice skating, bowling and
Magic Mountain.
“It’s more than friendship, brotherhood. You grow
spiritually. You’re not going to find that in another
fraternity,” said third-year philosophy student David Yanez,
a member of the organization.
The four organizations from the Asian Greeks of UCLA give
students an opportunity to learn more about the different aspects
of Asian culture.
Omega Sigma Tau fraternity, headed by President Jeff Choi, a
fourth-year political science student, focuses much of its
community service in Koreatown and works with the Japanese-American
community.
There are also special-interest groups such as the pre-law
fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta. Second-year business and economics
student Devin Ho said the pre-law heading, however, is not just a
cover for partying as some may think.
“We do have events and try to gear toward the mentality of
law students. We gravitate toward professionalism and
brotherhood,” he said.
The fraternity also hosts LSAT courses and discusses different
elements of law that students might not know otherwise.
The Multicultural Greek Council, which has 18 groups, provides
other options for students.
For Micael Hilario, a second-year physiological science student
in Zeta Phi Rho fraternity, diversity and brotherhood are
essential.
“Even though we are all different, one thing is for sure;
we are always a family,” he said.