National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc.
Council of Presidents

NPHC is comprised of local councils drawn from the ranks of 1.5 million college and professional members of the nine historically African-American fraternities and sororities, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., 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, and the Council of Presidents of these member organizations who come together on issues that promote the common purposes and general good for which these organizations were founded and still exist.

We, as the Council of Presidents, stand together with our membership against all forms of racism and discrimination. As anti-racism organizations, we are committed to purposefully identifying and challenging issues of race and color and their impact on our members and others.

We want to emphasize the urgency of the situation at American University where bananas were hung from trees on strings in the shape of nooses marked with the letters AKA which is a common reference to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and call for the University’s administration to find effective means to help ensure that unwarranted attacks on our members will not be tolerated. We expect institutions of higher learning to be places where inclusion and diversity are celebrated and not attacked.

Brothers of Alpha:Racism has once again reared its ugly head — this time on a college campus in our nation’s Capital. As you may know, the American University community has just celebrated the election of its first African-American female student government president Ms. Taylor Dumpson, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Sadly, on Monday, May 1, 2017, bananas were found with the words “AKA” written on them and hanging from nooses on the campus.

The leadership of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., strongly condemns this act of hatred and racism. We stand in full support, with our brothers of the Nu Beta Chapter at American University in declaring that this type of violence has no place in our country. We are particularly disturbed that these actions occurred on the sacred grounds of a college campus where young minds and lives are shaped to be citizens who are making positive contributions to this great country of ours.

This is not a time for our brotherhood to be silent. Instead, we must stand up for our women and our fellow Greek-letter organization members. This is a time where we must put action to the words “we must fight on the ice!” Please join me in advocating for justice and fairness. Let us show the world that Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. stands on the front lines and will not stand for any backward steps.

Onward and Upward Always,

Everett B. Ward, Ph.D.
General President