When Rudy Chounoune '07 and his fellow members of the historically black fraternity Omega Psi Phi attended a discussion about homophobia and HIV this past week, they noticed how surprised other attendees were to see members of a Greek organization publicly engaging in a discussion of such weighty issues. This way is but one, members said, in which the fraternity stands out among the many Greek organizations on campus.
Omega Psi Phi came to campus in 2005, gained probationary status as a colony this past Fall term and is currently awaiting full recognition by the College.
The fraternity is part of the "Divine Nine," nine historically black Greek letter organizations, and was first founded at Howard University in 1911. Omega Psi Phi has a unique connection with the College as Ernest E. Just, Class of 1907, served as faculty advisor to the first Omega Psi Phi chapter at Howard University.
While Omega Psi Phi brothers were on campus between 1988 and 1995, no official chapter was instated. Eventually, students graduated and any presence of Omega Psi Phi disappeared from the College.
In 2005, Chounoune, currently the president of Omega Psi Phi, began working with Dartmouth's Coed, Fraternity and Sorority administration to re-establish the fraternity and sought recognition through the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
"Due to the interactions I had with men in black Greek frats before going to college, I knew [Omega Psi Phi] was the Greek organization I wanted to join", Chounoune said. "[This was] mainly due to its principles of manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift."
The brothers see Omega Psi Phi's presence on campus as a safe space for minorities and as a way to give back and move towards a healthier Dartmouth community -- one that unites the different groups on campus.
"Through hearing dialogues and discussion, basically all the houses are the same and many students don't have options for social life" said Omega Psi Phi member Jordan Paige '07. "Having us adds a new dimension to the whole Greek system at Dartmouth."
Despite having been on campus for two years, Omega Psi Phi remains relatively unknown.
"Omega Psi Phi is a national organization with chapters throughout the country so it is an anomaly why people don't know about us," said Lamar Moss '07. "But that's often the case with a lot of the non-[Interfraternity Council] fraternities.
The members also addressed the concern that affinity fraternities promote exclusivity and self-segregation on campus. While they said they can understand the argument, they said they want people to realize that some students may feel more comfortable in affinity organizations with traditions and values similar to their own.
"Omega Psi Phi brings a new dimension to campus," Moss said. "We also have issues that need to be heard and it will be very positive to open campus to issues they haven't been too vocal about up until now."
Currently there are six "Omega men," as they're called, in the fraternity. And although they have yet to establish a house, the fraternity is working towards obtaining a senior apartment for next year, an approach similar to those used by other groups not recognized by the IFC, such as Lambda Upsilon Lambda.
