The Divine nine is in full effect. The salmon pink and apple green ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority hadn’t been on GSU’s campus for some time but now they’re back. “I chose AKA because of what it stands for. Growing up, I was surrounded by women of AKA who served as shining examples of what an AKA should be, always providing service to all mankind,” said senior leisure studies major Blythe Dennis.
Scholastic leaders on Howard University’s campus founded the oldest Greek lettered organization in 1908. It was built on the idea that college experience should be as meaningful and productive as possible.
“When I came to college, I did my research on different sororities and AKA was still my first choice. Not only are we the first and finest Black Greek lettered sorority, we also have an impressing and vast history,” Dennis continued.
Eighty-two new “pretty girls” have been introduced. The night the ladies finished their initiation, many took to Twitter to congratulate the new members. The next day, the yard was filled with pink and green paraphernalia. “It felt great!
“Its been five years since Alpha Theta has had a line so it was great to see the to see the ‘ReawAKAning’ representing in such a major way,” said Dennis.
“Being an AKA, for me, is about setting a standard! When I leave my home and head out into society, I’m not only representing myself and my family, I’m also representing AKA.”
From the outside looking in, there is a lot of glam to the Greek life. “It’s not about strutting, wearing pari or plates on my car.
It’s about making a difference in my community and upholding the principles that my 16 founders set into place and carrying on the vision that my 4 incorporators had,” Dennis exclaimed.
She continued, “Some people join organizations with unrealistic expectations. The truth is not everyone will be friends.
However, we all share a sisterly bond and a love for each other and our sorority. Alpha Kappa Alpha is a sisterhood. We will argue and bump heads about certain issues but at the end of the day, we are still sisters.”
When the Sorority began to grow, it began to balance “the importance of the individual and the strength of an organization of women of ability and courage,” according to the Sorority’s Web site.
The world became a more complex place, which made a need for associations, which cut across racial, geographical, political, physical and social barriers. Alpha Kappa Alpha prides itself on having “a legacy of service that deepens, rather than ends, with college graduation,” as seen on aka1908.com.
Along with most of the campus, Dennis is excited to have all Greeks back. “I think it’s a beautiful thing that the Divine 9 is back on campus! It’s been a while.
Personally, I’ve received a lot of love from all the fraternities and sororities. We are united because ultimately we are all service organizations.”
While there are several different Greeks and non-Greeks, GSU is one big family. It’s great to have the Divine 9 so that they can all come together for a good cause and add on to their organization’s history.