If you can keep your pledge a secret for two months, survive the intense initiation process and get the hang of a rigorous step routine, then you should look at the black fraternities and sororities on campus.

The three black fraternities within FAU are Kappa Alpha Psi (known as the “Alphas” for short), Omega Psi Phi (also known as the “Omegas”) and the Phi Beta Sigma chapter known as the “Sigmas.”

The three sororities call are Alpha Kappa Alpha (“A.K.A.” for short), Delta Sigma Theta (the “Deltas”), and Zeta Phi Beta (the “Zetas”) have all made a home at FAU.

While there are a total of nine established black fraternities and sororities worldwide, only six of them have chapters at FAU.

Although the commitment to Greek life takes plenty of time and effort, the brothers and sisters believe the process is worth it, because the fraternities and sororities offer numerous networking opportunities in the job market.

“We have members almost everywhere. Job wise it helps because if your employer is in the same fraternity as you, it is a good chance you will get the job over someone else,” says Bradley Pink, a biological sciences sophomore and member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.

Unlike the other Greeks here on campus, black fraternities and sororities are much more secretive in their practices. Compared to other Greeks, they do not hold a formal “rush week,” but rather what is called the “pledge” period. To become a pledge, a member of the fraternity or sorority must extend an invitation to you to become a member. If you accept the invitation, you then become a pledge.

Phi Beta Sigma President Alvin Johnson says that they look for students who are involved around the school.

“You must have at least a 2.5 grade point average, at least 15 community service hours, get involved with the different clubs on campus, and make yourself known to the fraternity,” explains Johnson, a finance senior.

Even though the fraternity was founded by three black men, they do not choose members by the color of their skin.

“We have members that are black, white and even Hispanic,” Johnson says.

One important fact with all fraternities and sororities is that the person makes the face of the organization and not the other way around.

“The fraternities don’t make up the organization – it’s the people in fraternities who make the difference,” Pink says.

The pledge period also takes a big chunk of time as well. A pledge period can take months to complete and it all depends on when the organization feels the person is ready to be initiated into the group.
“My pledge period took six weeks, five days, and 33 minutes,” Pink says.

During the pledge period, the person pledging cannot reveal that they are trying to join the organization, nor can the person wear the colors of the group during this period.

The pledge must develop a bond with the fraternity or sorority that he or she is trying to join by learning about the founding members, as well as develop a bond with other members trying to join the organization. If the members of the fraternity or sorority feel the pledge is ready to become a member, then the person is initiated to the group. The initiation process is done in complete secrecy and may take hours to finish.

In addition, pledges spend much of their time learning the organization’s step routine. During the “coming out” show, the new members of the organization reveal to the public that they are new members by performing a rigorous step routine in front of hundreds of people.
“It takes a lot of practice and a lot of hard work,” Johnson says, explaining that the routine is no easy task.

Even though many members elect to do it, branding is not mandatory in most fraternities. Branding is the process of burning the fraternity’s symbol onto bare skin. Members have the less painful option of getting a tattoo of their fraternity’s symbol instead.
“Branding is no joke,” Pink says. “I chose to get the tattoo, but I’m still thinking about the brand.”

Many members still choose to get the brand because it shows their devotion to the fraternity.
“We don’t require anyone to do it – it’s mostly their decision,” Johnson says.

So if you think you can handle the challenge, step up to the plate and pledge to one of the black fraternities or sororities right here at FAU (branding not required).