FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 03, 2002
CONTACT: Peter Smithhisler, Vice President for Media & Community Relations
3901 West 86th Street Suite 390
Indianapolis IN 46268
317.872.1112
317.872.1134 fax
pete@nicindy.org
Richard Lee Snow, Executive Director
2322-24 North Broad Street
Philadelphia PA 19132
215.228.7184
215.228.7181 fax
executive_director@kappaalphapsi.com
Joint Meeting of the Council of Presidents and the North-American Interfraternity Conference Leaders of the National Pan-Hellenic Council's (NPHC) Council of Presidents (COP) and the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) met in the Nation's Capitol on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 to identify strategies for improved communication between the two organizations, to commit to collaborative educational efforts on behalf of fraternities, and to build a solid partnership between the two organizations.
"We had a very successful meeting," said Jon Williamson, NIC Executive Vice President. "It was important for us to express our deep commitment to collaborating with the Council of Presidents to achieve a working partnership between our two organizations," he continued.Mr. Richard Lee Snow, Executive Director of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. shared that "It was a much needed meeting. It is extremely important that NIC fully understand our structure, especially as it relates to our Council of Presidents and their authority over the NPHC
National President and Board. National Presidents Howard L. Tutman, Jr. (Kappa Alpha Psi) and Lloyd J. Jordan, Esquire (Omega Psi Phi) clearly expressed the concerns of COP and offered suggestions on how we can work together in the future. "
The leaders agreed to:
- Be pro-active in preventing a repeat of the inappropriate social behavior by some fraternity members, including those actions such as black-face and mock slavery depictions.
- To develop a philanthropic event to be co-sponsored by
NIC and NPHC chapters on several campuses.
- Identify existing educational models that promote
understanding and respect among our fraternal organizations.
- Collaboratively develop educational materials and public
relations guides prior to Halloween 2002.
- Identifying meaningful roles for NPHC members in the NIC
structure.
- Hold a news conference with the leaders from other fraternal umbrella organizations to call upon the current undergraduate members of fraternities and sororities to act in accordance with their fraternal values in social settings.
In addition, leaders from both organizations will again assemble in
Washington DC on Monday, May 13, 2002 to continue the discussions.The Council of Presidents is comprised of the titular heads of the nine traditionally Black Greek-Lettered Organizations that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council. They collectively represent 1.4 million college-trained individuals throughout the United States and abroad.
The North-American Interfraternity Conference membership is comprised of 66 Inter/National Men's Fraternal Organizations with a mission to advocate, promote, and enhance the excellence and effectiveness of the men's college fraternity movement. The organization represents over 5 million alumni.
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