Scholarship Lectures

Panel Discussions

Alpha Tau Chapter - Campus Panel Discussion Series

Event Type: Campus Panel Discussions

Contributors: Alpha Tau Chapter

Location: Howard University campus

Planning required: Coordination with other sponsoring organizations, arranging panels and speakers, room reservations, PR promotion

Event Summary: This week long series of events was a collaboration between the Phi Sigma Pi and several other greek organizations on campus. The purpose of this week was to incorporate the characteristics and purposes of all three fraternities and use them to create programs that would benefit the Howard University community as a whole. Each day of the week was designated for a different purpose and each involved guess speakers. The first program, titled “From Rags to Riches,” focused on budgeting and entrepreunership in today’s economy. The second program, featuring Dr. Gregory Carr, a well-known Howard University professor of African American Studies, focus on the issues pertinent to African Americans in todays society, which included discussions on the upcoming election and gentrification of America. The third program, titled “The Golden Rule: Charm School” focused on professionalism and correct etiquette in both professional and casual situations. This program was very interactive with improv skits performed by members of all three fraternities along with audience participation. Our fourth program of the week was titled “Crucial Conflict: Black American Soundtrack.” This included a panel of student musicians and artists focused on topics such as misogyny of women in the music industry and the detrimental effects of rap/hip-hop lyrics on our culture. We ended our week with a community service project at one of the local elementary schools, H.D. Cooke Elementary, in which we hosted a fall carnival for the students in the after school program.

Alpha Tau was recognized for these events as the 2009 Dr. Eldo L. Hendricks Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Programming winner.

Beta Sigma Chapter - Refugee Settlement

Event Type: Campus Panel Discussion

Contributors: Beta Sigma Chapter

Location: Michigan State University campus

Planning required: The Scholastic Committee, along with College of Education representatives, got a list together of desired panelists before the event. Brothers then met with presenters to plan and guide the initial panel discussion presentation. Brothers helped flyer campus to publicize the event. Brothers wrote a proposal that helped convince a sponsor to pay for the entirety of the event.

Event Summary: The Scholastic/Recognition Committee of Beta Sigma Chapter of Phi Sigma Pi jointly sponsored a panel discussion with the Michigan State University College of Education. The topic was refugee settlement issues in the East Lansing area, and the difficulties refugees face in adjusting to their new home. The discussion was a chance for Brothers to learn about how world events affect the local community, and the problems refugees have in adjusting to their new life in the United States and getting the support they need to make the transition successfully. Phi Sigma Pi and the College of Education invited five separate panelists to speak at the event, and each was given time to discuss their experiences regarding the refugee issue, whether as a person working to help refugees or as refugees themselves.

In addition to raising awareness, the panel discussion directly aided refugees. By raising awareness, we inspired those in attendance to take a more active role in aiding refugee’s transitions into the educational community. Brothers who are also College of Education students can ask to tutor refugee students for their required tutoring. In addition to tutoring, we collected clothing for the refugee center the following day, because many refugees often do not have adequate winter clothing for the cold Michigan winters. Overall, in addition to providing knowledge to those in attendance, the Scholastic/Recognition committee provided tangible ways for Brothers to apply the knowledge they gained and make a difference in their community.

see also: Combining Events

Lectures

Delta Alpha Chapter - Cardiomyopathy Research

The Delta Alpha Chapter incorporates a chapter sponsored talk on cardiomyopathy and the research being done to find a cure. The talk is offered on campus and open to the public as a lead up to the main service event, the walk. For more information see: Karen's Walk entry