Enrollment on the rise at Xavier University

Educators from across the country joined with community leaders here on Friday for an education symposium aimed at closing the achievement gap among urban youth and tackling other critical issues affecting them.

"We believe it takes a village," said Dr. Louise A. Rice, national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., which hosted the three-day summit as part of its continued commitment to the rebuilding city. "We are so pleased that so many people have gathered for the same cause-the education of our children."

Rice said at least 300 people had registered for the conference, which concludsed on Sunday.   more »

The typical fraternity or sorority is known to throw big parties often around campus.

However, certain Greek chapters admist the 17 on campus don't believe the party stereotype because each has its own objective, and each represents something different.

"I think that the party stereotype is not true for all sororities and fraternities," Clarissa Barnes, secretary of Sigma Gamma Rho, said. "Sigma Gamma Rho is the smallest Greek organization within the National Pan-Hellenic Council. So we work hard to get things done and to present a positive image on campus. Drinking and partying does not come with upholding a positive image. Maybe some Greek groups do this, but all stereotypes about Greeks partying all the time are not true for every organization."   more »

Some Albany State students came together Wednesday night to help out a fellow student in need.

Students paid $2.00 to watch a greek-organization-sponsored benefit basketball game.

They raised $500 for Finetra Chambers who lost her apartment when fire swept through the Hidden Oaks complex back in July.

"We do like to think of ourselves as a family so when we heard that one of our fellow rams was down and out after her apartment burned down, my fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi along with the rest of the Divine Nine   more »

Across the country, young black men gather wearing matching colors, throwing up signs with their hands, and using unique calls recognizable and exclusive only to their circles.

 Most would assume that this group is a gang. However, stepping onto a college campus would confuse anybody trying to identify these groups, because Greek-letter organizations share very similar customs.

The World Book Encyclopedia describes gangs as a group of people who associate with one another for social or criminal reasons.

Elijah Bowdre, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. from Long Beach, Calif., said he has grown up around gangs and can see how some people would make the mistake of comparing them to a Greek-letter organization.   more »