The truth of the sacred benches

It is a little-known fact that sitting on the benches outside Lanier Hall is a sign of disrespect. If you have never worn the Greek letters of one of The Divine Nine, doing so is just that.
The painted benches lining the walkway between Parks and Atkinson Hall are seen by the majority of the student population daily. Their presence on campus is unmistakable, but what they symbolize is a mystery to many.

“Most students who sit here aren’t trying to be disrespectful,” senior Micky Mack said. “They just don’t know.”

There are nine historically black Greek letter organizations that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Collectively, these organizations are referred to as The Divine Nine. The organizations included are: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity.

Reese Fitzpatrick Cohn, assistant director for student involvement, describes the benches.

“[The benches] are a representation of The Divine Nine and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) on campus,” said Fitzpatrick Cohn.

Controversy over the benches is not overrated. Sitting on one of the benches without being a member of that organization would be similar to wearing the letters of a Greek organization without being a member.

“It is disrespectful for their letters,” Cohn said.

There are six organizations that have benches on campus. They were given to the groups in the 1990s.

The benches are known as plots. A plot is a designated area on campus where a sorority or fraternity decorates with their letters and colors. It serves as a gathering place for members. Plots are more often seen as historically black and the central component is usually a large stone, tree, sculpture or bench.

The historically white Greek organizations have houses surrounding campus as their place to gather.

“The NPHC is trying to find a place for a memorial garden area dedicated to them,” Cohn said.

Diversity Program Coodinator Nadirah Ross believes the movement towards finding a new way to be represented on campus is not meant to be discriminatory.

The NPHC recognizes that people do not know about the symbolism surrounding the benches, but merely would like to have something that is theirs and theirs alone.

The Monuments and Memorial Committee is in charge of placing monuments and memorial areas on the GCSU campus. Finding the proper place for the NPHC’s new plot is soon to be underway.

“We are in the process of talking to various committees on how to be better represented on campus,” said the NPHC President Brandon Kennon.

Perhaps there will soon be a new addition to the GCSU campus, that The Divine Nine can call their own.

The National Pan-Hellenic Council meets in the Student Activity Center every couple of weeks on Thursday at 5 p.m. The council’s purpose is to promote unity and expose members to the service philosophy and to foster leadership, development and scholarship.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Sep 12 2008. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry