At Union College, Fraternity and Sorority life is a large part of campus and student life. There are three governing councils: the Interfraternity Council, the Panhellenic Council, and the Multicultural Greek Council. For the Multicultural Greek Council Organizations, there are Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Phi lota Alpha Fraternity. These organizations, and their dwindling membership, have caught the attention of Catie Straube to conduct a PhD dissertation on highlighting NPHC (National Pan-Hellenic Council) communities.
Catie Straube is the Director of Residential Education and Housing for Union, alongside Alyssa Bailey and Joshua Radford, in the Fraternity and Sorority life staff. With this PhD dissertation, Straube wants to research what NPHC organizations look like on predominantly white campuses, especially on campuses without DEI departments anymore. Union continues to uphold DEI regulations and procedures; however, many campuses no longer have the funding to implement DEI initiatives. This greatly impacts all collegiate campuses, including Fraternity and Sorority life.
DEI stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. These values are implemented through workplace initiatives, education around diversity, and legal considerations if opportunities are not offered in a fair manner. The Biden Administration issued Executive Order 13985, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.” On January 20, 2025, the Trump Administration released the presidential action of “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing.” DEI is no longer in workplaces, court systems, and college campuses.
For Multicultural Fraternities and Sororities, this has been a devastating government change, which is why Straube hopes her PhD work can uplift these communities to sustain and grow NPHC organizations. The National Pan-Hellenic Council is a collaborative council composed of historical African American fraternities and sororities, commonly known as the Divine Nine. Straube told Concordiensis that Union’s Alpha Phi Alpha currently consists of one student. Some common difficulties with NPHC organizations are their lengthy and consuming requirements, unlike other fraternities or sorority organizations. There is required involvement from alumni chapters, strict timing for gaining membership, and much more.
The PhD dissertation proposal was approved by Auburn University, Alabama, in August. Straube states the first three chapters will be completed by 2027, then the complete five chapter dissertation will be finished in 2028. Although Straube is in the early stages of her PhD dissertation, her next steps are to focus on the student body voices. She has “No intent to make changes just to make changes.” Her work will be specific to the needs of Union’s community and shedding light on the Multicultural Greek organizations on campus and those on campuses without DEI enforcements.
“Union is based on Community,” Straube highlights in the interview. “
Community is what makes Union so special, and giving visibility and awareness to these NPCH organizations will allow these communities to flourish in the coming years.”
