Omega Week unites Greek Life and brings awareness to social issues
During a week that included entertainment, fitness, and though-provoking conversation, the members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. were able to branch out and make an impact on campus.
Omega Psi Phi was founded in 1911 and arrived on CMU’s campus in 1970. They currently have five members on campus.
They strive to live by their four cardinal principles which are manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift. They also are involved in serving the community and interacting with children.
“We have times where we set up programs for us and kids, and we also donate to women’s shelters,” Detroit junior Peaton Brown said. “We also go to hospitals over holidays and spend time with the kids just so they feel like they’re not alone. We’re just that backbone for them.”
The week entitled “Omega Week” began Monday night when members had an opportunity to show off their talents during a mini step show in Pearce Hall. Tuesday was a workout event was held in Rose Arena for National Health Awareness Month.
Wednesday at Kaya Coffee House, the Ques, what Omega Psi Phi is nicknamed, presented an Open Mic night. The week-long events ended Thursday, with an event called “Brain Train,” where students could give their perspectives on a social issues.
Brown, a member of Omega Psi Phi, said he was pleased with the success of the events.
“We’re based on friendship, so to uplift the community we bring everybody together,” Brown said. “What other better way to bring the community together than by making new friends and making everyone step outside of themselves to become friends with other people.”
During Omega Week, the Ques were able to unite social fraternities and sororities with multicultural fraternities and sororities. Omega Psi Phi member and junior Damon Golden said unity through Greek Life is welcomed by the chapter.
“The open mic night was special because it really included the value of diversity,” Golden said. “Since we’re a predominantly African-American fraternity we don’t see a lot of people of different ethnicities (at events), however at the open mic we were able to get some of the fraternities and sororities from the other councils that were from different ethnic backgrounds.”
Omega Psi Phi member and junior Rare` Williams saw Thursday’s event “Brain Train” event as an opportunity to have some substantial dialogue.
“We wanted to give people thinking about topics that aren’t generally spoken of in casual conversation,” Williams said. “We explored topics like how you were as a child compared to how you’ve changed (as an adult), and we also discussed large topics like what love is.”
