The NPHC Legacy Plaza celebrates the past, present, and future of Black Greek Letter Organizations on the campus of Auburn University. These organizations have impacted Auburn’s campus since the first organization arrived in 1972 with their commitment to civic engagement, leadership, academic achievement, and providing a sense of belonging for students.
Auburn NPHC History
The Auburn National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) was founded in 1998 by the men and women of Auburn’s NPHC affiliated fraternities and sororities. The Auburn NPHC strives to unite affiliated men and women at Auburn University through collaborative programming, educational initiatives, forums, and lasting friendships. Auburn’s NPHC believes that by joining the men and women within their council they can promote higher standards of scholarship, a greater degree of culture, closer social fellowship, and a stronger inter-fraternal spirit among affiliate members. Also, the Auburn NPHC affirms that they may promote activities and opportunities that of mutual benefit to Auburn University and the Lee County community.
The member organizations of the Auburn NPHC, in founding order, are as follows: Sigma Delta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Kappa Upsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Theta Delta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Kappa Chi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Kappa Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Omicron Kappa Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Gamma Xi Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Omicron Iota Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., and the Auburn Colony of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc.
NPHC Legacy Plaza Project
For many years the Auburn Family recognized that there is currently no architectural indication on the campus to acknowledge the “Divine 9.” There have been many efforts to bring forward permanent recognition of the NPHC, with students, alumni, and community stakeholders serving as champions. These efforts culminated on December 3, 2018 when the Auburn University Student Government Association unanimously passed a resolution “Supporting the Campaign for a National Pan-Hellenic Council Legacy Plaza,” leading to official recognition of the Legacy Plaza project at the Auburn Board of Trustees meeting held on September 13, 2019. Many student organizations have also shared their support of this project including but not limited to, Black Student Union, Harold A. Franklin Society, Office of Inclusion and Diversity’s Student Excellence Team, Ladies Society of Collegiate Success, and twenty-five non NPHC affiliated fraternities and sororities.
On September 30, 2022, we celebrated the grand opening of the NPHC Legacy Plaza. We had over 400 students, staff, alumni, and friends attend this significant event.
The NPHC Legacy Plaza is the first physical representations of the contribution of Black student organizations. It serves as a space to cultivate, educate, and represent the councils’ rich history at Auburn, in addition to providing a space for organizational members, alumni, and members of the Auburn family to gather, learn, and celebrate.