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Omega Psi Phi (ΩΨΦ) is a national fraternity, and was the first black national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C. by three undergraduate students and one faculty advisor. The founders were Howard University juniors Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper and Frank Coleman. The first faculty advisor was Dr. Ernest Everett Just, who early on was accorded the status of founder by the three undergraduates. Each of the founders had distinguished careers in their chosen fields: Bishop Edgar Love,who became a bishop of the United Methodist Church; Dr. Oscar Cooper, who was a prominent physician who practiced in Philadelphia over 50 years; Professor Frank Coleman,who was the chairman of the Department of Physics at Howard University for many years; and Dr. Ernest E. Just,who was a world-renowned biologist.

From its inception, the fraternity has worked to build a strong and effective force of men dedicated to its Cardinal Principles of manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift. In 1927, at the urging of fraternity member Carter G. Woodson, the fraternity made National Negro Achievement Week an annual observance, and it continues today as Black History Month.

Since 1945, the fraternity has undertaken a National Social Action Program to meet the needs of African Americans in the areas of health, housing, civil rights, and education. Omega Psi Phi has been a patron of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) since 1955, provides an annual gift of $50,000 to the program. Omega Psi Phi is also a National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) member.

History

Omega Psi Phi was the first national African-American fraternity to be founded at a black college when it was established on November 17 1911 at Howard University. Howard University would not initially recognize the fraternity as a national organization and Omega Psi Phi's leadership refused local recognition. The fraternity operated without official sanction until the university withdrew its opposition in 1914, the same year that Beta chapter was founded at Lincoln University. Omega Psi Phi was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia in October of 1914. By 1920 the fraternity had 10 chapters, and in 1930 Omega Psi Phi became one of 5 founding members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). The NPHC expanded when Alpha Phi Alpha and Phi Beta Sigma joined in 1931, Sigma Gamma Rho in 1937, and Iota Phi Theta in 1997.

Founders

• Dr. Ernest E. Just
• Bishop Edgar A. Love
• Dr. Oscar J. Cooper
• Professor Frank Coleman

Internationally Mandated Programs

Each Chapter has a list of Internationally Mandated Programs that they have to administer each year . They are:

Achievement Week - This week is observed every November and seeks to recognize individuals who have made notable contributions to society. During this Achievement Week a High School Essay Contest is held and the winner usually receives a scholarship award.

Scholarship - The goal of the Scholarship Program is to encourage academic progress among the undergraduate members. A portion of the fraternity's budget is designated for the Charles R. Drew Scholarship Commission, which awards scholarships to members and non-members.

Social Action Programs - All chapters are required to participate in programs that uplift society. Many participate in activities which include voter registration, illiteracy programs, mentoring programs, fundraisers, and charitable organizations such as American Diabetes Association, United Way, and the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation.

Talent Hunt Program - Each year, each chapter is required to hold a talent contest. This program encourages young people to expose themselves to the Performing Arts. Individuals who win these talent contests receive an award, such as a scholarship.

Memorial Service - March 12 is Omega Psi Phi Memorial Day. During the month of March every chapter of the Fraternity performs a ritualistic memorial service to remember members who have died.

Reclamation and Retention - This program is an effort to encourage inactive members to become fully active and participate in the fraternity's programs. Fo Sho.

College Endowment Funds - The fraternity donates thousands of dollars to Historically Black Colleges and Universities each year.

Health Initiatives - Chapters are required to coordinate programs that will encourage good health practices. Programs that members involve themselves in include HIV/AIDS awareness, blood drives, prostate cancer awareness, and sickle cell anemia awareness programs.

Voter Registration, Education and Motivation - Coordination activities that promote voter registration and mobilization.

NAACP - A Life Membership at Large in the NAACP is required by all chapters and districts.

Omega Gentleman's Club - Chapters are required to coordinate programs that will encourage good health practices with the youth. Founded in Las Vegas Nevada, 1977 at Jim Bridger Jr. High. It's a high school program now teaching young men how to be gentleman.

Membership

Today, Omega Psi Phi has over 700 chapters throughout the United States, Bermuda, Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Korea, Japan, Liberia, Germany, and Kuwait. There are many notable Omega Men recognized as leaders in the arts,the sciences, academics, athletics, business, civil rights, education, government, and science sectors at the local, national and international level . Some of these men include Executive Directors of the NAACP Roy Wilkins and Benjamin Hooks, former President of the National Urban League, Vernon Jordan, and President & CEO of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Jesse Jackson. Also, two former governors William H. Hastie (U.S. Virgin Islands) and L. Douglas Wilder (Virginia) and numerous presidents of colleges and universities as well. NBA Basketball player Vince Carter is also a member of this fraternity.

Omega Psi Phi offers undergraduate and graduate membership to potential aspirants. College students must be working toward a bachelor's degree at a four year institution, 36 semester credits, and maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average. An initiant into the graduate chapter must already possess a bachelor's degree. The fraternity grants honorary membership to men who have contributed to society in a positive way on a national or international level.

One of the practices of the fraternity is branding each of its members at least one time. The Omega symbol is used and is visible on many famous members of the fraternity including Michael Jordan and Vince Carter.

National Pan-Hellenic Council membership

The fraternity is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. The NPHC is composed of nine international black Greek-letter sororities and fraternities and promotes interaction through forums, meetings, and other mediums for the exchange of information, and engages in cooperative programming and initiatives through various activities and functions.

External links

• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity website
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Song sung at NYC's City Hall on YouTube (0.44 secs)

Footnotes

1. ^ "Omega History". Omega Psi Phi. Retrieved 2006-09-30. Cite error: The named reference "OPPFHistory" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
2. "About NPHC". National Pan-Hellenic Council. Retrieved 2006-09-20.
3. "Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Official Website". OPPF. Retrieved 2006-09-30.
4. "Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Official Membership Page". OPPFMembership. Retrieved 2006-10-01.
5. "National Pan-Hellenic Council Aboutpage". NPHC. Retrieved 2006-08-15.

• Misplaced Pages articles needing copy edit from December 2007
• 1911 establishments
• International student societies
• National Pan-Hellenic Council
• United States student societies