Greek Of The Week

Light of the world -- a commonly used motto by William Chalmers and his Alpha Phi Alpha brothers in reference to their beloved fraternity. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated was the first of the "Divine Nine" fraternities and sororities, founded in 1906.  As the first, it has been the foundation for the other following "Divine Nine" organizations. "It pushes us to never allow a backwards step, we always have an onwards and upwards mentality," says Chalmers. The fraternity also provides many opportunities of upwards mobility for its members and citizens of the world.

 "Alpha men" hold true to their fraternal motto in being "First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All." As previously stated, Alpha Phi Alpha was the first intercollegiate fraternity founded for black men and is also a member of the National Pan Hellenic Council. "It is a brotherhood of positive, like-minded, people," says Chalmers. Men of this fraternal bond have accomplished many firsts and are prominent members in American culture such as Jesse Owens, Martin Luther King Jr., and Thurgood Marshall, to name a few.

Alpha Phi Alpha has many affiliations and groups that allow them to give back to the community, in turn, adding to its growth. Such affiliations are with the March of Dimes and the Boy Scouts of America. The fraternity also promotes abstinence and educates the youth on teen pregnancy through a program named Project Alpha. In addition to providing a path for the youth to excel, Go To High School Go To College presents the benefits of high school to graduating elementary school students and collegiate endeavors to graduating high school students. Alpha Phi Alpha is also an advocate for voting, specifically in the African-American community. Their program a Voteless People is a Hopeless People originated during the civil rights movement. Men in this organization wanted to get African-Americans to vote and to aid them in realizing their rights. Other charitable events are the Black and Gold Ball and the Miss Black and Gold Pageant, where more than fifty percent of the proceeds go to community service and volunteer projects.

The  senior  history major with a concentration in Africana  studies, William Chalmers is the President of the Iota Rho Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. Chalmers has also completed many charitable endeavors himself, such as being a  big  brother in the  Big Brother's Big Sister's mentoring program and volunteering at Extended Care Service which is an elderly folks home.

Chalmers has held numerous executive positions in the organizations in which he is and was a member such as the previously noted presidency of his Alpha Phi Alpha chapter. He was also the former  vice  president of the Kean University Historical Society and the Pan African Student Union. Chalmers says he was first attracted to Alpha Phi Alpha after doing research on its history and its astute members.  He swore to never change who he is and "wanted to be around good people that were achieving great things."  Chalmers says his fraternity has brought out, and continues to bring out his full potential, as well as aid him in becoming a well molded individual that holds himself to a high regard. Chalmers has graduate and post graduate school endeavors after the conclusion of his senior year.

In 2006, all Alpha men celebrated 100 years of Alpha Phi Alpha's existence and dedication to its mission and motto. Alpha men all over the world still hold true to their organizations beliefs even outside of a university campus by pressing for progress and uplifting the community. "We strive to be the guiding light for mankind," says Chalmers.