The brothers of the Rho Xi chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. believe they have had a great influence on the Oswego State community.
“I love to think we have impacted in a very positive sense,” said Castelli Laflotte, president of the Oswego chapter, “{by} bringing dynamic programs, dynamic leaders and doing positive things with various community service projects.”
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. was originally founded Jan. 9, 1914, at Howard University with the motto “Culture For Service and Service For Humanity” and has since expanded internationally. The Rho Xi chapter at Oswego State is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a weeklong series of events to highlight their success, including educational programs and culminating with the James A. Cain Scholarship Ball.
“James A. Cain is one of my fraternity brothers who actually founded all the chapters that are upstate in the central New York area, including Syracuse, Binghamton, Oswego and Utica,” Laflotte said.
The scholarship ball will also raise money for a scholarship that will be given to a qualifying student within the next two or three years. Laflotte explained that the brothers are just raising money for now and that the chapter’s board of alumni will set the criteria and qualifications for the scholarship. Any student will be able to apply.
The James A. Cain Scholarship Ball will be held April 21 in the Hewitt Union Ballroom. The programs of the week are not all finalized, but the weekend activities include a Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta networking session in the Campus Center. This will be an opportunity for students to meet and network with older members of the fraternity and the sister sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Popular past programs by the fraternity include “Cops 101,” a guide to dealing with the police and “The Evolution of Education,” which focused on the education of minorities from the 1960s to the present.
“I would love to see the chapter grow in numbers as well as efforts, I want our chapter to see another 25 beautiful years and help this campus grow,” Laflotte said.
Sigma Week will run from Monday, April 16 to Saturday, April 21.
