Alpha Phi Alpha sponsors Big-C hoops competition

Participants said the event gave brothers a chance to 'bond.' Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. brothers spent the week planning and facilitating Alpha Week events -- held in honor of "those who died pursuing justice." But last night, they had a chance to relax and enjoy themselves at Weightman Gymnasium during Alpha's annual InterGreek basketball tournament. All of the BiCultural InterGreek Council's member organizations had the chance to participate in the tournament, which was coordinated by Alpha President and College senior James Wilburn. But the Big-C sororities and Latino fraternities declined the invitation and only the "traditionally black fraternities" participated in the event, Alpha brother Athelstan Bellerand said. "This is how we basically show pride for our organization," Bellerand said, adding that inter-chapter competition is "just lots of fun." The Wharton and Engineering senior said inter-chapter competition gives brothers, who are usually busy with other activities the chance to bond. Organizations outside the Big-C -- including Penn's "Groove Phi Groove" social fellowship program and some of Drexel University's fraternities -- competed. Brothers are charged a small fee to participate in the tournament. Alpha brother and Engineering senior Jerome Hairston -- who has helped to coordinate the tournament every year -- said in the past his fraternity contributed extra money generated from the basketball tournament to community service ventures. But this year, the Alpha brothers incurred an extra expense by buying T-shirts for competitors. Therefore, Bellerand said, they are just "hoping to break even."