Philanthropy, scholarship and social action were combined around campus in a six-day series of events known as Alpha Week.
Held annually in January by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Week commemorates the founding of the Bicultural InterGreek Council chapter and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"It's something that the chapter puts together every year," said Larry Moses, program coordinator of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. "They've done a wonderful job."
Moses, who oversees BIG-C fraternities and sororities, said OFSA only plays a limited role in Alpha Week.
The week of events began Sunday, Jan. 16 and ran through Friday, Jan. 21. Events included the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. candlelight vigil, multiple community service projects and discussions and lectures regarding gender relations and social activism.
Alpha Phi Alpha worked with BIG-C chapters Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., as well as the Interfaith Organization and the Center for Africana Studies in organizing the various events.
College senior Kiel Berry -- the current Alpha Phi Alpha president -- described Alpha Week as a chance for the chapter to showcase the fraternity's ideals to the Penn community.
Alpha Week "has continually gotten better," Berry said.
College senior and BIG-C President Enny Peguero agreed that the program was successful, describing the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha as a "distinguished group of gentlemen."
Peguero, a sister in Lambda Theta Alpha, participated in a Family Feud-style forum focusing on relationships between men and women.
"We brought out controversial issues," she said. "We were very blunt and out there." The game-show format was meant to lighten discussions largely devoted to promoting safe sex.
"Each year we try to collaborate with a sorority," Berry said, explaining the desire to have male and female perspectives.
The Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority participated in the "Cards for Kids" event, at which cards were made for children in West Philadelphia hospitals.
Alpha Phi Alpha also participated in a West Philadelphia High School cleanup and sponsored a lecture given by Rabbi David Saperstein about Martin Luther King Jr. The week concluded with speakers Mary Frances Berry, a History professor, and Angela Davis, who discussed social activism and sexuality.
The events were held with the goal of bringing the larger Penn community together. Both Berry and Peguero cited the candlelight vigil as the most important event, with approximately 60 people in attendance, including participants not in BIG-C organizations.
"That's our mission," said Peguero. "To reach out to the greater community."
While the events of Alpha Week ended last Friday, the program officially ends with the annual Pharaoh's Ball, at which three women are given scholarships by Alpha Phi Alpha. The Ball will take place this Friday.
