Student representatives from each NPHC organization on the Ole Miss campus participated in the groundbreaking ceremony Saturday, April 23. Photo by Robert Jordan/Ole Miss Communications
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi officially began construction on a garden space honoring several historically African-American fraternities and sororities with a groundbreaking ceremony April 23.
The National Pan-Hellenic Council Greek Garden is expected to be complete by early fall. The garden, next to the new residence hall between Crosby Hall and the Northgate housing complex, will serve as a symbolic space for the nine African-American Greek organizations, as none of those organizations have properties on campus.
“This was a venture that started a long time ago,” said Donald Cole, UM assistant provost and assistant to the chancellor for multicultural affairs, speaking to both alumni and undergraduate members of NPHC organizations at the morning ceremony.
“Through understanding, misunderstanding and a lot of education, this has finally come to fruition. It says in a very small way that we love this institution and this institution loves us. We want you to promote this garden, we want you to promote the University of Mississippi and we want this to be an experience we will never forget all the days of our lives.”
About 125 people attended the ceremony under sunny skies. Among them was Takiiah Parker, a junior from Oxford and president of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority.
When Sigma Gamma Rho was founded in 1922 at Butler University in Indianapolis, it created memories and left historical marks forever on the campus, Parker said.
“With this NPHC garden at this predominately white institution, I am hoping it does the same for my chapter here at this university,” she said. “This garden will help my chapter make its physical mark for legacies on down the road. It means a lot to me to finally have a place we can call ours.”
Eight of the university’s NPHC organizations have active chapters on campus, with the ninth expected to be active this fall.
“This garden is important on so many levels,” said Brandi Hephner LaBanc, vice chancellor for student affairs. “This space will serve as a gathering place for current members, but will also be a tribute to alumni and a point of pride for incoming students.”
Construction of the garden is made possible by Division of Administration and Finance, the Division of Student Affairs and the Department of Student Housing.