Drake University installed a Divine Nine Plaza that permanently recognizes the nine historically Black fraternities and sororities of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. The installation places Black Greek-letter history in a central campus location while giving students, alumni, and visitors a visible record of NPHC leadership and service.
The plaza was installed on February 27, 2026, near the west end of Drake's Painted Street. Drake held a public dedication on April 25, bringing together Divine Nine members, students, alumni, campus leaders, and guests.What did Drake University build?
The plaza consists of nine metal panels, one for each NPHC organization. Each panel identifies an organization through its name, Greek letters, and founding information, according to The Times-Delphic's campus report.
The installation stands near the Paint It Black circle, a campus symbol of solidarity with students of color.
Drake's official dedication announcement described the plaza as a recognition of the Divine Nine's service, leadership, friendship, and continuing campus presence. The dedication was followed by Paint It Black, a tradition led by the Coalition of Black Students since 2018.
Together, the plaza and the surrounding space connect organizational history with a living campus community.
The Times-Delphic campus report · Drake dedication announcement
Who helped make the plaza possible?
Drake's Black Alumni Association helped raise funds for the project.
The university describes the association's funding priorities as opportunities that directly support Drake's Black community. Its official giving page also identifies the Black Cultural Center, established in 1969, as an important place for studying, meetings, cultural programs, meals, and student connection.
The plaza therefore did not appear as an isolated university installation. It grew from relationships involving students, alumni, NPHC members, university staff, donors, and the Black Alumni Association.
That shared ownership matters. A monument recognizing a membership community is stronger when people from that community participate in funding, planning, and explaining its purpose.
Which NPHC organizations are active at Drake?
The National Pan-Hellenic Council coordinates nine historically Black international fraternities and sororities. Drake currently has five of the nine represented on campus, and some operate through joint chapters with Iowa State University, according to Drake Fraternity and Sorority Life.
The plaza recognizes all nine organizations rather than limiting its historical record to those with active Drake chapters at one particular moment.
This choice gives the installation a wider educational function. A student can learn about the full council even when chapter activity changes because of graduation, membership size, or regional participation.
Why does a permanent campus location matter?
Fraternity and sorority presence is often communicated through chapter houses, meeting spaces, signs, and other physical markers.
NPHC chapters do not always have houses or highly visible facilities. Some Drake chapters also serve students across two universities, requiring members to work with different campus programs, policies, and council structures.
Liz Itzen, Drake's director of fraternity and sorority life, explained to The Times-Delphic that the plaza gives the university a physical way to acknowledge NPHC organizations' presence and accomplishments.
Student NPHC president Josh Boswell also connected the installation with visibility for Black Greek-letter leadership. A plaza cannot recruit members or operate a chapter, but it can make the history and existence of those organizations easier to find.
What impact can the plaza have?
The plaza serves as an educational installation. Prospective members, families, campus visitors, researchers, and other students can identify the nine organizations and begin learning about their histories.
It also creates institutional recognition. NPHC contributions are recorded in a permanent campus space rather than appearing only during step shows, service events, Black History Month, or membership presentations.
The installation gives current and future members a place for ceremonies, photographs, reflection, and community gatherings.
The available sources do not report the project's final cost, the amount raised by alumni, visitor totals, or any measured effect on membership. Those details should not be estimated. The confirmed result is still important: Drake's NPHC history now has a permanent and publicly accessible place on campus.
The Gold Standard of Excellence
GLOs United recognizes Drake's NPHC students, the Black Alumni Association, participating alumni and donors, the Coalition of Black Students, university staff, and the members whose service and leadership created the history represented by the plaza.
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