Va. Alphas Hold 81st Convention; Host Forum On Affirmative Action

By Ken Sutton
Special to the Guide
HAMPTON ROADS

The Virginia Association of Chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., (VACAPAF) held it 81st Annual Convention at the DELTA Hotel in Chesapeake, Virginia last weekend.

The kickoff event was the Public Forum held Thursday evening February 1 with a distinguished panel of local University Presidents and senior administrators. Panelists discussed the effect that the 2023 rollback of the Use of Affirmative Action in the admissions process would have in local university admissions policy decisions.

Those oil the panel were President Darrell K. Williams-Hampton University; Provost Austin Agho, representing Old Dominion University President Brian O. Hemphill; Mr. Curtis Davidson-Director of Admission Operations, representing Christopher Newport University President William G. Kelly; and President Javaune Adams-Gaston Norfolk State University.

All participants noted that their respective institutions were proceeding ahead with continuing diversity, not only in their student body, but also in their faculty and staff placements.

All agreed the rollback of the Affirmative Action ruling is just one more stumbling block to be overcome by their respective universities on the road to making a college education available for all those who desire a higher education in Hampton Roads.

The South Hampton Roads Chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (Chesapeake, Norfolk-Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, and Suffolk Chapters) were the area hosts for the 81st VACAPAF Convention.

Over 360 Registered Attendees from 37 chapters around the Commonwealth gathered around the Convention.  The convention theme was “Strengthening The Ties That Bind Us Together!”