---
title: A New Space for ‘Camaraderie and Bonding’
date: 2023-02-20T05:30:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/a-new-space-for-camaraderie-and-bonding"
section: Articles
---
# A New Space for ‘Camaraderie and Bonding’

*February 20, 2023* — by [Annie Krakower](/author/annie-krakower)


> Members of National Pan-Hellenic Council, Multicultural Greek Council Celebrate Agora’s Opening

*The Agora Opening 02182023 SC 9308 1920x1080 — Briana Mercado ‘23, president of the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC), speaks at the dedication ceremony for the Agora on Saturday. The space serves as a nonresidential facility for undergraduate members of the MGC and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) to host meetings, programs and other events.*

The dozens of students and alums who assembled on Fraternity Row on Saturday morning, proudly sporting the colors of historically African American and other multicultural fraternities and sororities, exemplified the spirit of the neighborhood’s latest addition.

A dedication ceremony officially marked the opening of the Agora, which roughly translates to “gathering place” in ancient Greek. Located at #4 Fraternity Row, it serves as a nonresidential facility for undergraduate members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) to host meetings, programs and other events.

“Across the nation and in higher education, we are still working to repair and reconstruct systems that historically left out some of our friends, family and peers,” University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines said at the event. “I’m proud that with the Agora, we are establishing a space for communities of color on Fraternity and Sorority Row and further embedding the strength and vibrancy of our diversity into the fabric of our campus.”

When UMD built houses on Fraternity Row in the 1950s and ‘60s, Baltimore Avenue acted as a “literal divide” between historically white fraternities and sororities and cultural interest organizations, said Matt Supple, director of Fraternity and Sorority Life. Racism and discriminatory membership practices exacerbated that divide.


*Alpha Kappa Alpha members talk in the Agora — Nia Hawkes '24, left, president of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Theta Nu Chapter talks with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. member Lynn Davis '83, right in hat, at the opening of the Agora.*


*Meeting room with chairs, a podium and a TV — The Agora includes rooms for meetings, studying and more.*



**Sidebar note:**

This is one of a series of Maryland Today features during Black History Month celebrating Terp faculty, staff, students and alums.





**Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)


**Tags:** [Black History Month](https://today.umd.edu/topic/black-history-month), [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience), [Multicultural Community](https://today.umd.edu/topic/multicultural-community)


**Units:** [Division of Student Affairs](https://today.umd.edu/topic/division-student-affairs)