Some students at San Francisco State University might consider their time in college as a prison sentence rather than as an opportunity to grow and learn. I’m talking about the students who do the minimum amount of work necessary to pass a class or the students who aren’t interested in getting to know their fellow Gators. For these students, school is not participatory but instead a mandatory activity.
Devary White—a senior studying communications—is not one of these students. He, unlike his counterparts, is making the most of his time here at SF State. Besides being a full-time student, White also plays an active role for several organizations on campus.
His most notable role is acting as president of the Fraternity and Sorority Council, which encompasses all Greek organizations recognized by SF State. As president, White works with these organizations to make sure things run smoothly.
White’s involvement with Greek life stared when he joined Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated in the Spring 2012 semester. White said the main reasons for joining the fraternity were the opportunities to network and give back to the community he grew up in. “My organization is a community service based organization so we do a lot of community service and that’s something that I really, really, like to do,” White said. Today, White oversees the finances for Kappa Alpha Psi.
White’s role in Greek life grew when he was elected as president of the FSC last spring semester. “It felt good that everyone trusted me enough to lead the Fraternity and Sorority Council,” White said.
As president, White wanted to dispel the stereotypes associated with Greek life. “I know a lot of people have this misconception that it’s about parties and stuff like that. And while there are a lot of social organizations that do a lot of things like that, that’s not Greek life as a whole.”
White also works closely with the different fraternities and sororities on campus. “The different councils and conferences have different beliefs and each organization has different beliefs. I guess that’s the most difficult part, just bringing everybody together. But it’s happening, it’s definitely happening.”
Even with the duties he faces as president, White says that the good outweighs the bad. “I like to see progress. I like to see things constantly move and progress and it looks like that’s what’s happening this year.”
White’s involvement on campus doesn’t stop with Greek life. Last spring, he was apart of the cast for the musical “That Jones Gal: The Story of Carmen.” The musical was the first to feature an all-black lead cast at SF State. “I’ve always been into the arts, since I was six years old. It’s just a way for me to get away,” White said.
White is looking foward to the future. He is finishing his last year at SF State and will be the first person in his family to earn a college degree. He is currently working for Microsoft as a product advisor but is hoping to move up into Microsoft Corporate. Ultimately, he wants to be a good role model to his younger siblings and hopes to “prosper and achieve.”
“Achievement is something that we hold high in my fraternity and something that I personally hold to a very high esteem,” White said. “If you feel like you’re struggling, it’s only temporary so just fight through it.”