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KALAMAZOO, Mich.—World-renowned sculptor and Western ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§ University alumnus M. Scott Johnson, B.S.'00, is having a moment. His sculpture triptych of African American folklore hero High John the Conqueror is currently on display at the Venice Biennale, a historic show sometimes likened to the Olympics of the art world. His installation is part of the "Afro-Futurist Manifesto: Blackness Reimagined" exhibit from the Galerie Myrtis, which is the first Black-owned gallery invited to present in the 127-year history of the event.

"I've been at this for many years, but things just started opening up, and part of that opening up process is remembering how that happened," he says. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is a rock on which much of his personal and career journeys have been sculpted.

The organization, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary as the Epsilon Xi chapter during Western Homecoming 2022 festivities, was the first Black Greek organization established on campus. Initially founded in 1935 at what was then Western State Teachers College, the Beta Iota chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha went inactive during World War II. It was resurrected on campus beginning in 1960, when a group of students started the Alpha Interest Group.

"We just seemed to form a bond together. We were all different, but at the same time we wanted to achieve the same objective," says Douglas Smith, B.S.'62, one of the chapter's seven charter members. "I was so impressed with all of them because they were goal-oriented and wanted to achieve something in life and were dedicated to learning."

The Epsilon Xi chapter was officially incorporated at Western in October 1962, built on a foundation of developing leaders, promoting brotherhood and academic excellence while providing service and advocacy for members.

"The biggest thing is brotherhood: knowing that you have brothers for life, people who will have your back, always tell you when you're wrong, always be by your side," says Max Doggett, current chapter president and an aerospace engineering student from Detroit.

Brothers of the Epsilon Xi chapter have lived up to that legacy. Many members have gone on to see tremendous success over the subsequent decades—Smith wrote about it in his book, ""—and pay it forward to both the University and the next generation. They include faculty and administrators like Dr. Charles Warfield, B.A.'62, M.A.'65, and Dr. Donald Thompson, B.A.'68, M.A.'71, Ed.D'73, as well as Distinguished Alumni Dennis Archer, B.S.'65; Ronald Hall, B.S.'65; and Dr. William Pickard, B.S.'64, whom the Western Heights Residence Halls were named for in 2017.

It was Pickard, in fact, who helped Johnson's art career find a rebirth in Detroit recently. The two met during Alpha Phi Alpha’s 50th reunion on campus in 2012.

"I had just published a book about my work … and gave it to him to read, and he fell in love with what I do and what I stand for and the work that I've made. And he was hugely responsible for getting together a mid-career retrospective at the Charles Wright Museum in Detroit," Johnson says of Pickard, who is now a collector of his art. "He's been a huge supporter of Western as well as a supporter of me."

Johnson now has the opportunity to bring that interaction full circle as the Alphas prepare for their 60th reunion.

"It's something I feel blessed to be able to do," says Johnson, who will also receive a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Institute of Intercultural and Anthropological Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences during homecoming weekend.

"As a person, you have to find a vehicle to perfect yourself; you need to find a grindstone. All of the Divine Nine (Black Greek organizations) are grindstones where you are expected to do well. These are not professional affiliation groups; these are grindstones to make you aware of where you come from and what you represent," he says. "I became a man at Western; I think it trained me for life. And the fraternity was a huge part of that."

Smith also plans to attend the festivities and is excited to talk to his undergraduate Alpha brothers.

"I'm very proud of the foundation that we set and the open arms that we had," he says. "The young men that have come along that we've had a chance to meet (over the years) have been very impressive."

Current chapter brothers serve in leadership positions in campus organizations such as the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and also make time to give back to the community through service activities like tutoring local high school students and providing biweekly haircuts to young men at the Douglass Community Center.

"(We're looking forward to) having 60 years of generations of people who want the same thing—people from different avenues who have been successful in life—coming back for the anniversary, celebrating what Alpha is and has become at Western, and how it will grow for decades more," adds Doggett.

Alpha Phi Alpha has a number of activities planned for its 60th reunion, including participation in the NPHC's Friday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. in the Bernhard Center as well as a dinner and dance Saturday, Oct. 15, at 7:06 p.m.—signifying 1906, the year the national fraternity was founded—in the Bernhard Center Ballroom.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.