Speakers from all walks of life will be coming to NIU as part of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity’s philanthropy service program.

The yearlong project, which is in its first year, has already had Willard Draper, assistant director of NIU Housing, and Milton Hammuck from Arthur Andersen accounting firm in Chicago. The fraternity will bebringing two speakers from different professions each month.

“The project is aimed primarily at African-American men, but it’s open to anybody,” said Marcus Lee, fraternity director of education. “It’s open to all men who are intending to pursue a career.”

Since it is the project’s first year, fraternity members have high hopes. “We are hoping to get some positive feedback from the NIU community,” Lee said. “We are hoping to get feedback so that we can get an idea of what effect our project is having.”

Many of the speakers are connected to NIU. Hammuck graduated from and played football at NIU before going to work at Arthur Andersen. Lee said he hopes the feedback will interest others in speaking to the fraternity.

“Right now we are working with speakers we know,” Lee said. “I hope that we are able to expand our choices we have for speakers.”

Scholars within the fraternity are obligated to attend the speeches. There are 20 new members, or scholars, within the fraternity. Lee said he feels it is important that these scholars attend the speeches.

“If they were not required to go, they may make the assumption that what is being discussed is not all that important to them,” Lee said. “If it is required, then it makes them sit up and take notice.”

Although the speeches are required, most of the scholars have been positive on the project. “So far it’s been very successful,” Lee said. “It’s been positive because the speeches have been excellent.”

Lee also said it is important for the scholars to attend because he feels the speakers can make good mentors for them.

“Scholars will be able to gain a great deal of information from these speakers, that is why we are bringing them here,” he added.

“The project is aimed primarily at African-American men, but it’s open to anybody. It’s open to all men who are intending to pursue a career.”