The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Incorporated, is composed of nine international Greek letter sororities and fraternities sometimes referred to as the Divine Nine, and each organization is represented in the plaza by a column recognizing its emblems and founding. Formed on May 10, 1930, on the campus of Howard University, the council set out to promote unanimity of thought and action in the conduct of Greek letter collegiate fraternities and sororities and to consider problems of mutual interest to its member organizations. At ETSU, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. became the first council member organization chartered on campus in 1973, seven of the nine organizations have established ETSU chapters, and the ETSU council founded in 1992 has provided leadership to the university community for decades. In 2002, under President Shabar Coefield, the ETSU council established a campus area with painted benches and plaques representing member chapters around a large tree, but after the tree fell during a storm and damaged the benches, the council in 2016 under President BriAnna Taylor passed a resolution urging the university to create a visible space for all council sororities and fraternities on campus. The plaza now symbolizes and physically represents each organization's presence at ETSU while encouraging personal reflection, fostering community and social interaction, providing a setting for celebration, and serving as a focal point where these organizations unite to promote their sororities and fraternities and share their legacy.