This year Mississippi State University’s Theta Iota chapter of Phi Beta Sigma will host its 38th annual Blue and White week. These events will be hosted at the university and a number of businesses and establishments in and around the Starkville area. David Jefferson, Theta Iota’s first vice president, said along with celebrating Blue and White week, the fraternity also celebrates its centennial year. 
“This week is an awesome week for Theta Iota, but it is an even greater week for Phi Beta Sigma as a whole,” Jefferson said. “We will be celebrating the brotherhood and the unity that has been sustained through the years and the 100 years of vibrant culture, service to our community and service to humanity.”
The tradition of Blue and White week began in the late ’70’s, not long after MSU’s Theta Iota chapter was founded, according to Jefferson. When it first started Blue and White week was a small event. There were a lot of programs and events, but up until the late ’80’s it was confined to just the MSU campus. After the late ’80’s, Phi Beta Sigma was able to expand its reach to different areas of Mississippi. 
“During the late ’70’s, our alumni started to connect and network with other members of our fraternity throughout the area and began bringing them to MSU. They wanted to show them we have fun here, we provide great community service and we are overall just a great diverse organization. They started it, and the flame has just continued to burn, and it is becoming better and bigger every year. It is strengthening the fraternity and the community,” Jefferson said. 
Joseph Jones, Ppesident of MSU’s Phi Beta Sigma, said Blue and White week will consist of a string of events hosted by Phi Beta Sigma for the community, MSU students and faculty and fellow Mississippians. Jones said the fraternity tries to put focus on different things that are important to them with these events. Jones said this year they would like to raise awareness about autism, teach money management and help young adults understand the opposite sex. 
“This week is really just a way for us to say thank you to the community and to everyone who has supported us. It is also a great venue to display visibility in the community and provide entertainment for our fellow students. The events will include church services, luncheons, a gospel concert, a scholarship giveaway, an autism awareness informative program, a semi-formal dance event and the annual Blue-B-Q barbecue,” Jones said.
Jones said the Blue-B-Q is the only yearly Blue and White week event. This is a free barbecue for the faculty, staff and students of MSU. It will be at the Strip, between  the Colvard Student Union and the YMCA building.
Lance Terry, Phi Beta Sigma treasurer, said he thinks Blue and White week is important because it shows the fraternity cares about the community. This tradition involves everyone in the community. Each day caters to a different demographic.
“This week is our major visibility week. I really want to stress that we do this for the people. We realize that our chapter is very fortunate, and we have been blessed with a lot of opportunities. We have gained a lot of beneficial affiliates, and it is allowing us to be able to give back to the community in a brand new way,” Terry said.