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Friday, May 6 Round-Up
UVA Alphas that left the Black Fraternal Council in favor of IFC are doing just fine:
Alpha Phi Alpha Director of Membership Intake Jaron Carter is shown at the APA house. APA, the only black fraternity with a house, decided to join the IFC earlier this year.
Alpha Phi Alpha looks to the future
Alpha members say they are pleased with their decision to join IFC
Becca Garrison
Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
After the Iota Beta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. transferred from the Black Fraternal Council to the Inter-Fraternity Council in February, some members of the University community debated whether the Alphas had made the right decision.Two months later, the Alphas are active members of the IFC and continue to feel positive about their decision, according to Alpha Secretary Cameron Webb.
"It worked out well, and I think we're definitely still exactly on track with our original vision for joining the IFC," Webb said.
In reference to the debate over their decision, Webb said, "I think that as time has gone on we really had the chance to talk to our peers and the administration, and we've really garnered support from the community."
Webb said he thinks the interaction between the BFC and the Alphas and the other IFC chapters has improved significantly since February. IFC President Ross Kimbel said no conflicts have occurred within the IFC since the Alphas became members.
"Contrary to what people may have thought, the switch from the NPHC has actually strengthened communication and ties between myself and Isaac [Agbeshie-Noye, BFC President]," Kimbel said.
Agbeshie-Noye said there has not been any substantial change in the relationship between the IFC and BFC.
"I can honestly say whatever the Alphas do, we will support them because we are historically bound to them," he said. "We hope that they will support us, too."
African-American Affairs Dean M. Rick Turner said he continues to maintain that the Alphas made a wrong choice in switching organizations.
"I thought it was a mistake then, and I still think it's a mistake," Turner said.
Although he said he is opposed to the Alphas' decision, it has not affected his interaction with the IFC, Turner said.
"I have no animosity towards the men in the Alphas," he said. "I still love those young men like they were my own sons. This is not about being mad at them."
Turner said enhancing the relationship between the Office of African-American Affairs and the IFC is entirely separate from the Alphas' switch. He said he currently is working on a program with Kimbel for IFC members to tutor inner-city students.
"The catalyst to strengthening the relationship between the IFC and the Office of African-American Affairs was the Alphas joining the IFC," Kimbel said.
As for any hard feelings from the BFC, Kimbel said he maintains that there are none.
"Isaac and I meet on a regular basis and there are zero hard feelings between us," Kimbel said. "We are collaborating more closely than every."
Kimbel said the Alphas contribute more community service hours per man than the other members of the IFC, and the Alphas' goals of community service are a great contribution to the organization's success.
Structurally, a large difference between the Alphas and the rest of the IFC is their rush process. Organizing an open house for the Alphas during the IFC rush weeks is a possibility as an effort for the Alphas to become a part of a broader Greek community, Webb said.
The BFC is going through its own structural changes as it heads towards becoming a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. The change began to take place before the Alphas switched organizations and now is in the final stages of paperwork, Agbeshie-Noye said.
"We did realize altogether that there were some things we wanted to change," he said. "So we made some changes and organized the Council so that we could more efficiently serve the community."
Webb and Kimbel said the Alphas and the IFC are looking forward to the next year.
"We really want to thank everyone for their support both with the African-American communities and the University community at large and the brothers are all very grateful," Webb said. "Everything is definitely looking up. Keep your eyes and ears open for big things coming from the Iota Beta chapter next year."
Black Student Life at 'Bama, Frats Included
Article published May 4, 2005
Segregation Remains at Ferg
Why the University's student center is divided with a racial line.
Chad Hullett, staff reporter
A little more than 40 years ago, former Alabama Gov. George Wallace proclaimed Alabama would remain a segregated state for eternity. While time has proven Wallace wrong, the University is still a segregated place -- at least at lunch.Every day around noon, the University's Ferguson Student Center becomes segregated. A large percentage of black students who choose to eat in the Ferg tend to congregate near the theater, while their white counterparts mingle outside Starbucks.
One of the main reasons the segregation of the Ferg is accepted and popular is that a large number of black Greeks tend to congregate in that area.
"When I was in school a lot of times the Alphas, Kappas, AKAs and Deltas would all be sitting over there at different tables," said Derrick Pugh, an alumnus of the University. "It was really a cool thing because everyone seemed unified and friendly."
Brandon Murray, a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, said it's become a tradition among a lot of the campus organizations.
"From time to time, black Greeks have mini-step shows called 'step teases' at the Ferg Theater," Murray said. "They are very popular events among the black students on campus and many of the Greeks and students sit over there to grab a bite to eat before they go to the step tease."
APA threw the most recent step tease at the Ferg Theater. Immediately afterwards, some of the members of Omega Psi Phi stood outside the theater and had an impromptu step show. A large group of black students stood outside to watch.
"Back when I was there, we used to get dressed up to go to the Ferg during lunch time," Pugh said.
He said the "black" side of the Ferg was more of a way to meet students of a similar race.
"It was never a negative thing," Pugh said. "I know some people used to plan their schedules around being in the Ferg. We called it 'Black Power Hour.'"
What some would call black students' "self-segregation" essentially began as a sort of self-preservation.
"I think when it started, black people just needed a place to come and be comfortable," Murray said. "Just because a lot of black people sit over there doesn't mean that no one else can."
Murray, a senior TCF major, said the black side of the Ferg has been there since he came to school in 2000.
"It probably won't ever go away," he said. "It's a place to meet, mingle and have fun with people you know."
Anti-Hazing Law Gets Final Approval in Florida
Anti-hazing law gets final approval in Legislature
By Anthony Man
Staff writer
May 3, 2005
TALLAHASSEE · Spurred by the death of a University of Miami student, Florida legislators gave final approval Monday to a measure that would strengthen the law against hazing.If it receives the governor's OK, the Chad Meredith Act would make high school or college hazing a crime that could bring time behind bars.
Its namesake, Meredith, wound up with a blood alcohol level of 0.13 one night in November 2001 after attending a concert and drinking with members of the fraternity he hoped to join. He drowned while attempting a predawn swim across Lake Osceola on campus.
The legislation (HB 193), sponsored by state Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, and state Sen. Skip Campbell, D-Fort Lauderdale, received nearly unanimous support.
Hasner, 35, was a member of Phi Delta Theta as an undergraduate at the University of Maryland at College Park, a chapter adviser during law school at Florida State, and a national officer.
Hasner said his legislation would make sure "there's a price to pay for participating in hazing activities that result in serious bodily injury."
The only "no" vote in either the House or Senate came from House Minority Leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, who said a new law isn't necessary because serious conduct could be prosecuted under other laws.
Smith, also 35, was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C.
"I volunteered to pledge," he said. "Anything that did happen to me, I was an adult and allowed it to happen." That included suffering a fractured hand, explaining only, "I fell."
The measure provides for up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine for an act of hazing that creates a substantial risk of physical injury or death and five years in prison and a $5,000 fine if the hazing results in serious bodily injury or death.
Tyler, TX AKAs plan Art Alive!
The local Tyler chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., will present Arts Alive! at 6 p.m. Friday, May 13, in the Jan E. Jones Fine Arts Center on the Robert E. Lee High School campus.Arts Alive! is an area-wide youth arts competition in which youngsters (grades 7-12) will showcase their talents in art, dance, drama and music, organizers said. Tickets are $5, and may be purchased from sorority members and at MOM Record Store. Proceeds will benefit Alpha Kappa Alpha's scholarship fund.
Co-hosts for the event will be Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority member Constance Jones, KETK 56 reporter/anchor; and Darryl Bowdre, minister of South Central Church of Christ, editor-in-chief of Ebony News Journal, and executive director of the Tyler Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Guest performers include the "Debonair Divas" Step Team of John Tyler High School, under the direction of Nancy Taylor.
The Tyler Parks & Recreation Department Intermediate Jazz Dance Group under the direction of dance instructor Pam Erwin, also are scheduled to perform.
Greta Moore-Dixon, a retired New York City teacher and music Coordinator, initiated the AKA Youth Arts Showcase in Tyler in 2003. Her goal is to foster confidence in young artists and to give them the opportunity to be recognized for their creative achievements, organizers said.
Previous first place winners from the 2003 AKA Youth Arts Competition will be inducted into the "Marian Anderson Hall of Fame" during the May 14 Arts Alive! presentation. Marian Anderson, an internationally acclaimed opera singer, was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She was the first African American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera on Jan. 10, 1955.
Other notable sorority members in the arts have included Maya Angelou, BeBe Moore Campbell, Suzanne de Passe, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen Delavellade, Alicia Keys, Gladys Knight, Ntozake Shange, Jada Pinkett Smith and lyanla Vanzant.
The 2006 Marian Anderson Hall of Fame inductees are DeMonica Banks, Dominqu-etrex Brewer, Mercedes Bush, Blair Caldwell, Tikilya Caldwell, Katherine Davis, Damian Hawkins, Adrian Hilburn, Stephanie Idio, Jameson Minter, Jasmine Session, Ifiori Umana and Ruby Washington.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., encourages its chapters to sponsor innovative arts projects as part of their ongoing service. Other program targets are Economics, Education, Health, and The Black Family.
Linda White is the 2002-2006 national president of the sorority. Darlene M. Lewis is president of Gamma Omicron Omega Chapter.
Members of the Arts and Culture Committee are Berdine Craddock, Winifred Johnson, Constance Jones, Martha McCormick, Tijuana McDonald, Patricia Norman, Sonja Watson, Carolyn Williams, and Greta Moore-Dixon, chairperson.
Posted by Rashid on May 6, 2005 9:51 PM