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Round-Up for May 14, 2005
NPHC handles outdoor dispute: Northwestern
Kappa Alpha Psi and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternities engaged in an altercation near Bobb
by Marcy Miranda
May 10, 2005
Several altercations early Friday morning involving two rival fraternities were provoked by a non-Northwestern student at a fraternity initiation ceremony Thursday night, said the president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the organization that governs the historically black Greek system.During Thursday's Alpha Phi Alpha probate, where new members of the fraternity were presented to other NPHC fraternities and sororities, a balled up piece of paper was thrown in the direction of Alpha neophytes -- the new members of the fraternity -- on the basketball courts outside of Bobb Hall and McCulloch Hall, witnesses said.
NPHC President Jonathan Reynolds said witnesses thought that a member of Kappa Alpha Psi threw the paper -- a disrespectful gesture that "Alpha Phi Alpha had a right to question," he said. But after five NHPC organizations held a meeting with university administrators, they decided that the paper probably was thrown by a student who is a member of another university's chapter.
After the probate, members of Alpha Phi Alpha and Kappa Alpha Psi were involved in four to six disturbances with four to 10 people involved in each altercation, said Asst. Chief Daniel McAleer of University Police.
A resident assistant called University Police to report unauthorized people in the area around 11:06 p.m. Thursday, according to McAleer. UP sent four officers to the basketball courts, where they estimated the crowd to be about 80 to 100 people. After noting that nothing was happening, three of the officers left the scene and left one officer behind to monitor the event.
The altercations broke out around 12:39 a.m. Friday. More UP officers arrived, and the crowd moved out of the basketball courts and into the Sports Pavillion and Aquantic Center parking lot. After the altercation, UP estimated the crowd grew to 150 people.
Evanston Police Department officers were called to assist with crowd control, McAleer said.
UP officers gave verbal warnings and were able to contain the altercations with "minimum or no police intervention," McAleer said. There were no reported weapons or injuries, and no arrests.
Because the incident probably was started by a student outside of NU, Reynolds said, there will be no repercussions or penalties for either of the fraternities.
Kyle Pendleton, director of fraternity and sorority life, could not be reached for comment Monday.
It is not uncommon for members of fraternities from surrounding chapters to attend events like probates in support of their organizations, said Reynolds, who is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi. He also said there have been no other instances where non-NU chapters caused trouble.
There are other Alpha Phi Alpha chapters at Roosevelt University in downtown Chicago, Chicago State University and a joint chapter for the University of Illinois at Chicago and Loyola University Chicago. Kappa Alpha Psi has another a chapter at the University of Chicago.
"I think it was a misunderstanding, and all the police that came escalated the attention drawn to it," said Weinberg junior Ketica Guter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, who witnessed the event. "There was miscommunication between the frats."
Reynolds agreed that the police response magnified the situation.
"The nature in which the police responded to the situation sent the perception that it was a much bigger thing," Reynolds said.
NHPC hopes to initiate a forum with UP to discuss the way in which the police responded to the situation.
"Responses like that take the focus away from the positive things these communities do," Reynolds said. "They put the focus on the one minor incident that is completely magnified."
The rivalry between the two fraternities is healthy, Reynolds said. It is comparable to the rivalries between other fraternities on campus, he said.
"Everyone has an affinity to their organization," Reynolds said.
First-Ever Children's Book Published About Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Atlanta, GA (BlackNews.com) - Fresh Publishing, LLC has done it again with the release of its forthcoming title My Mommy Is An AKA due to release on Mothers Day, 2005. Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority will be impressed with the dynamic portrayal of their great organization in this first-ever children's book about the first African American sorority ever established.Fresh Publishing and Teach Me Greek continue with their mission of releasing educational periodicals about the positive influences of the Divine 9 African American greek lettered organizations and author Audra P. Jackson continues to depict all organizations at the highest levels of excellence in her vibrant, colorful children's book series.
When asked how she can write about other organizations, Audra simply states, "All of our organizations were based on the same premise, public service and the cultural, social and civic betterment of our communities. The historical information of all of our organizations is public domain, and since I am a writer, I do extensive research, have focus groups from each of the organizations to help keep me in line and I let my natural, creative talent and ability do the rest."
Her natural talent continues to pay off as the resounding appreciation for this trend setting idea is noted throughout the African American greek community to the music industry where she was a publicist and marketing executive for many years. Audra has also received many accolades for her literary contributions including those from New Jersey's Secretary of State, Regena Thomas as well as a congressional recognition and an official proclamation from Dr. Joyce Beatty from the Ohio House of Representatives just to name a few.
Audra's unique delivery of information about fraternities and sororities continues to keep members in the greek community happy as they struggled to find periodicals to explain their organizations to their children.
Fresh Publishing has managed to fill a void in the marketplace for positive children's books about African American fraternities and sororities and honestly boasts the originators of the Divine Nine children's book series. "All of my sorority sisters will be really proud of My Mommy Is An AKA, it is truly a one of a kind, literary masterpiece and an heirloom to pass down to our children that is done in a cute and colorful format promoting literacy," states AKA member Cheryl Bell from the Atlanta Tribune.
Interested parties will have a one-of a kind opportunity to meet the author and personally get their book signed on Saturday, May 7th at Tarrazu Gourmet Coffee Bar located at 265 Ponce DeLeon Avenue, N.E., in Midtown Atlanta from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Executive Realty Group and A Class Scholars Day Care are sponsoring the event, which will prove to be an exciting and fun filled afternoon for those patrons receiving their books one day prior to the release date of Mothers Day, Sunday, May 8th. The only other way to receive a specially autographed copy of the book is to be one of the first 100 pre-ordered copies at www.teachmegreek.com or call 1-866-302-2669. The retail price is $18.99 plus tax.
The first-ever children's book series chronicles the nine existing, also known as the Divine 9 African American greek letter organizations in an inspiring light that will educate young children and youth about the positive influences of sororities and fraternities and their historical contribution to African American culture and history as we know it today. Other titles in the series include: My Mommy is a Delta (www.mymommyisadelta.com), My Mommy is a Sigma Gamma Rho (Mothers Day 2006), My Mommy is a Zeta (Mothers Day 2006), My Daddy is a Kappa (Christmas 2005), My Daddy is an Omega (Christmas 2005) My Daddy is an Alpha (Fathers Day, 2005), My Daddy is a Phi Beta Sigma, (Fathers Day, 2006) and My Daddy is an Iota Phi Theta (Fathers Day, 2006). Visit www.teachmegreek.com for these other titles.
Stanford: Alpha Kappa Alpha hosts 11th Dating Game
By Jenny Allen
Senior Staff Writer
Friday, May 6, 2005
Even though the participants of Stanford’s 11th annual Alpha Kappa Alpha Dating Game were not alive when the original show aired in the 1960s and 1970s, the event’s popularity rivaled its vintage namesake. Manzanita Dining Hall, artfully decorated with the sorority’s colors, green and pink, was packed with by the time the program began at 8:30 p.m. yesterday.The game consisted of three rounds — two with three bachelors competing for one eligible bachelorette, and one with the situation reversed. Audience members participated as eligible bachelor and bachelorettes, and off-campus contestants were included for the first time in the event’s history.
Questions posed to the potential suitors included: I just won a trip for two to the Bahamas, why should I take you with me? Describe the perfect meal you would cook for us. If I were in a candy shop, what kind of sweet would you be? And do you wear boxers or briefs and can you please show the audience?
Contestants’ voices were scrambled so that the selector could not identify them. Audience members assisted during the decision-making process by applauding for one of the three contenders.
“People need to know that there is dating at Stanford,” said senior Shani Fregia, co-chair of AKA’s Dating Game. “We just wanted students to come out and have fun, which they clearly did.”
Co-chair Taurean Brown, a senior, said, “This is my third time being involved with this event and even though I knew what to expect, it’s something I still find very entertaining, especially after a long week of midterms. Participants get an all-expenses-paid date and possibly meet a new friend and maybe make a love connection.”
Fregia noted that AKA’s Dating Game falls under the sorority’s national goal of promoting healthy relationships.
The winning couples received gift certificates donated by nearby Cecila’s Mexican restaurant, California Pizza Kitchen, Nola Restaurant and Bar and Pasta? for a romantic dinner date. Other participants had the opportunity to meet someone special during the mixing and mingling party held before and after the show.
“A lot of people may think our programming is only for the Black student population, but it is really catering to the entire Stanford community,” Brown said. AKA is one of Stanford’s black-interest sororities.
The Dating Game is one of the highlights of AKA’s programming week. Today, the Greek group is organizing a barbeque at the Caravan House, a residential group home for at-risk teenage girls. A discussion about the history and achievements of black women is planned for this Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in Tresidder Union.
U. Texas - Arlington Ques: Doing it For the Children Comedian Rickey Smiley helps make charity game a success
By Princess McDowell
The Shorthorn Staff
Comedian Rickey Smiley stole the show at Thursday’s Omega Psi Phi fraternity-sponsored basketball tournament, but he did it without telling jokes or performing his signature imitation of preteen “Lil’ Darrell.”Smiley attended the event benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Arlington and played for a few minutes in the featured game between the Mu Beta chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity and 97.9 FM. He also took time to sign autographs and pose for pictures.
The tournament is part of the weeklong series of events held by the fraternity, which will also include a comedy show and picnic. The group went on Smiley’s radio show Thursday morning to invite people, and Smiley expressed his plan to attend every function.
Jason Hamilton, music business junior and Omega Psi Phi member, said this year’s event was more successful than last year in terms of donations and attendance.
“We did a better job of publicizing it,” he said. “Rickey Smiley definitely brought more people.”
Some from the crowd played basketball in the Activities Building while the latest hip-hop music blared from nearby speakers.
Once the game got underway, both teams kept the audience entertained with hustle plays and dunks that rattled the backboards. Delton Diggles, who played for team 97.9, said he enjoyed playing on the same court as Smiley.
“He made some good passes,” he said.
Through the attention Smiley garnered, the event raised close to $175 for the Boys and Girls Club. Hamilton said that was a big jump from the $30 earned last year.
Smiley, who is a member of the Psi Rho chapter of Omega Psi Phi, said the main reason he came was to help the fraternity’s donation efforts.
“I came to support and raise money for the kids,” he said. “And to hang out with the frat.”
Omega Psi Phi eventually won the game, 68-61, and all members present celebrated by strutting at center court.
Graphic design junior Melissa King said events that benefit charities are a positive thing.
“I think it was a great event and a good way to bring people together,” she said.
Princeton University confronts Greek life
Monday, May 9, 2005
CAMPUS LIFE
Christian Burset
Princetonian Senior Writer
About a year ago, in a second-floor classroom in Frist Campus Center, there was a meeting that would have been unthinkable only four years earlier.The Committee on the Freshman Experience, chaired by Dean of Undergraduate Students Kathleen Deignan, had called a meeting with representatives of the campus' fraternities and sororities.
The leaders of Greek life came reluctantly, not seeing much to gain from such a meeting and fearful they could become targets of University action.
Though the University does not recognize fraternities and sororities, about 15 percent of the student body joins them. For several years, a silent conflict had developed between proponents of Greek life and administrators worried about its impact on undergraduate life — from social division early in freshman year to hazing and alcohol abuse.
A chief concern of administrators was the timing of rush, Greek organizations' recruiting and admissions process durimg the first month of school.
At the meeting, the Committee asked fraternities and sororities to delay rush to January or February.
The fraternity and sorority leaders soundly rejected the request. The meeting went nowhere.
After this, the conflict between the groups and the administration became much sharper.
That summer, without consulting students, Deignan and Vice President for Campus Life Janet Dickerson sent a letter to incoming freshmen to discourage them from joining fraternities and sororities. The move incensed Greek leaders, though they said it had a negligible impact on membership. The administration plans to send a similar letter this summer.
"It was like they were saying, 'thanks for coming to the meeting, we're glad we talked — and screw you,' " said Evan Baehr '05, who attended last spring's meeting on behalf of a fraternity he asked not be identified.
The University's interest in minimizing the role of Greek life comes during a major revamping of the undergraduate experience. The appearance of four-year residential colleges in two years and other efforts to divert attention from the Street — some students and administrators see fraternities and sororities as feeders into selective eating clubs — emphasize the administration's desire to make undergraduate life as inclusive as possible and largely based inside the colleges.
While administrators currently do not plan to have an official policy on Greek groups, which were banned from 1855 to 1940, many students believe the University is waging an increasingly overt war against them.
The administration's interest in Greek life became public in October 2000, when Dickerson broke with the University's previous silence by announcing her intention to talk to fraternity and sorority leaders about their role on campus. "When I came to Princeton, they told me there were no Greek organizations," Dickerson said in an interview.
Five years later, it seems that little has been accomplished.
"There was no relationship" between Greek organizations and the University before last year's meeting, said a former fraternity president on the condition of anonymity. "There is still no relationship."
Speaking specifically about the letter, he said, "Typically the kids who are going to rush fraternities are not going to be swayed . . . by any kind of letter from the administration."
When to rush
At last year's meeting, fraternity and sorority leaders adamantly defended early rush, citing their desire to maximize interaction between freshmen and upperclass members. Recently, however, some sorority and fraternity members have relaxed their opposition to delaying rush.
Kerry Willoughby '05, a Pi Beta Phi member and former president of Princeton's Panhellenic Council, suggested late last month moving rush to November as a compromise.
When told about it, Deignan welcomed the idea.
But some students and administrators doubted that Greek organizations would delay rush. Rush is timed, they said, to capitalize on freshmen's social inexperience.
The former fraternity president agreed that the goal of holding it early in the term is to attract as many freshmen as possible.
"I really enjoyed my fraternity experience. But in leadership positions, you formulate strategies where you want to get to kids early and influence their opinions because you want to build your organization," he said. "You could say it's manipulative."
The administration's concern is that freshmen feel pressured to join Greek organizations when they are socially vulnerable. They also worry that early rush restricts exploring social and extracurricular activities.
Dickerson said she'd like "the first hundred days of the freshmen experience [to] be relatively free of hazing and pledging and enticing events that distract students from what we think are some of the more engaging aspects of freshman year campus life."
Greek life on campus
Fraternities and sororities play a unique role in Princeton's social scene. Unlike the frat houses seen on other campuses, Princeton's social scene is dominated by eating clubs, which have 100 to 200 members each. Rather than forming a separate center, fraternities and sororities mainly help students navigate Princeton's larger social life through lunches and dinners with members, off-campus excursions and community service.
Greek organizations vary in size and attitude. The campus's three historically black sororities — Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta and Zeta Phi Beta — hardly fit into Princeton's model for Greek life. They emphasize community service and delay rush until sophomore year, which makes administrators more positive about their impact on campus life.
In most of the other Greek organizations on campus, alcohol plays a large role in many parts of Greek life. That deeply concerns the University administration.
"[W]hile we recognize that some students join fraternities and sororities primarily for the opportunity to participate in a smaller community of friends," Deignan said, "we know that others join primarily because they perceive a readily available access to alcohol."
Deignan said hazing — banned under New Jersey law and University policy — presents another danger.
"I am aware of many situations where freshman pledges (mostly in fraternities) were put at physical risk or were subjected to humiliating hazing rituals as part of their pledging," Deignan said. "This is very distressing, not only to those of us who are charged with the wellbeing of undergraduates, but also to roommates and others who often worry about their friends."
Fraternities and sororities have tried to get around some University policies that restrict alcohol consumption. Some members said their organizations tend to use hard liquor in response to the ban on kegs in dormitories. Though rush is officially dry, alcohol flows freely at many recruiting events. "Greek life is just one big pre-game," said a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, about the practice of drinking before going out to the eating clubs.
"They always respected whether or not you wanted to drink, but they encouraged drinking a lot," said a freshman who pledged a fraternity and dropped out. "Then again, if you're pledging, you're probably looking for good guys to drink with."
The pledging process varies widely. One visible example is the sight of new fraternity members standing outside McCosh Hall all day dressed like Secret Service agents. Some pledging activities are more strenuous — Dickerson said she heard reports of pledges having to walk home from Lawrenceville or go as far as Buffalo, N.Y., for a scavenger hunt.
But some observers don't agree that Greek life is as problematic as the administration suggests.
Nitesh Paryani '05, an RCA in Wilson Collge, oversaw a group of fraternity members who lived in a large suite in Dodge-Osborne Hall last year. He said the group was respectful of its neighbors and of University policy.
"They make an honest effort to integrate themselves into University life and obey all the rules of the University," Paryani said.
Recognition and concern
About 700 students are in fraternities or sororities at any given time. This year, 138 students rushed sororities. Each of the three sororities that participated in rush this fall — Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi — offered 36 bids, so that 98 percent of those who completed rush received a bid. Delta Delta Delta, whose charter was revoked this year, did not participate in formal rush. About 200 students rushed fraternities, with a little more than half receiving bids. Sororities all generally have more than 100 members, but fraternities range in size from 10 members to 50.
With that kind of membership — and the funding that comes from dues — fraternities and sororities don't have much interest in University recognition.
"It's pretty clear to me that these organizations don't want full recognition as a student organization," said Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students Thomas Dunne. "With recognition comes a whole host of responsibilities, such as registering all events, and maintaining all financial records in the dean's office."
Dues vary from organization to organization, but most charge around $500 per year.
"It's difficult for me to resolve the relationships the students have to their national organizations, in which they are charged what I see as very high membership dues, that go off-campus to support the national organization," Dunne said.
Administrators still point to public incidents where they think the problems with Greek life are evident. Pi Beta Phi recently had to pay $4,155 to compensate the Nottingham fire company for damages the sorority caused to the firehouse during an event last month.
"This behavior was clearly disrespectful of the property and sensibilities of others," Deignan said. "We have had complaints before from other establishments and bus companies who called to report vandalism and disorderly and disrespectful conduct displayed by fraternity and sorority members toward their property and employees ... It does not surprise me that colleges and universities with recognized Greek systems are frequently required to impose disciplinary sanctions or periodically take steps to remove them from their campuses."
Deeper questions
Underlying the debate over the place of Greek groups is a deeper question: Are fraternities and sororities antithetical to the residential atmosphere Princeton wants to support?
Other Ivy League institutions' attitudes toward Greek life vary widely. Cornell has an official Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, whose website reports that 30 percent of the student population belongs to a Greek organization. The University of Pennsylvania also has over a quarter of students participating in Greek life.
Harvard, however, does not recognize Greek organizations. Fraternities at Harvard are largely seen as alternatives to the exclusive, all-male finals clubs.
At Princeton, administrators recognize that fraternity and sorority members believe their organizations offer a chance for underclassmen to form unique bonds with upperclassmen.
"Many students have told me that their sororities and fraternities have provided smaller communities of friends that helped them quickly feel 'at home' within the larger University," Deignan said.
But she questioned whether Greek groups, with their focus on alcohol and exclusivity, are the best way to accomplish this.
"At a time when the colleges are working hard to create a welcoming environment for all students and a sense of unity among the newest members of our community, these organizations are rushing and selecting some students and not others," she said.
Dunne worried about the effect of rush on students who don't get in. "[It] is different from not getting a bid for an a capella or dance group," he said. "It's different to be told, 'you're just not a good enough singer,' from a more amorphous, 'we just don't want to hang out with you.' "
Frances Schendle '06, a member of both a sorority and the freshman experience committee, said membership in a Greek group doesn't dominate a member's life. Greek members, she said, are involved in many other activities.
"Students at Princeton aren't going to be defined by three Greek letters," she said. "They know when they join that this is just one part of who they are, and rush isn't going to change that."
Some students and administrators also expressed concern that Greek life could compound the exclusivity of Bicker, the selective process used to gain admission to some eating clubs.
"I don't think its any secret to students that certain frats and sororities are feeders to certain eating clubs," said Leslie-Bernard Joseph '06, current USG president and a member of the freshman experience committee. "It funnels you into a social clique for perhaps the rest of your four years on campus."
But Baehr, the fraternity member, disagreed with that view.
"It's just like if you're a member of a sports team," Baehr said. "The more people you know, the more who can support you."
SGRHo: Sorority members gather to honor mothers
Margaret Lampley chosen as group's mother of the year
BY CAROLYN P. SMITH
Posted on Sun, May. 08, 2005
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EAST ST. LOUIS -- Just as they had for 56 years before, members of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority gathered for lunch Saturday to tell their mothers how much they were appreciated."Mothers are our link to the past, and they help direct our future. They represent the ultimate sacrifice," said Raquel Farmer-Hinton.
Farmer-Hinton is the daughter of Edna Farmer, a retired East St. Louis Senior High School English teacher. Farmer-Hinton is an English professor.
"I thank God for my mother. She's like a good reference book. I can go to her with work-related issues, or questions about my friends," Farmer-Hinton said.
"She always has good advice. She's also a source of inspiration and my greatest support."
Margaret Lampley was chosen mother of the year during the lunch at the Garfield Hubbard complex, 5801 State St. The 75-year-old is mother of Brenda Bush, former East St. Louis Mayor Gordon Bush's wife.
"My mother is my stabilizer. She means everything to me," Bush said.
Guest speaker Joyce McKinney said mothers leave legacies of laughter, loyalty, energy, encouragement, enthusiasm, giving, advocacy, admiration, caring and conviction.
Although her mother has died, McKinney said the luncheon gave her a chance to discuss her mother's life and show what she taught.
Brenda Hicks said her mother, Nellie Lowery, also is deceased, but she still cherishes the love and affection her mother gave. She said the wisdom her mother imparted was passed to her children.
The most important message her mother gave her was to "have love and compassion and to love God, herself and others," she said.
Posted by Rashid on May 14, 2005 7:22 AM