« "Bruh" and other traditions | Main | The C Word »
October 13 Round-Up
The Hilltop - Campus
(Howard University)
Issue: 10/7/05
Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuit Filed Against Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
By Ayesha Rascoe
Two Howard Alumni filed a $10 million lawsuit against Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in US District Court for the District of Columbia on Thursday, charging that the AKAs made false allegations of hazing against them.
Joie Jolevare and Salome Tinker, both members of the sorority, claim in their lawsuit that they were unjustly suspended from the organization after assisting members of Alpha chapter in a practice in March 2005 for the group's post initiation ceremony.
The two women allege that AKA Regional Director, Joy Elaine Daley stopped the sorority's authorized practice, and began an investigation into the event on the grounds that it constituted hazing because it was held outside.
In the lawsuit Jolevare and Tinker claim that contrary to regulations outlined in the AKA Constitution, they were never informed of the allegations made against them and they were suspended without any evidence that they participated in hazing.
They are suing the organization for purposeful defamation, breach of contract, negligence, and discrimination under the District of Columbia Human Rights Act, the lawsuit said.
"The days are over when you can make false allegations against upstanding members of the community without consequences," said Jimmy Bell, the attorney representing Jolevare and Tinker.
Daley was reached at her office at 11:00 p.m., but refused to comment because she said that her office hours were over.
Bell said the actions of his clients did not warrant suspension.
According to Bell both women, who are members of the local graduate chapter Xi Omega, were asked to assist in the intake process of 2005.
Bell said that the alleged incident of hazing, however, occurred after the intake process was completed and that the new members practiced voluntarily.
"These aren't pledges," Bell said. "They are already AKAs."
He said the practice obviously was not mandatory because 12 of the 137 women who crossed last semester did not attend the event. Furthermore, Bell said it was not unreasonable for the practice to be held outside because it involved such a large group of people.
Bell also claims the allegations are frivolous because the AKA anti-hazing handbook "Just Say 'No' to Hazing" defines hazing as physical acts and or threats, none of which he said occurred according to the AKAs who were present at the practice. He said the nature of the alleged false claims made against the plaintiffs warrant the lawsuit.
"When you're saying my clients are [participating in hazing], you're saying they committed crimes," Bell said. "In the work force all you have is your integrity."
National AKA representatives were unable to be reached for comment. Alpha Chapter president Kimberely Mitchell also declined to comment.
Bell said he would like see an expeditious end to this conflict.
"I'm hopeful that the national office will resolve this matter," Bell said. "In the event that they do not we are confident a DC jury will resolve it and make my clients whole."
Alphas activate dual-membership status
Alpha Phi Alpha members participate in first meeting with National Pan-Hellenic Council; officially part of IFC, NPHC
(University of Virginia)
Becca Garrison
Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
The members of the Iota Beta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. attended their first official meeting with the National Pan-Hellenic Council Tuesday, cementing their unprecedented dual membership in two different fraternal organizations.
Alpha Vice President Gregory Jackson, Jr. said the dual membership will allow the Alphas to be involved in the general University community through the IFC and to work more thoroughly with the black community through the NPHC, an organization of African-American fraternities and sororities.
"It's important to understand we are committed to the overall University community as well as being focused on the black community," Jackson said.
The Alphas joined the NPHC when its charter became official Sept. 18. Last February, the Alphas left the Black Fraternal Council (now the NPHC) to join the Inter-Fraternity Council. They have maintained their membership with the IFC.
Jackson said the Alphas were not rejoining the Black Fraternal Council, which was the home to black fraternities and sororities at the University prior to the formation of the University's NPHC.
"It's a totally different organization, and the national support system of the NPHC is phenomenal," Jackson said. "We just felt like it was the right thing to do."
Jackson said that the Alphas are proud of their dual-membership status.
The Alphas "have historically been pioneers," Jackson said. "We've always broken new barriers and taken new steps."
IFC President Ross Kimbel said executing dual membership is likely to be very challenging because the Alphas currently have four active members.
"The two councils are structured so differently that it's kind of unknown how this will work," Kimbel said. "We understand that adjustments are going to have to be made on all fronts, but most of them are superficial adjustments."
Kimbel said the three parties will have to work out the number of meetings the Alphas will now have to attend as well as compliance with two separate sets of by-laws.
All parties involved said the decision would not change the relationship between the IFC and the NPHC.
"We are not serving as a liaison between the councils," Alpha President Thomas Mmbaga said.
Kimbel and University NPHC President Isaac Noye said the two councils have a strong relationship that will continue to grow from regular contact.
"One of the most important parts of my job is to be able to help bridge between councils, and we also have the [Inter-Greek Committee] that does that," Noye said. "That isn't [the Alphas'] job because we have many different vehicles for that."
Noye said he is optimistic that the Alphas will be able to participate in both organizations.
"Right now I'm just trying to observe and see how it goes," Noye said. "Because it's unprecedented, I don't really know what to expect."
The Alphas said they were confident in their ability to be active and productive members of both organizations.
"The chapter is committed to the IFC and the NPHC, and we expect to grow," Mmbaga said. "We will have no trouble having representation on both councils."
Mmbaga will serve as the Alphas' representative to the IFC as chapter president and Jackson will be the NPHC delegate.
Jackson said involvement in the nationally affiliated NPHC was encouraged by the national chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The national chapter was a founding member of the NPHC.
"As the NPHC, we follow a national structure of the national organization," Noye said. "APA, Inc. is part of that national organization, so joining the NPHC is in line with their national initiative."
Kimbel and Noye said the IFC and the NPHC do not have conflicting ideals that might create difficulties for the Alphas. They said the organizations have very different structures.
"NPHC fraternities are more geared towards service-oriented issues, while the IFC is more focused on governing and making sure social areas are properly addressed," Kimbel said.
Steppin’ onto campus
Newly chartered black sorority prepares to make its mark
(Northwestern)
By Deepa Seetharaman
October 10, 2005
The Daily Northwestern
Although Greek Scene, National Pan-Hellenic Council’s annual step show, is months away, at least one sorority is practicing to ensure they can step up to the competition.
Meet Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., a group of five women dedicated to service, scholarship and making their mark on Northwestern just six weeks after they were chartered.
“We have set a standard,” said Sara Sutton, Communication ‘05 and one of the founders of the Nu Sigma chapter of the sorority at NU. “What you see from us is what (is) associated with Zeta Phi Beta.”
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. is a part of the “Divine Nine,” a group of historically black fraternities and sororities throughout the United States. The sorority is the fourth black sorority to be instituted on NU’s campus. The other sororities are Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta and Sigma Gamma Rho.
While at NU, Sutton’s search for a suitable sorority proved fruitless. She had almost abandoned efforts but friends in the Zeta Phi Beta sorority’s brother fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., urged her to look into starting a chapter at NU. As a senior in college, Sutton became one of the chapter’s six founding members. The founders joined in May and received their charter in August.
Dedication to service is the sorority’s identifying mark, Sutton said. Members work with Family Focus Our Place Evanston, a local not-for-profit that helps children, teens, parents and families, and four state and national organizations.
The chapter was honored for its service at the Zeta Phi Beta state conference in September. They received one award for raising the most money of any chapter — about $400— for The Stork’s Nest Program, a philanthropy encouraging proper pre-natal care for underprivileged families. The other award was for their $200 pledge to Katrina victims.
“Once you join us, it’s not even about you anymore,” President Keyonda Evans said. “It’s about what you do for other people,”
Developing good relationships with NU’s other Greek groups is an additional goal for the group, said Evans, a SESP junior.
On Oct. 21, the group will host an all-campus party at Tommy Nevin’s Pub and Restaurant, 1450 Sherman Ave., to raise money for March of Dimes. The charity organization promotes proper infant care.
Zeta Phi Beta also hopes to sponsor a party with an Interfraternity Council fraternity, something that rarely happens, Evans said.
Achieving such goals is difficult because the Greek community is fractured, said Treasurer Jessica Carrasquillo, a SESP junior.
“We’re the same Greek system, (but we have) different cultures,” she said.
The group’s lukewarm relationship with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life also makes impacting NU difficult, Evans said. Evans was given just a one-day notice of the last NPHC meeting. The group is also the only organization without a link on the Fraternity and Sorority Life’s Web site.
“We are still out of the loop,” Evans said. “We are very new and don’t always know what’s going on.”
Kyle Pendleton, director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, could not be reached Friday for comment.
Zeta Phi Beta’s first chapter was founded Jan. 16, 1920, at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The sorority became the first Greek organization to charter a chapter in Africa and to form auxillary groups to support young girls and women who had not yet or never attended college.
Despite the sorority’s history as a black organization, most of the group’s members come from different backgrounds.
“We’re not particularly looking for specific races or anything,” Evans said. “If you have it, you have it.”
The group has not scheduled “membership intake,” a recruitment program. What they do know is that the incoming class of Zetas will be held to the highest possible standards, Carrasquillo said.
“You have to want it, not just wear the letters but know the letters,” she added.
JSU Suspends Campus Fraternity After Shooting
POSTED: 8:03 am CDT October 7, 2005
UPDATED: 8:15 am CDT October 7, 2005
JACKSON, Miss. -- Jackson State University has suspended a national fraternity chapter after a campus shooting in September.
Investigators said graduate student Ryan Mack shot Omega Psi Phi member Ben Hart during a fight with Hart and two other fraternity members.
Hart spent weeks in the hospital with his injuries.
JSU has suspended Omega Psi Phi from the campus for three years.
The Hinds County district attorney is investigating the shooting.
The Chanticleer - News
(Jacksonville State)
Issue: 10/13/05
Greeks: Making the Grade
By Kimberly Davis
Greeks strive toward academic excellence by making their grade point averages their number one priority on campus. Many of the Greek organizations have reached their academic goals while others are still working hard to maintain their status.
The Greeks' overall GPA average is calculated by adding all the members of each chapter together and dividing it by the total number of members. The chapters are ranked in order according to their GPAs every spring semester from the previous fall grading period. The rankings for spring 2005 place Alpha Omicron Pi with the highest GPA on campus. Their overall GPA is a 3.08 and, they were honored by the university for their academic achievement.
"There are many incentives we have to maintain academic achievement like Pi Club, Panda Pal, Academic Center for Excellence, and our special Ruby 'A' badge," said AOPi President Lindsey Brown.
AOPi's "Pi Club" honors and rewards members who attain a 3.14 GPA. They also have a "Panda Pal," named after their mascot that matches up members in the same field of study.
The panda pals help each other throughout their college career. Alpha Omicron Pi sorority members are all required to visit the Academic Center for Excellence each week. The number of hours they are required to spend there depends upon their GPA.
The special Ruby "A" badge is rotated to the sister with the highest GPA in the sorority.
"Alpha Omicron Pi is founded on friendship and, we uphold everything we work for. Our GPA is above average over all the other women and, we will work harder this fall to maintain our number 1 spot," said Brown.
Delta Zeta ranks number twelve overall with a 2.35 GPA. They are improving their GPA by developing a class that will teach each member how to study.
"I am making sure that the girls are aware of how important our grades are, and we will try our best to improve individually for our entire chapter," said Delta Zeta President Jessie Owens.
Owens is encouraging her members to maintain a beneficial relationship with their professors, so their grades will improve for spring, 2006. Delta Zeta's goal is to improve their GPA to a 3.0.
Sigma Nu ranks number four with the highest GPA in the InterFraternity Council and over all the other fraternities on campus.
"We help guys focus on what they are in school for by making our grades priority and, we excel by having study groups," said Sigma Nu President Drew Wagner.
Sigma Nu fraternity prepares young men for the future by making their academics a priority with a 2.85 GPA.
Pi Kappa Phi ranks number sixteen overall with a 2.17 GPA. They are striving toward a higher GPA for spring 2006.
"We are working harder to improve our grades this semester by having a mandatory study session twice a week," said Pi Kappa Phi President Woody Rozier. Pi Kappa Phi goal is to improve their GPA to a 2.65 for spring 2006.
Delta Sigma Theta ranks number five with the highest GPA in the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Their overall GPA is a 2.82.
"We are striving for academic excellence as a whole by staying on top of our studies, attending classes, and talking to professors if we have problems around midterms," said Delta Sigma Theta President Marshonntri Reid.
Delta Sigma Theta maintain their grades through their Scholarship Committee which helps implement programs and develop study sessions.
They have received other rewards for their academic success, such as the Presidential Bronze cup for their accreditation program.
"Our goal is to regain that number one spot that we had in previous years," said Delta Sigma Theta President Marshonntri Reid, referring to the number one overall ranking the sorority held in fall 2003. They are aiming for that number one spot in spring 2006.
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity ranks number 18 with a 1.73 GPA, and they are taking steps to improve their GPA by having brotherhood study sessions.
"We have implemented a brotherhood study session where each brother helps each other with their weakness, so we can excel as a whole," said Iota Phi Theta President SirArthur Edwards. " Our grades decline last semester because of personal problems within the fraternity, but we are now focusing own personal problems and academics so each brother is a brother to his brother."
Iota Phi Theta goal is to maintain a 2.0 GPA for spring 2006.
Many of the Greek organizations are hitting the books hard with study groups, tutoring sessions and classes, so they can maintain higher academic standards for their chapters. They have set goals to achieve, so their academic improvement for this semester will show in the spring 2006 rankings.
Students show off bodies at Fit Body Contest
(Indiana State)
By Leslie Wills Staff writer
October 10, 2005
Students lined up outside Dede II on Wednesday to get a look at the participants of the 2005 Fit Body Contest.
The fifth annual Fit Body Contest was hosted by Sigma Gamma Rho sorority to give students the opportunity to show off their bodies after following a strict food regimen and hard work in the gym.
The criteria the participants were voted on were confidence, presentation, and response to the question, "Why should you be Mr. or Ms. Fit Body?"
The event began with a casual scene where contestants introduced themselves.
The swimsuit competition followed and audience members were so enthralled with the contestants that they lined the stage with cameras and video cameras.
All the contestants answered the same question, "Why do you feel you should be Mr. or Ms. Fit Body?," during the formal wear portion of the contest.
Runner-up Lydia Thomas, a junior child development and family life major, replied with humor by saying, "I think I should be Miss Fit Body because I don't work out, and I eat all fatty foods but my body is still slim."
Dada Yarmento, Ms. Fit Body 2005 and a senior business management major, said she should be Ms. Fit Body because she has lost weight and was very comfortable with her body.
"When I was in high school, females always told me I was fat," she said. "Now that I'm in college, I lost 20 pounds, eat healthy food and drink a lot of water."
Male contestant Raidu Allen felt that he should be the new Mr. Fit Body because he is from another country and he had a special surprise.
"I wanted to represent the West Indies and Jamaica," Allen said. "Also, it takes confidence and that's what I have, pure confidence... and one last thing."
Allen then stepped off of the stage and gave roses to the female judges.
Mr. Fit Body 2005 Paladin Jordan, a junior public relations major, said he should be crowned because he was fit without being really muscular.
"I think I should be Mr. Fit Body because not everybody has the football players' build to represent health and fitness like myself," Jordan said.
Hanif Muhammad, Mr. Fit Body runner-up and a junior finance and marketing major, said his dedication to track and personal fitness made him the perfect candidate for Mr. Fit Body.
"I put in long hours of dedication on the track team and on Mondays and Fridays lifting weights and my body is the best."
After the formal wear portion of the competition, Jamie Dearman performed a song while the judges formulated the score.
Jordan said that he didn't expect to win.
"I'm surprised. I really didn't think I was going to win," he said. "I prepared by running track which got me as fit as I am."
Judge Adeola Adediran, a senior communications major, said judging was difficult because all of the contestants were very fit.
"I think it was a tough decision and it was very close," he said.
Judge Tyanna Jackson, a junior radio/TV/film major, said the event was a success.
I think that it went very well," she said. "The males were extra confident but I really enjoyed myself and it ended up being a well-put together event."
Sigma Gamma Rho president Mayreena Turner said that she thought all the audience had fun and can't wait until next year.
"It's always a fun event that we look forward to every year. Once again we had a lot of fun with it," she said.
Posted by Rashid on October 13, 2005 8:18 PM
Comments
You have done a really good job of rounding up news on our greek organzations. Keep you the good work and thanks. Shem hotep!
Commented by Fratman1906 on October 15, 2005 2:33 PM
Hey Rashid! I'm adding another article for your archives:
Student groups discuss gay rights issues
LGBTSU and Theta Nu Xi join together for panel discussion
Lauren Walleser
September 29, 2005
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Student Union and Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority at Florida State University hosted a panel discussion last Wednesday, Sept. 21 regarding the issue of homosexuals in the United States military and the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy that is currently the rule for homosexuals that are members of a military branch.
The panel consisted of members from both organizations, including Jamonique Holt and Letoya Stairs of Theta Nu Xi and Jeremy Lighter, Jenna Berger, and Thomas Kester of the LGBTSU, all students of FSU who expressed that they have had positive experiences with homosexuality in their lives.
Holt, whose father is an officer in the military and spent much of her life abroad, said that she did not encounter any people who were out as homosexuals in the military.
"When someone becomes an officer, they give a handbook to everyone in the family telling them how to act," Holt said. "If you get to become an officer, they will find out everything."
Lighter, who said he has been out since the age of 18, also has a father in the military, but as an enlisted man rather than an officer. He expressed that his experience was rather different, as he did know many soldiers who were openly gay.
"There are a lot of things that the enlisted men do and know about each other that doesn't necessarily make it all the way up to command," said Lighter.
All of the panelists agreed that it is difficult for men and women in the military to be themselves and express who they are if they are gay due to discrimination they would face if they revealed they were gay.
"For me, the discrimination against me can't be erased," said Holt, a black woman. "That has made me sensitive to other people being discriminated against, and that is why when it comes to issues like homosexuals being able to get married, I'm like, 'Let them go ahead,' because right now you might not be discriminated against, but when it happens to you, you will feel differently."
The discussion expanded to cover issues such as the differences that culture, location, race and religion play in people's experiences with, and exposure to, the homosexual lifestyle. Many of the panelists were from South Florida and discussed how open that community is in comparison to smaller towns in the country. Others said that in high school they were less likely to come out as being homosexual because of the immaturity of classmates, the smaller environment, and the fact that they still lived with their parents.
"People feel that people grow to be gay, and that myth is perpetuated because people usually don't come out until they get into college. That means that people are thinking that all those years you are straight and happy," Holt said. "I think that really has a profound effect on how people look at homosexuals, because if we find out that you are born gay or that it is certain chemicals, then that will blow a hole through every theory."
Stairs said that she believes it is the diversity and open-mindedness of college campuses that allow students to come out or realize how they truly feel about gender issues.
"In college, we are exploring a whole new community and really learning and educating ourselves about sex, about gender, about what our social roles are as women and men, and what we are expected of as social beings in our environment, and you really start taking a look at yourself and start figuring out who you are, and for those reasons we start to think about where we fit in the world and what our preferences are and what we do and don't like, and it is really that exploration of self that brings people to the point where they become comfortable enough to place themselves in the world," Stairs said.
Another topic that was discussed was the over-classification of people and their sexual orientation. Lighter and Berger agreed that rather than labeling people as being gay, straight or any other category, love is what should be the emphasis for relationships.
"I think that realistically, if you genuinely believe in the power of love, that you could fall in love with someone of either sex," Lighter said. "Love is a power beyond measure. To say that I'm only going to fall in love with tall, white, gay men is completely irrational. You can't stop someone from falling in love with someone else."
Others, such as Siria Serrano, the moderator for the panel discussion and member of Theta Nu Xi, told of the trouble some people have with trying to support homosexuals, even if they themselves are straight.
"I like men, but anytime that you speak up about something or you say that something is wrong or today I don't feel like wearing heels or mascara, or you speak out in a certain way about sex roles, people are like 'Oh, you are a feminist,' or 'You are a lesbian.'" Serrano said.
While college campuses are known to be more accepting environments, there are still groups and individuals at universities who do not agree with the idea of homosexuality, and there are those who will discriminate against individuals who are open about their orientation.
Kester told the group that he experienced discrimination when he tried to run for a position in student government at his former university, the University of North Florida.
"I stood in front of their student senate there, in which they made fun of me and voted not to appoint me," Kester said.
Dustin Hinzman of the FSU LGBTSU said that the organization tries to reach out to other organizations on campus and get together with them in order to promote diversity and get information to students about LGBT issues. For example, Hinzman said that in the coming months the LGBTSU will join together with the Jewish Student Union in order to discuss issues such as the fact that homosexuals, along with Jews, were persecuted during the Holocaust.
"Diversity movements have focused on how we are all different and accepting, but the newest thing in diversity movements is looking at how we are all the same. Co-sponsorships help with that," Hinzman said.
To learn more about the LGBTSU or how to get involved, visit www.fsu.edu/~activity/sga/lgbtsu/ . To learn more about Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, visit www.thetanuxi.org
(the link is at www.FSView.com)
Commented by Private I on October 16, 2005 12:03 AM