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2 - The Maroon Tiger - Nov. 5, 1974
Are You Pledging ?
Once again the time has come for our black brothers
to put their lives on the "line” for the glorification of
fraternal love. During this process, our black brothers
become Omega, Alpha, Kappa, and Sigma dogs in hopes
of arriving at black Greekhood. Upon crossing the burn
ing sands, our black brothers join the centuries
of Greeks who have gone on before us, and leave their
African heritage behind.
But let us take a deeper lock into these inappropriate
organizations. They have dedicated themselves to ser
vice of mankind and brotherhood, yet Quarles Court is
one of the most apathetic and untogether spots on cam
pus. In this area you have Omegas against Alphas,
Kappas against Sigmas and whatever other division you
could imagine. Although at this point a frat brother
might say, "but we are involved in campus activities.”
To this I would reply that in most cases the fraternities
attempt to rule and dominate organizations as if they
has been gifted with the divine right of Kings. They do
not see themselves as black brothers working on school
activities, but as Greeks who have condescended to aid
the struggling peons. Along these same lines is the
whole question of recruitment and attaining fraternal
membership. In this situation, we see the big brothers
developing an attitude which is a projection of a god
complex toward the pledgees. It seems as though many
of the big brothers take out their frustrations on the
prospective members. This type of humiliation which
the big brother perpetuates on the pledgee is unneces
sary and uncalled for. One would think that blacks would
realize that we as a people have been humiliated enough,
and that now it was time for us to be making plans on
how we will deal with the main humiliator (i.e. the
white man). Therefore we begin to see the fraternity as
a harmful factor to black ideological and practical pro
gress. What we also see is the fraternity has betrayed
its own principles in its lack of progressive involve
ment in campus activities. The fraternity has outlived
its usefulness. At the conception of fraternities, the
purpose was to serve as an avenue for the establish
ment of black unity on white campuses (example - -Al
pha Phi Alpha at Cornell). But today fraternities have
become the avenue of social expression and the repel-
ler of black unity. But the question that arises is why
and how do fraternities maintain membership?
There are' many answers for -this question. They are
as follows: 1) To be a part of an organization that has
friends in high places, therefore these people can help
one to get “over.” 2) To be able to hold their heads up
high because they are a Greek, not realizing that their
African heritage is much greater. 3) To merely be
able to party and jive with a labeled group of jive nig
gers; and 4) Finally, the whole view of the fraternity as
being a way to impress the opposite sex.
Therefore we see that the fraternity today is nothing
but another handicap for black college students. I will
have to point out that many Greeks I have talked to
have realized the uselessness of fraternities, and
often remark that they would not pledge if they had to
do it over again.
I will be glad when the day comes that black brothers
can transcend the idea that Greek membership per
petuates a foundation for manhood. When we will not
need this useless crutch to produce social and mental
stability. On that day of realization, we will be truly
proud of ourselves as a black people with a rich African
heritage. At this point, when you hear the term black
brother, it will become the expression of a reality and
not a rhetorical utterance.
This article has been inspired by my many friends
who are Greeks and who are thinking about becoming
Greeks. At one time this would have been an honorable
gesture, but today I question the usefulness of this
move. Even though I do not agree with this move, I
still maintain a brotherly respect and love for these
friends.
by Oluse Oluwa (Reprinted from Oct. 7, 1972)
Tha Maraoa Tiftr Staff
^Editor - Rick Powell
I Asst. Editor - Rick Abel
(Asst. Editor - Leslie Stewart
} Business Manager - Robert Alvin Bell
yLayout Production - MelVin Caldwell, Willie L. Webb
1 International News' - Derek Alphran, Avery Topps
(Features - Robert Alvin Bell,-Victor D. Brooks, Bridgett
Newkirk, Asa Yancey
^Sports - Henry Hackney
Reporters - James K. Bondo, Claude Jones, James W<
Palmer, Malcolm Smith, Louis Stokes
[Photography Donald Jefferson, Darren K. Martffre'Z'
Advisors - Dr. Luther X, Dr. Hamid Taqn and Dr. Carl
Spight
Miss Maroon & White 1974-75
by Leslie Stewart
The reigning Miss Ma
roon and White is Miss
Andrea Starr, a junior at
Spelman College. Miss
Starr is originally from
Newton, Massachusettes,
and is majoring in En-
lish. Her astrological
sign is Gemini, and she
is 21 years of age. This
concludes the biographi
cal fact sheet data on
Andrea, but when getting
into her personality one
finds that she is a very
deep, warm, and attract
ive sister.
Andrea describes her
self as being on the quiet
shy side-but she
can be drawn out by peo
ple. She likes people, and
likes to have a good time.
Her manner is very, very
natural and down to earth.
She was extremely
pleased with herself on
winning the title, and is
very excited about this
year. Andrea does not
I
!
Editor's Corner
I
i t
Though many of the newcomers to the A. U. commu
nity are not aware, those of us who have been here for
at least one year are very knowledgeable about changes
in the looks of things. New faces, new buildings and new
policies crop up every time we return. These new addi
tions to the A. U. community usually have a positive con
notation in terms of furthering the growth of our insti
tution in both body and spirit. But when these additions
take on a not-so-positive aspect, as in the case of our
newly arrived fence, many questions and ideas come to
mind.
Of course the new fence that extends down Fair Street
did not spring out of thin air. A committee of admini
stration, students, and faculty was formed a few semes
ters ago to investigate the possibilities of putting up the
fence. But it was not until the rash of on-campus bur
glaries, rapes, and assaults that occured during the
1973-1974 school year that the talks were put to any test.
During the summer of 1974 further steps were taken,
and in August of this year, students were greeted on
Fair Street with a life size, fence.
A fence in itself is no negative thing; steel wire/pipe
bent and overlapped in a particular fashion is not in
nately negative. But it’s in the purpose of a fence that
negativity abounds; the idea of keeping one out, or lock
ing one in.
To be perfectly honest, the fence is more of a state
ment than a real obstacle. Perhaps a better word than
statement is "deterent.” It tells would-be burglars and
rapists that "provisions have been set up to keep you
out so please don’t tread.” It also says to the commu
nity of black people who live on and beyond Fair Street
that “We are Morehouse, ana we are different than you,
so please don’t tread.”
It is obvious that we, the A. U. community do not want
to fall prey to hostile and confused individuals. But at the
same time, we do not want to fall prey to creating steel
barriers between ourselves and the many black people
who have lived on Fair, Beckwith, Jeptha and other
Streets for many years. The gap that already exists be
tween the college community and the community of black
people, academic and nonacademic, young and old, should
not be widened. That proverb about good fences make
good neighbors might not be so hip after all. Think about
it- Rick Powell, Editor ,...
have any particular plans
in mind, but she is eager
to serve and represent
Morehouse in any way
that she can.
Andrea’s career plans
include working awhile
after graduating, and
maybe going on to law
school. In her spare time,
she plays the violin in the
Spelman Wind ensemble.
Congratulations to Ms.
Starr, and may she have a
very successful year.
The Maroon Tiger Staff.