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111 THE MAROON TIGER
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2003
COMMENT
READER’S THOUGHTS
To (he Editor
A slight breeze blows as I rest my
legs on one of the benches on the strip
on this cool fall afternoon. No work
today, so I’m just relaxing and enjoying
the wind and scenery. As I recline, I
read an article in the Maroon Tiger
about the young brother who took his
life on our campus a short while back.
Although I already knew of this tragedy,
it still saddens me to read this; to think
of a brother around my age, in the prime
of his life, burdened to the point where
he could see no other alternative. As I
read, it occurs to me that I am lucky
and blessed. That we are all lucky and
blessed.
I’m a twenty-two year old black
male in his fourth year of college at one
of the best liberal arts institutions in the
nation (no matter what USNews says).
I own my car, although not flashy and
sitting on twenty-two’s, it’s mine. Ilive
in an apartment shared with my two
roommates; although not MTV Cribs
worthy, it is ours. I have a job, and even
though it doesn’t pay six figures a year,
it pays the bills. When I sit and think of
it all, it makes me smile.
Yes, even though I’m sure I’ll be
paying off all of these Morehouse and
(hopefully) law school debts for years
to come, I smile. Why? Because there
is some brother or sister out there who
is dying to sit in the seats we fill.
Although I’m not iced out and can’t
sport three-pieced suits, Rocawear, and
the latest Sean John threads on a daily
basis, I smile. Why? Because there is
some poor child out there who only has
a tattered rag to cover him or herself.
Although I see brothers glaring at me
and sisters cutting their eyes at me
because I’m rocking some ‘House’ nalia
in their neck of the woods, I smile.
Why? Because some child somewhere
begs for attention from anyone, and
does anything to get it, yet my rival peers
give it to me so freely.
My point is one that has been said
before, and that will surely be said again.
We are all supremely blessed and should
cherish each day. Cherish the tough days
when you get that “C” on the test after
studying all week. When that girl
you’ve been after ices and iggs you,
smile. When you come to your car to
see that bright orange shoe on it, or that
it’s been towed, smile. Life is a grand
journey of accomplishments and
mishaps, mountains and valleys; smile
for it all. Another day on earth is another
day to be thankful for keeping us on
this side and not the other. So remember
when it rains; when that rude brother
'steps on your new limbs; when that
sister calls you Kevin instead of Tun
(now you know those two names ain’t
even alike), smile for it all. Life is a gift,
not promised forever, and not to be
taken for granted. So think of your
blessings and smile.
Tfoy JoileS ‘04 ’ * '
©Printed op Tec^cled paper * *
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THE MAROON TIGER
The Organ of Student Expression Since 1925
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
CHRISTIAN NWACHUKWU, JR, ‘04
TIMOTHY J. CUNNINGHAM, ‘04, Managing Editor
COLIN HOSTEN, ‘04, Copy Editor
NEWS
JAMES PENDLETON, ‘05, Campus News
NICHOLAS AUSTIN, ‘06, Associate Campus News Editor
JONATHAN BLOCKER, ‘06, Associate Campus News Editor
MARCUS NEWMAN, ‘05, World & Local Editor
DEMOND DRUMMER, ‘05, Associate World & Local Editor
JOHN THOMAS, ‘04, Associate World & Local Editor
SPORTS
KYLE S. YELDELL, ‘05, Sports Editor
AMIN MASSEY, ‘04, Sports Editor
EDITORIAL
SAIDA GRUNDY, Comment Editor
NICHOLAS SNEED, ‘06, Associate Comment Editor
FEATURES
MARC MUNEAL, ‘04, Features Editor
LLOYD H. JOHNSON, II, ‘04, Associate Features Editor
ARTS
SAM WYCHE, ‘04, Arts Editor
ANTHONY COLN, ‘06, Associate Arts Editor
SWING
SAM BERESFORD, ‘04, Swing Editor
PHOTOGRAPHY
ROBERT GAINES, ‘06, Photography Editor
ONLINE
ANTOINE HESTER, ‘04, Online Editor
DESIGN
ASHTON DUNN, ‘05, Layout Editor
JAMIE SWIFT, Graphic Design Editor
P. JUSTIN FORD, ‘05, Cartoonist
BUSINESS
JEFFREY TATE, ‘04, Business Manager
BRIAN SHIELDS, ‘06, Advertising Manager
To the editor
“Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a
pattern of repetitive thoughts and behaviors that
are senseless and distressing but extremely difficult
to overcome...” (National Institute of Mental
Health)
Have you noticed the symptoms of OCD
recently being demonstrated at Morehouse and
Spelman? Newspaper headlines proclaim, “I Want
to Be Greek When I Grow Up;” entire issues are
dedicated to ‘ ‘Greek life.’ ’ This topic has been raised
in almost every issue of our campus papers. Have
you noticed the fixation? There is a buzz of
continual questions and comments, making this
thing, “Greekhood,” so much more than what it is
or should be. Obsessive-compulsive behavior
causes individuals to contribute to their own
paranoia, creating delusional states of mind. The
symptoms are obvious, and we are definitely
suffering.
It’s really exhausting to see and hear the
constant talk of Greek this and Greek that, Beef
here and Beef there, when there are so many other
things going on in the world. We are not concerned
about the real beef; about the way our government
Greek Life
is taking siege in another land for the purpose of
so-called “reconstruction,” which is actually the
infrastructure of American ways and customs being
shoved onto another culture. Sound familiar? Or
what about the fact that African Americans suffer
most from the ongoing vice of police brutality. We
do not get angry that half a continent is dying from
an incurable, devastating disease while the US and
other wealthy countries sit on treatments barricaded
by the pharmaceutical industry. Where is the beef
with the companies that would allow a whole
cultural and ethnic group to be disrespected for
entertainment purposes? That’s what beef is, or at
least what it should be.
For some reason we are more intrigued by
who’s wearing what and who wants to pledge what,
and just plain people-watching. Why? Come on
Spelman Women and Men of Morehouse! For
brothers and sisters with so much education let’s
dig a little deeper. Let’s ask ourselves why we are
so nit-picky, why we are always tearing each other
down, why are we always concerned about the
things that distinguish and separate ourselves?
Why our peers are killing themselves? Why we
are doing the work of our enemies? There’s no
longer a need for overt forms of racism to hold us
back. We are inhibiting ourselves! We need to be
concerned about those commonalities that bring
us together, that will help us to build up our
community, instead of having the warped mindset
that anything degrading to our people should not
be interpreted as a serious attack.
In the bigger scheme of things, our culture is
dying. We’ve replaced a culture of purpose with a
culture of materialism and commodification.
Everyday it becomes harder to define what black
culture is because of the misrepresentations,
misinterpretations, and the continuing aim of others
to tell us what our culture is. And we let it go on.
In our college community we are obsessing, and
compulsively dealing with things that are decidedly
minute. Is Greek life our only concern? Or better
yet, are we only concerned with the business of
other people? I’m begging that we wake up and
seek help. We may not be able to change every
single person’s behavior, but we could start by each
person individually upholding some integrity. All
those who agree, work to invoke change, I’m
begging you, please.
Kimberly Humphrey ‘04, Spelman
To the editor:
Why is it that so many Men of Morehouse
have a negative perception of fraternities? Is it
because of the distorted images of fraternities
presented in movies like School Daze and
Animal House? Or is the negativity caused by
the exaggerations frequently presented by the
media, who would lead you to believe that every
fraternity tries to murder you as part of the intake
process? No matter the source, I encourage
fellow Men of Morehouse to look beyond the
stereotypes and see fraternities for what they
really are: groups of confident, intelligent
movers and shakers who are dedicated to
achieving their personal best and improving
their communities.
Admittedly, I had a mixed perception of
fraternities when I first came to Morehouse. On
the one hand, several of the influential men in
my life are proud members of Kappa Alpha Psi,
it really means to be a fraternity member upon
me. On the other hand, it seemed as if one just
had to watch the TV news for a few minutes to
see a sad story about someone being injured or
worse as a result of hazing. I’m the type of
person who can’t stand to leave things in a gray
area, so I made a point of my time at Morehouse
to observe and socialize with members of
various fraternities to get to the black-and-white
of the issue.
Over the years, I have been intrigued by
my observations. Far from being self-centered
and content with mediocrity, fraternity members
seem to be smart, ambitious people who do
indeed care deeply about the world around
them, at times more so than the very people
who criticize them. Contrary to popular belief,
most frat members do not see non-Greeks as
second-class human beings; in my experience,
as aspiring leaders, many fraternity members
• try to make a point of interacting with diverse', •.
groups of people. Come to think of it, these
observations make logical sense: it takes a lot
of effort to become a frat brother, and only
highly motivated men who can build strong
social networks have a decent chance of
becoming members, so fraternity members are
by definition extroverted achievers.
Are there fraternity members who solely
live in the jacket and do their best to keep the
stereotypes alive? Unfortunately, the answer is
yes, but those people represent only a very small
part of a fraternity’s membership, and are not
exemplars of the behaviors or attitudes of the
organization itselfi Take the time to talk to or
socialize with fraternity members, and you’ll
find yourself knocking down yet another of
life’s false preconceived notions. And isn’t that
the point of going to college in the first place?
Everton Earl Morris,’04.
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