This entry will be a recap of other events ending the Spring 07 semester and others that happened in the Summer of 2007 as well. After discussing the macro-political structure of the society that influences college life, it’s important to look at its micro-political implications. It is also important to note that
ANY significant change in the general community will affect any internal smaller community... This is a discussion of
“community”Community (n.)
a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common interests or characteristics and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists
Our
“community” is unique (or perceivably so) from the rest our society. This differentiation could be the result of our enrollment status, our geographic location, our unique mixture of diverse socio-economic foundations, or a combination of the three… I like to believe that what adds to this dichotomy of “us” and “them” is the institution itself. For those of you reading that are NOT from UT, but have been a member of a community at a large-scale PWI (FBS League schools usually), this model of differentiation will probably translate to your community.
Generally speaking, people at UT feel that they are better… we have a better education, better networking, better (prospective) futures, better football team, better resources, better everything… we’re better and
“What starts here changes the world…” UT has groomed itself to be a reflection of U.S. bourgeois lifestyle (
middle class, yet fronting like it’s top notch). This introspective standard has been good for a few reasons. By separating the riff-raff from the progressive talent, the
“community” stood a better chance of surviving criticisms and judgments that could eventually lead to university policies NOT aimed at helping this community. However, in the midst of setting the standard, most of the community failed to meet it themselves. This is where our discussion starts…
the double standard of black college identity.
As a college student, you are expected to explore, branch out, try new things, and to excel in any endeavor that you embark upon; you are encouraged to use your membership as a part of the larger UT “community” to achieve progress. As a black student, these goals aren’t discouraged, yet rather detoured. The expectations made for black students who are actively (and usually vocally proclaimed) a part of the smaller black “community”, are based on a less individualistic goal… one that hints at a
utilitarianistic viewpoint for the in-group… to illustrate the sharp contrast, view the larger community to be based in capitalism and the smaller to be based in a more socialist policy option.
The larger capitalist society promotes the idea of individual pursuit, success, and reward. As a society they allow anybody access to TRY for these rewards, but the resources to actually be successful are held by few (in comparison to how many actually comprise the whole society). The more socialist group, by nature, believes its working purpose is to edify the whole. Where some can’t cut it, others pick up the slack in hopes that it will lead to this smaller “community” being elevated as a group within society. Those that prescribe to this purpose are an active part of the “community”… the stragglers aren’t excommunicated per se, rather they are dichotomized and labeled as deviants in order to reinforce the “common interest” of the community. Now-a-days you’ll hear these deviant individuals referred to as
outcasts/“coons”/hoes/[insert label of communal disrepute here]. Yup… But for the sake of discussion I will refer to them as the
“sideshow”.
The current problem, after many years have passed, is that the
“sideshow” of deviants have permeated their influences throughout the general society, and as a result, their differing viewpoints are now a portion of the mainstream “common interest” of the smaller community. The result is an interesting double standard that places the black student in conflict between choosing their community identity or their individuality.
Some would argue that if (a hypothetical) you are a part of the community, and you have an idea/issue/goal, then it is an idea/issue/goal of the community… this assertion is
FALSE. The community has already been defined by its “common interests” shared by the body… sadly, even if your interest isn’t malevolent or contrived, it is still a part of the “sideshow”. This means any notable cause outside of those specifically helping blacks progress on campus or in life, is a “sideshow” and thus isn’t recognized as a part of the community’s concern
(i.e. religious concerns, fight for homosexual equality, the need to express your less-than-bourgeois nature in public/coon it up). These “deviants” then try to create their own “communities” with their own “common interests”… at times they succeed, when they don’t, they are relegated to being the “lesser portion” of the holistic group.
Because of the confusion about what’s supposed to matter to each individual within the community, the community itself no longer has a scope on what its purpose or “common interest” is. Thus in order to emulate progress in time of
uncertain substance, the magnitude of certain occurrences’
significance is unjustifiably bolstered
(i.e. probates and the intake processes related to them, awards ceremonies that celebrate mediocrity, and student leadership tailored to a lack of “common interest”).
Now to the specifics of what this all means…
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In the Spring of 2007, there was the tragedy at Virginia Tech University. Not only did it cause students to be distantly sympathetic with the victims and students of VT, but it also force universities to revisit their rules and policies that promoted campus safety. This was a particularly soft spot for UT considering we’ve had an on-campus shooting as well (part of the reason why you must be authorized to visit the top of the tower).
Once you hear about something this sad/tragic, it SHOULD make you gain some type of perspective about the things that matter
(substance)… rather, our community is a subject to its own vices, namely
pride (which truly comes before the fall). We were so sure of ourselves and our significance that we never stopped to reevaluate why we were doing the things we were doing or what it all meant.
For example… myself… I received the Black Essence Award for Most Involved Male… but my GPA was yelling that I shouldn’t have been involved at all… regardless, I still looked at it as a success that I presided over an organization that was recognized as the most outstanding come the end of the year. I looked at it as a positive that it gave me networks and elevated my “significance” to a point that I was an unquestionable appointment for PSAC (The President’s Student Advisory Committee – a group of 12 students out of 50,000 who meet with the university President once a month). All of this still matters to me… it’s just sad that other things didn’t matter when they should have.
Conversely, there were things that I did care about that weren’t afforded to me either. In Spring 2007, I would run for NPHC President for the FIRST time. My opponent was a member of Zeta. This in no way is a slight against the individual or her organization, however truth be told their chapter was entering into the fall with ONE active member (the second would be studying abroad). Under SALD rules that would mean they weren’t even an active organization. In my platform I didn’t harp on or mention this because I didn’t want to downtalk my opponent, rather just promote the ideas I had. I was subsequently NOT voted for despite the fact I just mentioned. In the end, the President resigned and the Vice President was moved into her position. It was a wasted election if you ask me. This is where I started to build my contempt for the Greek community… as individuals they could excel… but as a group, they make some dumb ass decisions. I really didn’t want to be considered “Greek” any longer. I didn’t mind being an Alpha… but “Greek”…
PLEASE DON’T LUMP ME IN WITH THOSE DUMB MUTHAFUCKAS, I’m not a part of that “community”… if people think I’m harsh, tell me one positive thing that you’ve seen a group of “greeks” do on OUR campus… now tell me how many debacles, fights, drama filled experiences, and broken relationships you’ve seen caused or (mis)handled by “greeks”… if that doesn’t prove that they are some Dumb MFs… then it just proves that people were admitting dumb MFs into their orgs…
I digress…
Zeta wasn’t the only org experiencing dwindling numbers. All of the AKAs on campus graduated, Phi Beta Sigma was graduating its members without intake as well, and because they didn’t have a line Delta would but reduced to a chapter with only ONE “active” prophyte by the Summer of 07 (it’s never a good thing to have no prophytes)…
With the orgs disappearing, peoples' attitudes towards certain campus practices started to change. The vehicle through which most things were made commonplace was now breaking down.
One practice had effectually died by this summer (still used, but not as often)…
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The Church v. Circus
One of the most recognizable types of communities is
the church… originally established as a communal building for religious practices, the church has become the hub of American society. It shapes opinions, behaviors, mannerisms, and ideologies. It serves the “common interests” of its membership.
In my freshman year, and well into my sophomore year, it was common practice for organizations to take carpools of students to church on the Sunday of their week. This wasn’t exclusive to greeks, EVERY other org did this as well. The troubling issue here is that those organizations were also ran and monitored by greeks for their potential membership. The most popular church was
Greater Mount Zion (GMZ).
Now apart from my own personal opinions against this church, I just can’t support it at all. The sideshow is too prevalent in the church… it’s a
circus.
The
circus is not holy, the
circus does not invoke the spirit, the
circus is in fact a perversion of why we should be in the
church (For those of you not catching this... it is an extended metaphor)... Now some may argue that any way you can get people in church you should… but that’s not true… If a woman goes around sleeping with men in return for a promise that they’ll attend church, I’m pretty sure they’re not trying to get saved. It’s an inconsistent message… likewise if you’re only going to church because you want to go greek, you should chill that out because
1) I’m pretty sure it’s not a good compromise of morals to gain a network, 2) EVERYBODY notices that you’re sitting next to all of the other IGs…especially since the pictures that were taken after service would be on facebook by Monday, 3) if you are ever motivated to go to church, let it be to fulfill your spirit and please God, not to please the people who plan to whoop your ass…
Furthermore, beyond greek drama, GMZ is the breeding ground for messiness… every week, you can get visual confirmation of stories you heard throughout the week… who broke up and who is talking now (
cuz they’re [not] at church together), who got beat up this week (
in church with their bruises and scratches), or who is playing the church folk for boo boo the fool (
in all the ministries, while everybody’s all up in THEM during the week… yea I went there).
The point is, churches themselves are communities…
GMZ was a parallel community to UT, sharing many of its members, and thus its strengths and its weaknesses. In fact, it was built this way… the pastor caters to the student population of his church as if they are the permanent membership… as if they wouldn’t/shouldn’t be gone in 3-6 years. And thus… to sustain this membership, he relied on their networks to promote optimal attendance (
inviting [greek] orgs to bring their members/prospects). I’m not sure if he ever knew he was contributing to
“community malpractice” by requesting this… probably never will either.
One positive thing GMZ and other churches like it did give to campus was the ability to have a Christian identity in a mainstream society. GMZ and its community helps to sustain the existence of organizations such as Texas Gospel Fellowship (TGF) and IVGC (because their singers were usually GMZ members). It did (and still does) lend itself to be a church home, where the word is spoken and taught. I just personally don't agree with the thematic choices of sermon that the pastor decides to go with (
he talks alot about sex... simply because he has a college audience. I don't think its necessary as oft as he speaks of it), but there is a whole congregation that does... but I say this to say that the church can stand alone without the presence of the circus, but it's always there.
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The
circus isn't a stationary group... they move around; they go to church and every where else where "everybody" is... and all of the
CLOWNS that inhabit the circus migrate place to place, imposing the negative affects of their "funny" business on the observing audiences... whom if they buy into it are turned into
CLOWNS as well... Usually the sideshow is compromised of individuals… strangely enough,
CLOWNS exhibit a trend known as
“group think” (where a group will agree on contentions for the sake of preventing conflict).
It's important to note this group of
"group thinkers" 1) do NOT think for themselves in fear that they won't be a part of the norm, 2) let the "group" think for them and thus turn a collection of community assumptions into "social fact", 3) never admit that they have conceded their ability to think as sentient beings... all the while criticizing those who don't agree with the "group".This fear of being outside of the “sideshow” group is alarming because it appears the “sideshow” now dominates the common interest of the community… the circus is dominating the church…
THE KING'S LAW: Once the sideshow becomes the voice of the community, the common interest is skewed and thus the community (as it was meant to exist) is DEAD.Some believe that communities are living groups that can change their characteristics… this is contrary to the definition of the concept. If the common interest is changed, the community isn’t changed… rather it is abandoned and a new community is formed. This is the
ONLY acceptable explanation for what happens to communities because a simply change shouldn’t alienate members of the community… if it does, that means that the change wasn’t made in the spirit of “common interest” and thus is
NOT applicable to the community in question.
In short…
your sideshow should never dominate your community, because once it does, you don’t have a community any longer.
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This can applied to the analysis on Greek life I discussed last entry… truth is, there are TWO greek communities right now:
the traditional group and
the contemporary group. They are simultaneously a part of a larger community, but don’t let that confuse you… they clearly have mutually exclusive common interests that impair their abilities to act as one group.
Well at this point, I’m guessing you’re wondering who the “sideshow” is??? It depends on which side you’re on… however, sometimes it is painfully apparent whose goal is built for the progress of common substance, and whose actions are extensions of deviant significance.
As I exited the Spring of 07, I was transitioned in as the new Parliamentarian of the Big XII Council on Black Student Government. The last meeting of the year, which was held at the
University of Oklahoma in Norman, was short a few exec members. Noticeably, we were off to a rough start… Noticeably, the missing exec members were from
Oklahoma State University… Noticeably, they were members of Alpha.
Turns out
(not that I didn’t already know this… I mean… I’m Tony…) that they had fallen under an investigation back in February when we were at the Big XII Conference. The pending implications threatened academic expulsion and
the works (eff’d up transcript, criminal record, thus no financial aid). These dudes obviously had no interest in student leadership at this point, they were trying to save their own necks (and I can’t blame them for that). As a result, they had effectually removed themselves from the common interest of the Big XII community… but what were we supposed to do about our exec board? What about the council??? Everybody else at the meeting knew why the others weren’t there… it seemed to be the entire focus of the meeting… well that and the fact that the OU delegation was semi-absent throughout the day because their BSA was co-sponsoring a stepshow with their NPHC.
Where was the “common interest”?
I couldn’t tell you… but the sideshow was directly in front of my face and all around me. This was all in the midst of a coup being staged by the VPs of the various Big XII institutions… the recent history of the conference was reputable for its substance AND significance, however each conference would exceed its budget leaving behind considerable debt for the host institution. The VPs were arguing that the conference needed to be cancelled until it could guarantee it would not run a
RED budget. Dr. Lilly sided with the Big XII in the discussions, but made it very clear to me that any business regarding the Big XII must be handled with extreme diligence… its existence was actually in jeopardy. It didn’t help that the next conference was to be held at OSU and we now had no proper representation from them in the council… morale was low, but at least we got a step show that weekend
*sarcasm*…
FML… in fact - F!@# our collective lives…------------------------------------------------
Moving back to the campus, we still had national happening affecting our general way of life. ESPN analysts were debating in grave detail the implications of
Michael Vick's arrest and impending conviction for killing dogs. We’re still hearing the echoes of those tirades and rants today.
As a member of PSAC, what I found was bothering our University President was
the string of arrests involving members of the UT football team over the summer. He was actually 30 minutes late to a meeting because he was being interviewed by ESPN. The issue wasn’t actually the arrests… it was the implications surrounding them. Every university with an athletic program will attempt to justify its players’ academic intentions and their support for them by tracking academic progress and providing them scholarships/stipends to ease the ills and stresses of college life… Truth is these dudes don’t register for their own classes, (with a few exceptions) they are placed into courses of study that don’t have a high “success” yield after graduation, and their grades are usually inflated in order to evidence their supposed academic effort. I’m not saying this happens for/to every athlete, but at the point where it EVER happens, those athletes are no longer serving the “common interest” of education… they are now the “sideshow” of the university.
However, this “sideshow” of athletes
leads the nation in revenue produced off of their talent ($74 Million annually from the football team alone). That’s a lot of do-re-me… this sideshow was definitely running aspects of the community that “student leaders” could never even touch with their breath.
What’s worse is that this “sideshow” was not a subpart of the larger black “community” but of the UT community. This didn’t stop the black community from being perceived differently… the most visible black students that supposedly work as ambassadors to the university community were getting arrested, what message did that send about all blacks at UT? The black non-athletic student population was indeed pissed. But our concerns couldn’t be relayed to the athletes… they didn’t share our common interest, they didn’t care… It didn’t help that Dr. Moore supported them in spite of their public discrepancies… we had 6 Michael Vicks/PacMan Jones/etc. on campus and the
“collegiate thugs” were claiming their space on campus for their own community…
on the football field.
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On the academic side… The Lock-In Planning committee was getting things going again. No need to rehash everything… just note that this is the first time I knew of alcohol being present at the Lock-in. No “common interest” served there… yup…
ya’ll mofos were the sideshow. However, in the planning process, Mrs. Burt (then the director of the MIC) attempted to nip the problem in the bud and cancel as much of the sideshow’s exhibition as possible; she checked GPAs prior to approving the list of upperclassmen attendees (she did this back in February for the Big XII conference as well)… some students felt that she fronted them out and her supervision in this right was unnecessary. For those who fell upon hard times, extenuating circumstance, etc, I agree with you… but if things are all that bad, should you be worried about going to
(drinking at) the lock-in right now? Probably not… Plus… somebody of respectable influence had to call-out the
unenrolled/”backpackers” for pretending to still be a part of the “community”… sad story, but a prerequisite to being
IN the community is being a student
(this means that even Alumni are not actually a part of this community).
Some didn’t understand why this committee needs to be beyond disrepute… this committee asks for a lot of money from a lot of different places… around $10,000 total in my day as programs co-chair. This money was supposed to be sponsored by the DDCE (Dr. Vincent’s office), however due to some confusion it wasn’t. [This is the beginnings of what would become a dysfunctional relationship between the student community and his office.] Somehow, Some way, it always gets pulled together… it’s just sad that it’s not more controlled or organized or strict for that matter… things just kind of happen, and people let them… and then… they tell everybody about it.
One of the most memorable happenings of this summer was a very descript email sent out on the Lock-In listserv that detailed meeting minutes from a summer Delta general body meeting. The email disclosed information about whom was active and inactive, details for future events, and the pre-process “busy” work they had planned for prospective new members. Once everybody on the list-serv got the email, they immediately forwarded it to friends and colleagues – it was too late to fix. However, the sender of the email had the list-serv admin shut down the email group in hopes that nobody would be able to retrieve it thereafter (but it was already in they’re inboxes… SMH).
Before the start of the Fall semester she would resign from her presidency of the sorority… all of this was made public… and you guessed it, it’s all a part of the “sideshow”.
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Was it her fault that the email fell into the wrong hands? Yes… was it her fault that her chapter was discussing things that nobody outside of the chapter would find acceptable? Yes and no… but for now she would suffer all of the consequence for the problem. This is just one example of the ass-backwards thinking of our supposedly-educated community. When most people have problems, they resort to finding solutions – a way to fix what is wrong or prevent it from happening again. At UT, we instead look for a scapegoat… Now why is it that a community believes by pointing the finger at who was wrong and telling everybody about it, that the problem will be fixed or prevented?
Let’s say I spill some water… somebody slips and busts their ass. Everybody points the finger at me and now everybody knows it’s my fault… will that stop the next person from spilling water? Or the next clumsy person from busting their ass? It’s not even counter-intuitive… it’s just not intuitive at all. Then again, the
CLOWNS of the sideshow/circus are not expected to think for themselves... so that means finding and implementing a solution is up to the community/church right?
But what happens when the church feels it cannot exist without the circus?
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As I move into the Fall 07 semester, I’ll explore this imbalance of accountability and how the sideshow (which reveals itself as a separate community) has dominated the common interest of the general population to the point that a solution is no longer even desired.
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