It's funny watching this movie, and thinking I can't relate at all... But if you watch the movie, and know that Rachel Witchburn is a Greek, and her plan is to make the campus Greek dominated, I wonder... Why is it that people are so willing to have all of the "power" in the hands of so few? I dont know.... maybe ya'll can tell me?
As I entered into my new position in Greek life, I was relieved yet astonished to find out Greek organizations are still just organizations... the only difference is (if we're doing it right) we have a strong connection to each other outside of our business. As far as business goes, we meet like an organization, and do everything else like a normal organization. But outside of the business is where the "glamour" comes from. The strong sense brotherhood, high interpersonal comfort level... it basically makes it seem as if you've known these people for longer than 2 years... it works to accelerate your understanding of these individuals... it really is a spectacular thing.
However... the "public glamour" wasn't what it used to be... You seen me talk about the success of the previous Icebreaker stepshows... at this point the quality started to decline. The reason why I think is because stepping just wasn't a priority any longer. By the Fall of 06, all of the stepping-circuit teams from UT were idle. One reason my chapter didn't step that year was because I had to be in Colorado for a Big XII meeting. The reason I bring up Icebreaker, is because for me, it was my REAL introduction to the social benefits and allure of Greek Life... it simply wasn't there anymore.... if you hadn't noticed the lack of info about new lines in the last blogs... it's because they WEREN'T there... Spring 06 brought in the largest line the campus had seen in 2 years, and after that there was a drought. This was the longest intake hiatus period for a lot chapters in recent UT history:
AKA - 4 semester hiatus (Sp 05 - Fa 07)
DST - 6 semester hiatus since Sp 06
ZPhiB - 6 semester hiatus (Fa 05 - Sp 08)
Omega - 6 semester hiatus (Sum 04 - Sp 07)
Sigma - 8 semester hiatus since Sp 05
This was the last thing some expected since the year prior was the first time in at least 4 years that we had 8 active NPHC chapters on the yard... but as one of my fellow UT Oldheads put it in a recent conversation: "When we had all 8 Greeks back, the levees broke..."
Interesting that he would say that, because I forgot a very important community history moment in the Fall 05... Hurricane Katrina... many students in Louisiana were essentially sent off to other colleges because their institutions were closed for the semester. We got a good number of them over at UT, it actually helped strengthen the dynamic of some of our organizations because people felt we were actually helping the community and building each other up... It's part of the reason BSA continued to do well despite having a disorderly exec board... it's also another reason why Kappa programs were uber-successful, Fun events + sad students = good job.
We transitioned through the year and the N.O. students dipped back to their respective institutions, and as I discussed last time, people started fighting for their significance/substance (SS)... of course it's always a difficult fight when preparing to transition into new leadership... the best time to make an impact is in the Fall, if your org hasn't done anything by then, you'll have a BAD YEAR because 1) nobody is going to become a new member in the spring, rather they'll leave if they don't like it, 2) you will usually lose some of your more members to being "busy" in the spring, 3) the spring has alot more calendar events that will take away from people's consistent attendance (either due to working to afford things, or just because they stay busy or gone, i.e. Conferences, Valentines Day, Spring Break, Relays, Easter).
But the levees broke figuratively that year as well... an outflow of a random desire to compete filled the community... something which I never understood. Some Greeks will defend this saying it's all in good fun and that the competition drives us to become better... that's some BS. I wanted to go Greek to expand my networks, not to have them cut off... I joined to build on relationships with people and increase my resources, not to play the crab in a barrel game. I'm too old for that, but some of the young'ns are actually taught that this is why they have committed themselves to 3 letters and some colors... they gave up a semester of productivity, wellness, happiness, and in most cases stability, so that they could have unstable relationships with people who look like them afterward? Sounds like Willie Lynch to me... It has always amazed me how much people wanted to create divisions and dichotomies... I'm guessing because that separation makes them feel "significant", I'm for damn certain "substance" has nothing to do with it.
But that didn't stop other organizations from stepping up to the plate... African Students Association (ASA) started off the year in the Daily Texan as the most outstanding organization, and Fest Africa (as usual) was a great event. This was a time when non-Africans were embracing their differences with this culture from abroad and realizing that there are still a lot of similarities... People seemed to quickly forget about the "I AM NOT AN AKATA" T-shirts that were being sold on campus the year before (Fall 05)... (FYI: Akata is a word of Nigerian origin that refers to a widely accepted stereotype of Blacks in the Continental US; this stereotype characterizes us as a lazy, do-nothing, will-not-succeed, complacent people... current American translation is "coon", controversy arose because it's not meant to be used by continental blacks, but they were purchasing the shirts).
ATX Most Wanted was popularized in the first couple of years I was at UT, but it started to gain its real popularity around the time I was "busy"... Jerod Couch (whom is not a black student, but is an appreciator of hip-hop) helped put together what is now one of the best venues for students to explore the work in their area of study (communications) or interest (hip-hop). Before this show, all of the shows on TSTV were themed for, made by, and made for whites audiences... by Fall of 06, this show was voted the best public access program in Austin. When you see what the show is doing now, try not to look at the surface, look at what it is doing to help students mature and develop themselves into individuals that will be ready for the working world.
There are more organizations that deserve a spotlight, but the point is that organizations were made to fulfill purposes and to meet the needs of those who subscribed to the purpose. Once organizations stop moving towards that purpose, they lose their utility. As a result that stop moving towards substance and start working for significance to supplement the gruesome and very harsh fact that nothing that they do really matters.... FACT - the UT Black community has organizations that are existing solely for the purpose of futility. Check out the mission statements of all of the organizations you've supported, participated with, or have observed... and then ask yourself if they meet that mission... If you ask a member what the org's mission statement is, and they don't know, then that proves my point (you can find the mission statements here, even though they are abbreviated on this website).
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Another new development within the community was a connection that was being built with HTC/HTU (depending on when you got to Austin). I know for a fact that me and my LB's (shout out to Falil and Q) would take trips to HT for TGIF and meet new people, pub for our events, and be social with our people. This was a shift (at least for me) because of the strict separations UT placed between us. HISTORY: AACC used to have an event called SOUL NIGHT. This event goes back to the 70s. In my freshman year, we had Soul Night once a month... Sophomore year it was twice a semester. It's basically a party, on campus, and its free. No alcohol, but we didn't need it to have fun... I had fun... problem was that it was on the decline by the time I attended any of them. They used to be open to the public and thus HT students would attend, thus making the black community seem that much more "fill in the blank". They would eventually require a UT ID to get in and restrict Greeks from strutting/strolling/taking it around due to fights that began to erupt at these events. Soul Night Died in the school year we're about to discuss.
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AND WE BEGIN....
Every new class has a trend... My class... I dont know what it was cuz I wasn't there to see the class before me, but I heard we weren't as much of a party class as the ones before us. The class after me was a party class, but they were also very communal and into social interaction and acceptance. The new class had a geographic trend... alot of mofos from Houston-Madison. Houston Madison Alum - Vince Young's recent success in the Rose Bowl caused the admissions office to jump to, noticing that students would have an interest in UT, and thus they took as many as they could. How many Class of 06 people at UT do you know from Houston Madison?... just an interesting fact.
At UT, the school year begins on a Wednesday, which gives the impression that the short week is less relevant and thus justifies parties/social events being thrown on every evening up until the next Tuesday (because Monday is Labor Day). There are usually parties and such leading into Monday, where the AKAs traditionally threw an event called Labor Day Splash. I liked going to this event... call me crude or perverted, but what young man wouldn't enjoy looking at attractive women walk around in bikini's and grass skirts?.... Zakly...
This year's event should've been affectionately labeled the "Labor Day Smash"... I lived in Ballpark this year, and that's where the event was. Before I get to the part ya'll are waiting for me to talk about... I'm going to revisit my theories on dumb public actions... OF COURSE, if you have interest in a Greek organization you should attend the events so that you have knowledge of them... but DO NOT simply hang around all of the other people that you sat next to at the last interest meeting... it is SO obvious.... okay back off my soapbox.
The AKAs and Deltas have members that are friends across "enemy lines"... however they also had members who shared "intimate interests" in mutual partners... not to suggest any slutaciousness on the women's part... but this wouldn't be the first or last time that a man on campus had bounced from one person to another... So... he was done with one, and with the other, but that was only one component of it... a long history of rumors that they would mess with the "opposing" sorority during "busy" time also fueled a general HATE (as opposed to "hate") for the other group. At any rate, I'll be frank... the Deltas started it and summarily lost it; evidence: the AKA involved is very fair skinned and thus any resulting blemish would have been very visible... I didn't see it. You had to see it to notice how ridiculous it was... and this was the freshmen's first huge memory of the year. The problem with fights is that they are no longer considered isolated incidents... EVERYBODY HEARS ABOUT THEM... other students, other schools, other sorority members (important ones), some of them might actually be... i dont know... maybe the DEAN OF STUDENTS...
Dr. Soncia Reagans-Lilly was hired as Associate VP and Dean of Students to The University of Texas at Austin right at the end of Sp 06. This was a huge deal... first of all because she was black, and second of all because she was Greek (AKA)... this means she understood a great deal about our community before hand and would be able to relate with us on certain issues. She was one of 3 new "minority" VPs to be hired by UT... the other 2 were Dr. Gonzales (VP of Student Affairs) and Dr. Vincent (an Alpha and VP of "the diversity office"... it has a real name, but it changed in the middle of this year so I'll clarify it later).
Dr. Lilly wasn't too happy to hear about this happening... she also wasn't to happy to hear about what COULD'VE been a fight in the middle of Jester, but ended as an argument between the Kappas and the Alphas over what WE believed to be a disrespectful display of our letters on their website... is it really worth FIGHTING for? Meh... maybe... maybe not... but it's not worth provoking anybody either. As BSA President I met with Dr. Lilly at least once a month to discuss issues in our community as well as issues in SG (more on that later). She always seems genuinely concerned about our well being (our meaning whoever she's talking to, and the community). Every student should try to meet her (email her for an appointment, but have a reason in the email, and write it professionally, SALUTATION, INTRO, BODY, CONCLUSION, SIGNATURE).
Everything else seemed to have started out the right way tho... meetings happened... programs happened... and then...
Alpha Week happened... now this is important to me, cuz it was my first week as an Alpha, and because of the background on the planning. Most Neos are considered the work horses for their organizations, and they pretty much carry out the wishes of their "wiser" prophytes (big bros/sisters). For us, it didn't work that way... I was a part of a relatively smaller chapter (7 strong), which meant everybody had a bigger part to play and had more autonomy in the frat. As neos, we not only worked, we organized, planned, and ultimately decided what was going to happen. Our President for that year didn't hamper us from doing it our way (after all, EI-Sp06's leadership resume was hella-beasty, still not matched by another line in any org since then).
Most notably we were able to plan ACTUAL co-sponsorships throughout the year (at least 3 with BSA, helps to be Pres). The only one that didn't go too too well was one with BBSA, by the time we got to Alpha week, I had quit participating in BBSA activities because I didn't feel I could add anything (especially since I wasn't to confident at the time)... and was voted off of the exec board (i was happy).
One program that went really well and was still at its peak was the DATE AUCTION... we threw the first one of the year... in the spring Umoja and ASA would also have successful date auctions. This event is nowhere near as successful as it used to be... it catches too much scrutiny from the Afrocentric educated crowed because they HATE the idea of blacks selling each other for profit. Students would also become increasingly CHEAP over the years thus restricting them from charitable giving. Who misses the days of auction-fights that end up with a final bid of $200+... event $300+... (HISTORY FACT: NSBE once planned a date auction that was not approved by the School of Engineering, and thus it had to be cancelled, because money had already been spent on the event, Phi Beta Sigma placed their name on the event so it could still happen and thus NSBE still got some cash.... look at community team work).
Anyway, I was simultaneously juggling positions in 3 organizations... one of which was SG. Now if you want to be in SG, their meetings are open. Just go to the Glenn Maloney room on Tuesday nights at 7 PM... if you don't, and you happen to get voted in, you will be LOST. I never understood how I could make an impact in SG until some bad shit happened later in the semester (coming soon). But I did realize how SG could impact me. There are alot of important people tied to SG, and rumor had it that the long term advisor was asked to step down in order to better organize student services. The new advisor was to be Dean Lilly. Some people didn't like this and were ALLEGEDLY conspiring to get her fired before her probationary period on her appointment as VP was finished. I never found out if this was true or not, but it sure did drain my life of time and energy for a good 2-3 weeks (20% of my semester)... having secret meetings with other student leaders from other communities trying to keep somebody who we liked in her position. Sadly because I dont know if the rumors were true, I can't say if the work we did prevent her termination... all I can say is, it was my first introduction to "Eyes of Texas" which if you followed this last (2009) SG election, you know something about.
The Multicultural Information Center housed many of the meetings, however we had to keep their name out of it. One of their agencies had released a comprehensive study that outlined the quality of student life for a specific identity group called the APAC (Asian Desi Pacific Islander American Collective) Report. Unfortunately, it was met with public criticism because some students disagreed with its findings. This lead to conflicts, arguments, and quarrels that were not resolved quickly and as a result helped the MIC gain a negative reputation as the "campus whiners". This placed any underrepresented population at a disadvantage when needing support for a cause.
The Black community would end up needing that support around September/October when a couple of parties off campus, involving students, succumbed to facebook phenomenon and posted their pictures online. . . these troubling photos would be of caucasian individuals dressed in blackface and acting out characitures of African-American stereotypes.... we were obviously PISSED. The saddest fact about the "UNITY" of our community is that we only come together to show our ass, or when somebody is making an ass of us. But we did come together, and using facebook, I started a group called "Students Against Ignorance" in order to organize a rally of students to speak publicly at the next Student Government meeting... now... I'm sure some of the folks didn't appreciate being blind-sided, but the FBgroup gained so much attention that SG soon found out and alloted a full session to allow students to speak out.
There were two parties, one involving law school students, and another where a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity was present and dressed in the insulting garb. Students were calling for university level action to create a precedent in dealing with social justice issues... it became my new cause... unfortunately, it was a fight short lived. Similar to the "Cowboys and Native Americans Party" or the "Pimps and Hoes" party, they would happen, be discussed and debated, and then be shrugged off as if they never happened... only for the to happen again the next year. It was at this point that I realized for ME, if I ever truly wanted to be comfortable on campus, it wouldn't come by being one with the rest of the university, I wanted to be one with my people... Anything I did beyond that would only be insurance for the rest of my community to gain resources in the future... it was evident to me that UT was not and is not built for OUR comfort... but that shouldn't stop us from using them to our benefit.
This wasn't unique to UT. A&M had a student post a very graphic video depicting a slavery whipping posted on the internet... their Univ President gave a very weak written response and the event was shrugged off as he was appointed the new U.S. Secretary of Defense (after Rumsfeld's resignation). Similar incidents happened Baylor, Univ. of Nebraska Lincoln, Univ. of Missourri, and at least 5 other major Predominantly White Institutions in the same semester... it was getting ridiculous... being a black student at a PWI became horribly hard to defend to our peers at HBCUs who criticize us... but we actually felt we were fighting the "good fight" for equality, and ensuring that Brown v. Board and Sweatt v. Painter mattered in 2006.
And routinely... the Young Conservatives of Texas came around AGAIN (they did this annually too) with another event meant to rile the students on campus who didn't think like them. This year's "Affirmative Action Bake Sale" wasn't as affective for them because SAAB staged a counter-protest bake sale across from them in the Gregory Plaza... a few notable freshmen who will be discussed in the next blog were there showing that even the younger minds were able to contribute to the fight. (I don't remember the details of the counter-protest, so if you were there, please post them in the comments).
These types of sentiments echoed to the Big XII Council meetin that came to UT later that semester... they also echoed throughout the community. Everybody had their own way of reacting. My approach (at the time) was to see what we could get from those with the power (adminstration) because we actually had people in those seat who would be sympathetic to our plight. However, these people dont want drama amongst the student body anymore than we do, and as a result, they do their best to extinguish the situations as fast as possible... all they need is an opportunity, and they will act as if they've fixed it without even looking at it. I was attempting to be an optimist... another student, a very outspoken freshman, felt we needed to "protest and burn down the tower"... lol, i know he didn't mean it completely literally, and i and other leaders at the time really respected his passion (as you read this now I hope you know that), we just didn't agree about the approach (to the point that I dont think we liked each other for a lil bit, but we'll pour up any day now, lol)... reason being, protests are more tiring the emails and conversations, and nothing is ever fixed in one day. Pragmatism has to be a part of the solution, otherwise your audience won't respect what you have to say about the issues... I'd find this to be true in the next year while being entrenched in work with administration.
Needless to say, all of this political buzz had BSA meeting its purpose of facilitating a voice for the Black Community. BSA also had its successes in foster social relationships between students... but most of the students didn't need our help... examples?
1) The Trendsetters.... yea... ya'll saw it coming. This was the new age "J West Clique" only they didn't make a hand sign... but they were seen everywhere together. If you're a newer student and don't know who they are... it's basically the Alphas from Fall 07, the TR3 from the Kappas Sp 08 line, and the outspoken individual from before... that is of course before he left the group. But hey, even the Jackson 5 broke up. They would get second place in the 2006 Non-Greek Stepshow (which I had the pleasure of chairing along with everything else I did... fun...)
2) There was a heavy increase in house parties this semester... If you were there that year, there was one EVERY weekend, whether it was a small get together at somebody's Riverside apartment, or it was a "D-Town Production" or "Dat Boi Tony presents" or it was one of ASA's famous all-nights (and they dance ALL NIGHT), PEOPLE WAS PARTYING. I'll give details on mine later... as a matter of fact... I'll dedicate a blog to the End of Fall 06 (aka "Just B'cuz or For-a-Reason") Party.
Amongst all of the social fun, and all of the busy work that I some how survived, I was also "busy" once again. This time around not for my advancement though. All of this could stretch you thin and make your curls turn gray (yea, I was rockin the curl again). So much so that I became more visible for BSA and campus politics than I was for the organization that I threw away a semester to become a part of. I was constantly jeered for being President of "Beta Sigma Alpha"... I'm not sure if it was in good fun, or frustration, but I felt that as long as I was working to put substance into the campus I was doing the work of Alpha (I just heard somebody say amen). Plus, I contributed to the chapter programs as much as any non-chair member would (in my opnion), but I understand the frustrations, we were only 7 deep to begin with... at the end of the day, the real problem would be my priorities.
I wasn't the only leader to have this issue, but I was one of them that wasn't expected to... and this is me being accountable (the SAAB in me) to you as the community that I care(d) so much about. As much as you would like to make things happen, you cannot throw away that which comes first in order to achieve it. For my entire Junior year, I was so focused on pushing for a stronger community and doing what I thought others weren't capable of (or really for that matter willing to do), that I just DIDN'T DO... I was an academic joke for this entire school year... I honestly should've been banned from organizational involvement. But for some reason I just couldn't say no when asked to do more. I liked that feeling of being needed... it felt nice to be "significant"... but I clearly lost sight of what the primary substance of our collegiate careers should be... my education.
Yea I know it's sad... we're over it now... just don't let it happen to you or your friends. It's not worth it and you'll regret it. I'm only telling ya'll this because I don't want history to repeat. "No.... [Tony] did that, so hopefully you wouldn't have to go through that." - Jay-Z (paraphrased) "H to the Izzo"
I'll end this blog on a happy note for me though. My first mentee, became a member and probate for kings to set the stage on fire as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha on Saturday Dec. 2, 2006. He was the last of the EI Centennial boys... and he was special to our campus because he was the first person to finish alone since Lincoln in Fall 04 (Sigma), and still the only person since then... The Phrozen One, Shun. And since he was the only Greek to cross this semester (due to some severe mishappenings that would start a domino affect of change in Greek Life - details in a later blog) he was the most celebrated Greek in a while. I really consider him to be the last person to cross in the era of understood "social fact" of business... because from here on out things on our campus would be different.
I'll have to re-read this, but I'm sure there'll be a recap... and then the party... and then the Spring of 07, the midway point of our miniseries... ya'll stay on for the ride.
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