Alpha Kappa Alpha Responds to Howard Students’ Lawsuit
Written by HBCU Digest, Posted in Breaking News, Howard University, Students, Washington DC
HBCU News, Commentary and Information
Thursday
March 2013
COMMENTS
Written by HBCU Digest, Posted in Breaking News, Howard University, Students, Washington DC
Howard has line caps and AKA only conducts MIP at Howard every two years. If they accepted all of the legacies that applied, every line would be 100% legacy–there would be no room for non-legacies. This means that the Howard chapter has probably incorporated into its constitution and bylaws a stipulation that a certain number (or maybe percentage) of accepted applicants will be legacy and the rest non-legacies. So, they pick the cream of the crop of legacies and likewise the cream of the crop of non-legacies. (BTW, the “cream of the crop” doesn’t include women who have proven themselves untrustworthy.) Numerous other legacies were denied this year, not just those two, so I’m glad the chapter is standing firm and not allowing these squeaky wheels to prevail; a cap is a cap and bylaws were written to be followed. Atleast one or two at every intake my grad chapter does are legacies who went to HBCUs. It’s life. AKA needs a to put a cap on crazies. *roll eyes*
As an active member of an African American sorority from 1970 to the present, I am disappointed with some of the stories that I have heard over the years regarding the pledge intake process. I can’t understand why the AKA Howard Chapter couldn’t allow just two more young women who obviously grew up close to the work of this organization because their mothers are AKAs, to join their pledge line. I disagree with AKA’s legal response because it implicitly condones the debased manner in which these two young women were treated in their quest to make the pledge line. When my son pledged not long ago I prayed everyday for him to complete that process without physical injury, because some of what he and the Brothers on his line were asked to do was silly and very dangerous. The entire intake process on HBCU campuses and probably other campuses as well that have African American sororities and fraternities, needs to be very very closely monitored by RESPONSIBLE adults who will insure that ALL aspirants are treated with respect, consideration and dignity throughout the entire process: from the pre-pledge period, through the application process, to the interview, and to whatever the final outcome will be. I have high regard for AKA as an organization for African American women but I am disappointed at their response to the Howard students who felt they had to take the drastic step of suing this organization in order to have them honor what all of us who are Greek org members definitely know- Legacy DOES matter when your son, daughter or sibling is applying for membership and to some extent is given conideration
I’m a member of one of the Divine Nine. The Legacy Clause in most organization means preference. One still have to do their part. One cannot be arrogant and wait until their Senior Year and feel you will get automatic acceptance. That is not fair to the other ladies on the line. Really, it shows that you only care for the letters and have NO desire to contribute to the organization. If a legacy really wants to join and they understand their campus limit then one shouldn’t be offended when one ask you to join on the grad level so a non legacy has an opportunity to join. Your not going to b e denied as a grad member.
It seems to me that this is just another example of a helicopter mom who is just embrassed that her baby was denied. Mom should have read the bylaws and communicated with the campus advisers. Its a personal issue not a legal one but money some feel can even buy membership.
This is sad and adding to hurting our organizations.
Do those outside of Greek organizations now hold all of the power of entrance into the same? (From previous article)
Gladly the answer to that question is No. I am not a member of AKA, but I am a member of one of the Divine Nine. It is important for us to support one another for the right thing, even when the right thing is not the most popular.
The Divine 9, have high standards for accepting person into our organizations and one of them is not entitlement.