Revenge of the Sorors

By J. Samuel Cook
Black College Wire

Kenon White/Black College Wire Writing about hazing charges at Alcorn State University led to a pink-and-green nightmare.

"Here they come," the unidentified source had said. How they were able to pinpoint my location, I’m not certain. They had established an elaborate network among themselves — nearly 100 members on the campus alone— in which they parked their vehicles at strategic locations on the Alcorn State University campus and communicated via cellular phone. I had attempted to circumvent them by taking dirt roads.

Even before I received the text message, I had seen and heard LaToya Hentz on her cell phone saying, "He's over here at I.T. right in front of my face. Hurry up over here."

I hurried down the stairs of the Industrial Technology Building, which houses the Department of Mass Communication, in order to avoid any confrontation. I had been informed by a campus police officer earlier in the day that, despite the harassment, if the young ladies did attack me and I retaliated, I would be arrested. My hands were tied. I wanted to avoid confrontation at all costs. I was, however, too late.

By the time I reached the lobby, the pink-and-green sea was upon me. Two members of the Gamma Phi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. stood in the lobby, but were preoccupied by a gentleman to whom they were voicing their disdain about my March 7 article on Black College Wire about their chapter allegedly engaging in underground hazing activities. I hurried past, only to find that seven or eight other sorors were awaiting me.

They began to loudly taunt me, trying to goad me into an altercation, asking if I was "happy now." I reached my vehicle and thanked God that it was still in one piece. Now I prayed that it would start and I could escape the brooding pack of sorority girls spouting their venomous barbs at me.

Three more girls started walking toward me from behind my vehicle.

Excellent. Here comes more fun.

Felisha Robinson, the vice-basileus of the chapter, led the pack, telling the others, “We should beat his ass right now!”

Great. Just peachy. Exactly what I need to top off what has already been the best day ever. Now I’m going to have to get ready to go to jail because these young ladies are deluded into believing they can physically defeat a 23-year-old man. Wow.

Another member bellowed that I “just wanted their interest meeting to be cancelled,” to which I replied, “Have you even read the article?”

J. Samuel Cook

A response rang out from the crowd. “Bitch, have you read the article?”

Why am I even wasting my time responding?

By this time, they were surrounding my car. I fumbled in my pocket for the keys and turned them in the door lock. I got in, still praying that the car would start and I could escape the latest chapter in the nightmare that had become, as the university promises, my “unique and enriching experience.”

Thankfully, the car started. I began to back up as the members continued to yell slurs at me, narrowly avoiding hitting one of the young ladies with my rear bumper as she stood defiantly in my way. I drove off, hoping this would be the end of a day gone horribly awry. Sadly, it was not.

All of this began when I became editor-in-chief of the “voice of the Alcorn State University community,” the Campus Chronicle. Prior to my appointment, the newspaper came out infrequently, students feared censorship or worse by university administrators, there was absolutely no staff and on the rare occasions that the paper did appear, it was filled with fluff that was intended to satisfy the ASU administration.

There was little or no hard-news content and students lived in constant fear that if they offended anyone at the university, they might find their financial aid tampered with or their academic record sullied. (Of course, I cannot prove that these events have ever occurred in Alcorn State history, nor do I make the statement as an indictment of the university’s administration; rather, I offer them as an example of the paranoia that runs rampant among the student body). One student indicated to me that, based on an editorial he had written criticizing the university, his future writings had to be screened through the Office of Academic Affairs. Stellar students had their grades threatened.

Things had to change, and soon. Someone had to be unafraid to tackle the hard-hitting issues that plague our future alma mater.

This was not my first run-in with Gamma Phi. Members had kidnapped me while I was collecting the information for the article.

Like a ravenous wolf pack

Five of them, including Robinson and the basileus of the chapter, Jennifer Graham, had taken me to a remote location and left me, forcing me to walk back to campus. Robinson had coerced me into her car by telling me, in her sweetest voice, that we were simply going to the library to discuss the allegations. As soon as the doors closed, Robinson pressed the power lock and, driving about 80 miles per hour, whizzed off. Once we reached our destination, I was berated for covering the story.

“This is [expletive]. Why don’t you write about your own damn fraternity? Nobody on the newspaper staff has ever written about hazing until your ass came here.”

What, had I broken some cardinal rule? Some unspoken bond among black Greeks to never discuss what goes on in the seedy underbelly of black Greek affairs? Obviously, I didn’t receive that memo.

"You’re just being messy."

"You will never be successful as a journalist."

Riiiiight. I became a journalist to make friends. And besides, when did you become Walter Cronkite?

"This story will never run. I can guarantee that."

And then, as quickly as it began, they left me. I walked back to campus alone. Just great. Great. Great. Great.

About two weeks passed and a peaceful calm fell over the “Academic Resort,” as a former president called the campus. The peace remained until March 7. The story had officially been posted.

The harassment resumed.

The girls followed me wherever I went on campus, traveling like a ravenous pack of wolves, salivating at the very thought of catching me, inquiring as to where I lived. Ashley Morris, a drum major for the university, and other AKAs had approached my cousin and asked him where I was from originally, harassing him for my personal information. Several members of the sorority called my fraternity line brothers, asking for my cell phone number so that they could contact me personally.

Earlier in the day, I had been called into a meeting with Shundera Perteet, the adviser for the Gamma Phi chapter and an administrator for the university, and Cheryl Kariuki, the executive aide to the university president. Perteet told me I had created a lot of problems for the chapter. I informed her that the "problems" were created by those who felt the need to exert their power over prospective members of her sorority, not by me.

"No," she said. “You created the problems."

Perteet pressed me to reveal the source quoted in the article, to which I replied that by law, I was not obligated to do so. Kariuki telephoned Juanita Sims-Doty, the regional director for the sorority. I asked Sims-Doty if, in order to ensure clarity of information for all parties involved, I could tape record the conversation. Sims-Doty declined, and so I, in turn, told Sims-Doty that I would not discuss the article with her or disclose who my sources were, and terminated the call.

Kariuki assured me that the stalking and haranguing would stop.

Still, the harassment continued.

In the Twilight Zone

I watched from afar as chapter leaders Robinson and Graham, and an unidentified member of the sorority filed a falsified police report after I had reported them for harassing me at the Industrial Technology Building. I received a call on my cell phone informing me that the 10 young ladies were combing the campus inquiring about my whereabouts. Three young ladies pulled up and parked in front of me. Hentz, a fellow mass communication major and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, rolled down the car window and glared at me with a scowl full of rage-induced hatred. I was appalled by what the usually amicable young lady had become.

"He’s over here at the administration building," she said into her cell phone. “I’m sitting right in front of him."

Someone send these girls over to Afghanistan. They’ll find Bin Laden in no time flat.

I stood outside for another two or three minutes awaiting the gang’s arrival. Hentz decried her fellow sorority members' lack of urgency in arriving as I turned to enter the building once again. Hentz bellowed out of the window at me as I left.

“Where are you going? Are you scared?”

Scared? Of a group of girls? Be serious. It's just that I had to avoid confrontation at all costs.

I told a professor nearby that I refused to even dignify such an ignorant comment with a response.

I returned to Ms. Kariuki’s office with the professor and informed her that I was still being harassed. She told me that a meeting had been scheduled to address the issues. Perteet, who had been in an office to the rear of Kariuki’s, came out as I was on the telephone with my mother.

She scoffed, asking Kariuki if I was on the phone with “Mommy.”

I’ve officially entered the Twilight Zone.

Admittedly, at this point, my temper had gotten the best of me. I made the mistake of calling Perteet "ignorant," and while on the telephone with my mother, I also said I found her to be juvenile and petty.

It was at that point that Perteet retreated once again into the back office and called the campus police.

Within minutes, two campus officers were in Kariuki’s office asking, “What is the problem?” The two officers went into the office where Perteet had holed up. When they came out, one asked me again, “Where is the problem?”

What? Did I just shoot the pope? Are ignorant, juvenile and petty the new four-letter words? I must be in some serious trouble.

"I don’t have a problem, sir," I replied. "What is being alleged?"

"What is the problem?" he asked again.

What do you mean, "what is the problem?" Didn’t I come in and file a report saying I had been stalked and harassed for two weeks? That’s my problem. What’s your problem?

I repeated my initial statement, that I didn't have a problem.

"I’m going to ask you one more time, ‘What is your problem?’ and if you don’t answer the question, I’m going to arrest you."

Christ.

I told the officer once again that the problem did not lie with me and that he could do what he had to. He told me to turn around, and I complied. However, Kariuki intervened, informing the officer that I had neither threatened nor physically attacked Perteet and that my statements, though rash in her opinion, did not warrant arrest.

The officer turned to Kariuki and informed her that it was “his decision” whether I would be arrested and that it was his intention to arrest me, take me to the Claiborne County Jail, and have me charged with disturbing the peace. Kariuki pleasantly responded to the officer that she had invited me and that I was not disturbing the peace of the office. The officer then informed me that if I did not leave, I would be arrested.

Perteet filed a police report as well.

Officer Tom Lewis of the Alcorn State Campus Police called me in for questioning, but rather than ask how he could ensure my personal safety, he began to interrogate me about whether I wrote the article.

I had asked Officer Lewis earlier whether I was under arrest or whether I would be arrested. He replied, “Only if you do something back here to get you arrested," referring to the holding area of the campus police station. Since I wasn’t under arrest, I left.

Of course, as soon as I left Kariuki’s office, members of the Gamma Phi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha were waiting for me, revving their engines and flipping me the bird as I walked to my car to leave the campus.

Don't shoot the messenger

I am a proud Alcornite and a proud member of the African American Greek community via my membership in the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. I have taken solemn oaths to protect both entities; however, as a journalist, I have come to understand that sometimes, in order to protect those things that we love most, we must expose some inconvenient truths.

It is unfortunate, however, that many members of the African American Greek community, as well as the historically black college and university system, believe in sweeping nuisances such as administrative malfeasance, organized censorship, underground hazing activities, deplorable physical conditions, overt and covert harassment and overall student displeasure under the proverbial rug.

The only way that historically black colleges and universities can continue to grow, thrive and compete with majority institutions is to expose these injustices and lobby for the funding, training and expertise to fix the problems. The only way that African American Greek organizations can return to their once-prized position of prestige in the eyes of greater society, as opposed to being viewed as dressed-up gangs, is to confront the inconvenient truth that, yes, some small-minded individuals do, indeed, perpetuate these activities.

And further, there are individuals out there who do not and cannot feel that their organizational affiliation is legitimate unless they are hazed.

No, the answer is not to “keep Greek business out of the streets,” as one of my beloved fraternity brothers so passionately indicated in an e-mail to me, but rather to shed light and fix the problem.

Many at Alcorn State University and in the African American Greek community are, as the saying goes, shooting me as messenger rather than listening to the message. No, I am not the problem, as Ms. Perteet believes. Rather, the problem is that we, as HBCU attendees and administrators, as well as "black Greeks," are so insecure in our own abilities that we scapegoat the drum-majors of justice — the reporters and journalists so devoted to truth and liberty that they are willing to be ostracized, alienated, degraded, and denigrated if it will improve the quality of life of just one single, solitary person.

Shundera Perteet asked me in a meeting why I had written the article. Simply put: As a journalist, I was just doing my job.

I came to Alcorn State University after being displaced from my home in New Orleans, after the devastating Hurricane Katrina. When I arrived on the Mississippi campus, I literally had one pair of jeans, a T-shirt and a crimson red-collared shirt. I was, by every measurable standard, homeless.

I had no idea of the degree of devastation my city had endured. I was depressed and disheveled. My life was devoid of hope and I had no idea what my future held. In Alcorn I saw hope— a second chance after having my life interrupted by the indiscriminate storm. I was, at least at first, received with warmest regards. I championed Alcorn as a liberal, open-minded university at which an individual could grow and thrive.

As I neared my senior year, I began to encounter more and more problems from the university, beginning with a hold placed on my financial aid that caused my money to be held up for several months. Still, despite the failure of the system to provide a reprieve for me, I refused to give up.

When an instructor attempted to fail me in her course because of a flawed attendance policy, despite the fact that I had missed class while representing the university at a national business competition, I refused to lose the faith. When a university administrator slashed the hourly rate for my on-campus research job, my only means of income, from $10 an hour to $6.15, I held my peace.

I was still standing.

Still trusting.

Still holding on to what I believed would be a brighter future.

And I continue to defiantly stand, unabashedly trust and desperately hold on to my belief that someday soon I will be, as I told Alcorn State President Clinton Bristow Jr. prior to his untimely death, a proud Alcorn alumnus.

I see myself in the future, and just as I survived Katrina, I will survive this storm.

Until that beautiful July day when I graduate, however, this will be my daily nightmare, my personal comedy of errors, my own "unique and enriching experience."

J. Samuel Cook, a student at Alcorn State University, is interim editor-in-chief of the Campus Chronicle. He is a member of the Eta chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and wrote this at the request of Black College Wire. To comment, e- mail [email protected]. We especially invite responses from members of the Alcorn State community.

Posted March 12, 2007

Cook Was Only Doing His Job

To the editor:

It saddens me to read that J. Samuel Cook is going through his storm. What saddens me even more is the fact that the Gamma Phi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is acting like an organized gang. I could've sworn fraternities and sororities were created as community service organizations, not as outlets of gang activity.

We, The Gramblinite, have had our shares of problems on campus from students, organizations and our administration. Fortunately, it never amounted to physical confrontations or attempts at arrests from the university police. It actually sparked debate and conversation around the campus on controversial topics.

However, this situation is different. Cook was only doing his job, a job that requires a great amount of an unbiased spirit and has many dangers associated with it. The dangers of the job are being realized by journalists every day, and this situation only adds another risk to the list.

For members of the Gamma Phi chapter to disrespect themselves is sad. For them to disrespect their organization is a true disgrace. How can one expect this group to exemplify what the Extraordinary Service Program represents by doing such activity? Is this also a part of the leadership program that the prestigious sorority has?

Bottom line is that the Gamma Phi chapter of AKA has done a disservice to all chapters of AKAs. I know that our campus AKAs, the Alpha Theta chapter, have never stooped to a level as low as this, no matter the circumstance. They know they represent not only the chapter, but the entire organization.

I understand that there is some anger about the article being published. However, you should not be angry at Cook; you should be angry at yourselves for allowing such an activity to go on. When you started the hazing process, you also started the process of allowing it to become public knowledge and to be broadcast in the streets.

Seeing this situation makes me no longer wonder why people call Greeks "organized gangs." The Gamma Phi chapter should be working with Cook instead of threatening him and allegedly falsifying police reports. I'm not on the Alcorn State University campus, but I can say this does not make such a esteemed university look good.

Cook, continue to fight the blatant attempts at censorship. We as journalists understand that you did the story in order to shed light on a growing problem. You are being punished for doing the right thing. However, that seems to be the growing trend these days. Take it from someone who knows.

Darryl D. Smith
Editor-in-chief, The Gramblinite
Grambling State University
March 12, 2007

Here's My Experience at Berkeley

To the editor:

Congratulations for refusing to bow to intimidation and pressure. Keep on writing what you must write. Keep on doing what you must do.

Please allow me to share my experience:

While attending the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley, I happened upon a party held in the school's parking lot across from the J-School. The music and partying could be heard nearly a mile away from campus. Thinking it was just a group of students getting together to hang out and party, I had my tape recorder set to get the sounds for a piece on black culture on a primarily white campus. (Did I mention I was on school —state — property?)

However, I soon found out it was a private party for the Berkeley chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. When I was discovered, they (Delta) and their male counterparts, Omega, circled me and threatened me — there were some 200 people present. They wanted my tape recorder and notes. Some of these people I knew, not as Greeks but from my association with African American groups, including the Bay Area Black Media Coalition.

I filed a report with the school's administration, as well as with Delta and Omega headquarters. My goal: to get these kids thrown off campus, and expelled from school.

A "friend" in J-School, a Delta, called me on behalf of her sisters and asked me not to proceed because some of the students were first-generation college students and would be turned away from other schools because of their behavior. I said then to the students and say now, they should have to live with their consequences.

Valerie Edwards
Atlanta
March 14, 2007

He's Been an Attentive Student

To the editor:

Where are the folks from Alcorn’s journalism department?

They should be standing behind that young man as obviously he’s been paying attention in class!

As for his peer, Ms. LaToya Hentz: should she eventually find employment in her chosen field of study (mass communications), I hope she never finds herself in a position of having to cover a controversial subject. It would be too hypocritical . . .

Frank H. Staley
Upper Marlboro, Md.
March 14, 2007

Stay Strong, Brother Cook

To the editor:

As a member of an African-American Greek letter fraternity, I am both embarrassed and ashamed at the actions taken against this young man, Mr. J. Samuel Cook.

How these supposed "young ladies" are conducting themselves is appalling and not very becoming of members of an organization that claims to uphold the philosophies of its founding members, whom I am very sure are rolling over in their graves with disdain for how their "members'" immature actions are making their organization look.

The last time I remembered, the country we all call home is America. Where we have freedom of speech. Obviously, what was previously written about these "women" and their organization must have some validity, as they are staging this massive "witch hunt" against this brother.

And for administrative staff at Alcorn State . . . um . . . University to be conducting themselves in a non-professional manner further confirms what many Caucasian and quite a few African-Americans feel about those who work at HBCUs, which are often characterized as being "non-professional" and lacking "proper etiquette" when handling situations.

For that staff member to call the authorities on a brother for expressing his freedom of speech in an article, and for responding to her sarcastic remark about him calling his mother, is appalling, considering the fact that our jails/prisons have an overwhelming number of African-Americans males already.

I sincerely hope that this ENTIRE situation is addressed IMMEDIATELY, for I have plans to make plenty of people I know aware of this. Additionally, I intend on placing a phone call/e-mail message to members of the Alcorn State University staff, expressing my disdain for how this situation has been handled.

Stay strong, brother Cook, for having gone through the Hurricane Katrina disaster, you have experienced a far more serious situation than what you are going through now.

J. Jenkins, MSW
Roselle, N.J.
March 13, 2007

You Have Much More Patience Than I Do

To the editor:

Dog, I read your story and it was very interesting. I can't believe that the AKAs are harassing you like that.

That's ridiculous! My question is, where in the hell are the bruz? Your line brothers? Somebody to give you some uplift?

Sounds like you are really standing alone on this one. That's the part of the story I don't understand. I feel you on being peaceful and all, but at a certain point, you need to let those girls know that you are a grown man and that you are NOT going to be harassed and threatened and that you can be aggressive as well!

If that's not your approach, get a video camera, and every time they run up on you, tape their asses and sue the school and the organization for not allowing you to have a peaceful place for your studies.

I must admit that you have much more patience than I do, because I would have definitely caught a charge if they tried to do me like that.

Another thing that I don't understand is how damn near all the black Greeks at Alcorn have at one time or another been suspended for hazing. Either Alcorn has the most non-discreet Greeks ever made, or somebody is really watching, keepin' tabs, talkin', and snitchin' on them. I can't understand how damn near every Greek organization STILL hazes underground in some way form or fashion (admit it or not), but seems like Alcorn is the "get caught 'cause somebody talk too much" capital.

I don't condone hazing per se, but I do think that more than just learning a poem and meeting every Sunday for a few hours should be required for a person to enter a fraternity. Anyway, Good luck, Bruh.

B.J. Ford
Memphis, Tenn.
March 14, 2007

Sensationalism and Gossip

To the editor:

I have read both articles you posted on Black College Wire and frankly, I am appalled because you honestly think you are providing a service. I have a few comments and questions for you as well as others who read your article to ponder.

First of all, I became a member of Gamma Phi chapter in 1990. I don’t ever remember a time when the sorority was called “Gangsta Phi.” There is no way we would ever allow that title, nor would we claim that title. My experience left me with nothing but love and respect for the sorority and persons who took me through the process. At no time did I or would I ever consider being a part of anything “Gangsta.” You might want to check your facts; I don’t know who called Gamma Phi “Gangsta,” but I cannot believe it was anyone who is currently or has ever been a member of Gamma Phi. We cannot, as you have so eloquently proved, control what outsiders think they know.

Furthermore, you claim to be a member of a Greek organization. If that is true, then you should also know how often persons who want to join, but have a fear that they will be rejected attack Greek organizations. So, it has become so easy to claim to be hazed hoping this will ensure membership. It seems this is becoming a growing trend. If you don’t make the line or suspect you are not going to make the line, just say you were hazed. Start up a firestorm and in the end you will be placed online.

I also don’t understand how anyone who has been “brutally hazed,” as you have stated that Gamma Phi has been known for, would send an e-mail under an assumed name. If it were me, I would want JUSTICE and I wouldn’t care who knew. So, that brings the next question, do you have a copy of the e-mail or is this just more GOSSIP?

The other item I would like to address is if these things were occurring, your source knew that they were illegal. Why would she continue to participate? She had a choice and could have decided to choose not to be party to these illegal activities. Why would she or anyone else want to be a part of such a horrendous sorority known as “Gangsta Phi”? I ALLEGE these activities NEVER occurred and that is why so many still want to be a part of the proud heritage of the Gamma Phi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. You have attempted to leave the impression that Gamma Phi has had a long history of hazing, yet you have no documentation to support your allegation. Only GOSSIP. Hmmmm, curious.

As far as I am concerned, I will take the rest of your first article as well as your second article for what they are --SENSATIONALISM. A young journalist reporting only the parts of the memos and conversations that lend merit to his side of the story, along with loaded sensational language designed to keep the readers reading and GOSSIPPING.

A true journalist would have never reported the story without some cold, hard facts, and I truly hope that you have some documentation other than someone’s word to back up your story. At this point, it seems that you have made it your personal mission to take CAMPUS GOSSIP and attempt to make it sound factual. Now, if you wonder why your article has upset many: You have taken GOSSIP, HEARSAY and UNFOUNDED ALLEGATIONS and posted them worldwide. Your articles are full of all these items with little or no documentation to stand on.

Let’s look at what you do have: Hearsay about an e-mail written under an assumed (FALSE) name, an anonymous (UNIDENTIFIED) source, and no facts that Gamma Phi has ever been suspended or put on probation for hazing.

You called yourself a drum major for justice, but I attest you are not a drum major for justice. You are a GOSSIP-INDUCING SENSATIONALIST reporting the story that you think will get you the most recognition. You are the problem if you are spreading UNFOUNDED GOSSIP, and as a journalist it was your duty to report an unbiased story, I believe. You have not done that. You have filled your story with loaded, biased PROPAGANDA.

I understand that you want to write a great story, but before you venture into sensational style stories, have all of the facts. Otherwise it is just what you have written -- GOSSIP!

Furlinda Travis, Fall ’90
Gamma Phi Chapter, Alcorn State University
Member, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Brandon, Miss.
March 15, 2007

You'll Regret This Over the Years

To the editor:

Young brother, I am appalled by your behavior. As of March 12, I have been in the frat 21 years, and I think your doing this makes us look weak. We have always been a strong and secretive unit and dealt with our affairs, whether good or bad, internally.

I have to now question your pledge period. Plus, we are supposed to protect women. Omegas and AKAs across the country are teaming up in business ventures, social events and political causes. One of those young ladies could have been your wife or business partner. You'll regret this over the years, and you left a bad taste in their mouths about Omegas.

Even though we are not their brothers, they have always admired and loved Omegas. Many of my chapter brothers are married to them. They support our events in mass numbers. You should have never offended them. I apologize to them on behalf of strong outstanding true Omegas across the land. Don't get me wrong, I do love the Deltas, but for some reason an Omega hooking up with a AKA has always been astonishing.

Steven B. Haynes
Spr' 86
Xi Psi Do or Die
S.C. State University
NAACP DAWG
Cincinnati
March 15, 2007

His Job Is to Report the News

To the editor:

It's amazing the amount of abuse Mr. Cook has taken for reporting a news story. As a journalist, his job is to report the news, in this case, the news on a COLLEGE campus. To some, this story may seem petty, but take a look at the Web site and take note of all the stories about hazing. It's important news for a college campus.

As a student of journalism myself, I understand that this story was not personal. He has not personally attacked the Gamma Phi chapter (and yes, I've heard it called Gangsta Phi) or Alpha Kappa Alpha as a whole. The story was brought to him as a journalist and he reported it, which is what he was supposed to do. You don't become a journalist to make new friends. You do it to report the news in an unbiased professional manner. That means getting quotes from both sides of the story without injecting your own opinion, which is what was done in the original story. Now he is being stalked, harassed and bad-mouthed for doing his job.

If he were a reporter for USA Today and had to report on someone who was hazed and maybe even killed, would that be better for those of you who are criticizing him? He would still be doing his job, not waging a personal attack on anyone.

When I pledged Delta at Alcorn, people on campus called us a gang. Not because we were bothering people, but just because there were so many of us. We certainly never asked to be called that, but what can you do? I understand being offended by being called "Gangsta Phi," but you can't control what other people say. As for the young lady who said there were no facts that Gamma Phi had ever been on probation for hazing, it's not hard to find out something like that.

I have asked myself how I would feel if this article were about Delta Epsilon being accused of hazing. I know that I would be upset with my sorors for taking things too far. I know that I would feel that push-ups and buying food are no big deal for me, but it IS hazing. Would I be upset with Mr. Cook for reporting the story, though? I don't think I could be, because he was simply writing a news story that was brought to him, and according to the First Amendment, he has the right to do that.

I certainly hope that my sorors would have better sense than to threaten someone for doing his job. We all need to stop with the personal attacks and talking about offending AKAs or whoever, because the bottom line is Mr. Cook is doing his job and none of his critics is paying his bills. If he has to write every news story being concerned over who is going to be offended, he might as well just turn the Campus Chronicle into a paper about gardening and cooking.

Joscelyn W. Buford
Delta Epsilon Chapter Spr.'93
Member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Vicksburg, Miss.
March 16, 2007

Maybe Cook Is Doing His Job, But This Is Ridiculous

To the editor:

As an alumnus of Alcorn State University and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., I am disgusted at the see-saw of verbiage that has transpired regarding Gamma Phi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Mr. J. Samuel Cook. When I was at Alcorn, fraternity and sorority business was just that — their business. I am not an advocate of hazing, but if an individual feels that he or she is a victim, he or she should contact the national office and let the respective national office deal with those issues and investigate the situation. Mr. Cook, as a fellow Greek, you should respect that. You never mentioned your sources. If they were hazed, they should come forward. In your article posted March 7, you mentioned that Eta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi had expelled five members for inappropriate conduct and alleged hazing activities. Were you a part of that five?

I respect your job as a journalist, but come on . . . ”ravenous wolf pack, 80 miles per hour, fumbled in my pocket for the keys.” Are you trying to receive the Pulitzer Prize for fiction? The descriptions are astonishing!

I don’t think anyone outside looking in should make judgments about Gamma Phi by saying that they are “acting like an organized gang” if they are not there to witness what is happening. I love my alma mater, and I love my fraternity. I hope this article will not be the downfall of such a rich legacy.

Adrian D. Hall
Alcorn State University, Class of ‘95
Delta Kappa Chapter, Spring ‘93
Member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Jackson, Miss.
March 16, 2007

Ques All Over the Nation Are Cringing

To the editor:

I found Mr. Cook's article a tad melodramatic. I know he was aiming for visual effect, but Ques all over the nation are cringing from one of their brothers darting off to his car because a group of AKAs were after him.

Being that Mr. Cook chose to write this second article, which shows him to be emotionally fragile and easily physically threatened, one must reflect that onto the first article.

I wish Mr. Cook success in his journalism career; however, I would suggest one change. Forgive me for not having the ability to paint a picture with words as Mr Cook does. For the picture he includes with his articles, I would suggest that he hold a rose and cock his head slightly to one side and smile.

Alvin Edney
Alcorn State University, Class of '93
V.P. of Delta Kappa Chapter, Fall '90
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Brandon, Miss.
March 16, 2007

His Actions Showed Morals and Respect

To the editor:

I am a graduate student at Alcorn State University. I was informed of the article written by Mr. Cook by a faculty member. After reading the article, I believe that Mr. Cook handled himself very well. I am sure he could have easily thrown a few of the ladies around. But he didn't. That shows morals and respect. Maybe it was the fact that he might have been arrested that kept him from retaliating. Retaliation would have only caused more trouble for him. It really bothers me that the women of AKA are carrying themselves in such a fashion. They are acting just like society says that we African American Greeks (any Greek for that matter) are: an organized gang. Personally, I probably would have just fought a few of them and gotten it over with. That's just me.

Mr. Cook is an awesome writer and has a great talent for putting his ideas into words so that the reader can visualize what is being said. I wish him success and want to let him know this is only a storm and it too shall pass.

Tia Simon
Alcorn State University
March 21, 2007

Less Make-Up, More Facts

To the editor:

I graduated from Alcorn State University and I am a former member of Gamma Phi. Because of this and my common sense, I found many false statements with your article. You are the first journalism major who happens to be working on a major story with no camera. In the beginning of your article, you claim to have a cellular phone and receive a text message, yet you were too busy running from the ladies to take a picture with your phone. Imagine the press you would have gotten with proof to support your story.

Next, you claim there were nearly 100 ladies around the campus all looking for you and communicating via cell phone. Does the 100 include faculty members? Or did it seem like a 100 because of the two in the lobby, three or four around your car, and three walking toward you?

Also, what dirt road did you take that you ended up at the Industrial Technology building? I believe you should have ended up in Rodney, Miss.

When confronted in the IT building, you ran down the stairs and out to your car. I can only assume you were so afraid of the ladies that you panicked. You could have simply run out of the front door of the building and across the street to the men’s dormitories. At least you could have called security from the safety of your room. But wait a minute, you had your cell phone. Now, I am really confused.

Journalism was not my major but I thought facts could still be given in a story without releasing the source’s name. For instance, the sophomore had to go to room 317 in Women’s Tower for a “history session” at 2:08 a.m. She was then made to do 25 push-ups. Now, see how my made-up story had more facts than your actual story.

I do believe you have a nose for hard-hitting news, unfortunately you did not take the time to do any research. I am glad Alcorn could be a place of safety for you after Katrina. But since New Orleans is on the come-back, you should go back to New Orleans and break the hard-hitting news on how the insurance companies are scamming the residents or how FEMA is still breaking promises. Who knows how many families your stories could help?

Besides the fact that you did not check for truth, your first article was well written. The second article was a rambling mess. I am still not sure why your picture is in the middle of the article and not a picture of the 100 or 10 ladies who were chasing you around the campus.

I will give you credit for being the first Omega to admit to running from some women. I find it hard to believe you are an Omega at Alcorn. Every Omega I know from Alcorn, of any age, would have least stood his ground without running.

I would like to give you some advice. First, always try to include facts. It makes the story seem real. Second, unless the article is about you, then your picture should not be in the center of the article. Third, try not to write while upset or frightened.

I wish you much success in your career. Remember less make-up, more facts.

Pamela Segrest
Alcorn State University, Class of 1992
Gamma Phi Chapter, Spring ‘89
Memphis, Tenn.
March 22, 2007