STORY HERE
WARNER ROBINS — There won’t be any new members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. for the foreseeable future.
An electronic letter sent to members by the fraternity’s general president, Herman “Skip” Mason Jr., says future intake processes for new members are suspended indefinitely, citing “the failure of some of our members to behave honorably and with care.”
His message comes less than a month after suspected hazing by members of the fraternity’s Fort Valley State University chapter left one member seriously injured and another member arrested for apparently causing the injuries.
“Following my review of 2009, it became clear to me that one area that needs our immediate focus is the conduct of brothers involved in the intake process,” Mason letter stated. “Our process was designed with the assumption that our members would conduct themselves honorably and with care. Regretfully, in several instances, that has not occurred. “This means that all membership intake activities shall be and are hereby suspended until further notice.”
One man, 21-year-old Bryson Trumaine Amey, was charged with felony aggravated battery in connection with an incident that Fort Valley police say occurred on the evening of Nov. 29. The incident left 19-year-old Brian Tukes hospitalized. Tukes, a 2008 graduate of Westside High School in Macon, was diagnosed with acute renal failure and admitted to the Houston Medical Center on Nov. 30. He was later transferred to The Medical Center of Central Georgia. He has since been discharged.
Efforts to reach Tukes and Amey were unsuccessful Monday.
The incident report mentions that the suspect or suspects apparently used their hands, fists or other body parts to physically assault Tukes at the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity house at 603 Carver Drive. The report says the hazing went on from Sept. 10 to Dec. 1. Information on the incident report for 14 people listed as witnesses was redacted.
Tukes’ mother, Phyllis Tukes, informed university officials of her son’s allegation. The university then alerted the Fort Valley Police Department, which is handling the investigation. The department will hand its findings over to Peach County District Attorney Cliff Woody, who will determine whether other charges will be filed.
Mason said in a statement after the Fort Valley incident that his organization saw hazing as an act against the entire Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and that the group’s reputation would be upheld through legal avenues against wrongdoers.
No such legal action has been substantiated. Other than the earlier statement and the letter sent to members over the weekend, the fraternity has been mum on the subject.
Brian Joseph Anthony Kelly, spokesman for the fraternity out of its national office in Baltimore, said by phone Monday that answers to several questions, including what incidents contributed to the decision to halt intake and whether all were related to physical hazing, would be sent via e-mail. By Monday night, that e-mail had not been received.
To contact writer Marlon A. Walker, call 256-9685.
17 responses to “Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Imposes Nationwide Membership Moratorium”
I did not pledge a sorority in college, Mo, so I cannot speak to the nature or need for hazing to the point of ACUTE RENAL FAILURE during the intake process. But, I was in the Army… back when "hazing" was considered a normal practice during basic training. We were tired as hell, mentally, physically, and emotionally, but no one was ever hospitalized. As a human being, I am disgusted with this blatant display of PHYSICAL ABUSE. As a black female, I am yet again disheartened with the organizations that have touted a reputation for community service and brotherhood. Bullshit.
These organizations are about brotherhood/sisterhood and community service. Alpha Phi Alpha definitely is out there doing big things for the community and not just talking about it. Like every family, you have bad apples that spoil it for everyone else. Just like everyone ain't holy in the church, everyone doesn't have the best intentions in organizations as we have seen over the last couple of months.
The Death of Michael Davis who was pledging Kappa Alpha Psi in 1994 should not be over looked as well. THIS HAS TO STOP BY GRACE OF GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/case/hazing-…
I am a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. While I certainly understand the heartfelt anger and frustration over the hazing activities by some members of any BGLO I think that the generalization of this behavior is unfair to the overwhelming majority of members who try very hard to adhere to the fraternity's national policy against hazing.
Overlooking the efforts of the multitude to focus on the negative acts of a few places the emphasis on the wrong message. Let's hold those who are wrong accountable, together.
Mo, I have followed the AKA lawsuit because I have been so positively influenced by those ladies in my educational career. I have an uncle who like you, is an Omega through grad chapter. I have distant cousins who are Zetas. I ask this though, with the world moving to such a global scale, organizations created in the early 20th cen. to foster brotherhood/sisterhood through racial oppression, can they still speak to where we are going? I mean with job sheaddings,across the U.S., should you get an opportunity to work in an office in Singapore, India, or say Dubai, would it make a difference(membership)? In my traveling just seeing other Black people (African or otherwise) bonds us in a foreign country outside of the U.S. What is your take from both sides?
I wrote a piece talking somewhat about this as the BGLOs are struggling to evolve because the world is global and "multicultural" in nature such that the appeal of a "Historically Black" organization doesn't seemingly have the same appeal or meaning the further we move away from the civil rights movement.
But to answer your question they "can" speak to where we are going, but seemingly haven't found out the method or the process in which to best move forward, hence situations like these.
I agree. I had African friends who had traditions that bonded them with other women in an "age-grade" system that was like a rights of passage. If you died the women from your age group would bury you if your family needed assistance or you were not in the home country. I beleive my people (I am African American) are from Sierra Leone and they have a system that goes back HUNDREDS of years of bringing children and teens through a rites of passage. I sure Indian, and other cultures have the same makeup. My personal opinion would be that these organizations go back to their "roots' and take from various cultures from the contnient. They took step routines which are said were taught by Kwame Knrumah when he joined Phi Beta Sigma. Also bring in the religious aspect. Greeks copied their systems from Caucasian but it appears in this juncture that it is only working for them because it is their system. Sorry to be so long.
Ok. Where do I Begin. First off I support Skip Mason, but I do not support this decision. Everything else regarding this matter should be discussed among the Bruhs. Secondly, being in a fraternity is voluntary; no one is forcing you to do anything you don't want to. I'm sure that everyone who was ever a part of an imitation class, pledge line, or any intake process, was aware of what was about to take place. The whole "beating someone” line is getting old. You are online because you made the conscious decision to participate in that organization’s particular activities. Regardless if you agree with them or not, we have so many problems with parents, who were pledged above ground, complaining and filing lawsuits against the organization because their kids run to them and complain. What type of hypocrisy is that? Some commented about Dr. King, and being non-violent. This irrelevant, to joining the organization especially when Dr. King pledged, meaning he got is butt whipped, and was a part of pledging other members into his fraternity. Justice Thurgood Marshall was considered and extreme hazer and was almost kicked out of school. My point being, there is nothing new under sun. By removing the pledging process and making it a 2 weekend party, you strip the fraternity of the traditions, and it’s very make up. Predominately white and multi-cultural fraternities and sororities pledge above ground to this day and receive limited no disciplinary action for the universities or the law.
I can understand the fraternity wanting to stop hazing to save itself from lawsuits. That’s why I believe along with every membership packet, a document should be signed releasing the Fraternity of any bodily harm or injury the initiates may get while going thru the initiation process. Some may argue that individuals go too far, and yes some do. But the individuals should be held responsible not the entire Frat. One black man steals from a store, should all black men be banned from the store under the assumption they will all steal? Extreme conservatism and prohibition only encourage people to break the law. So the only thing that will result from the suspension is a bunch of underground, or ghost lines. I think people need to revaluate the nature of fraternities, you will find that it not self hating or dehumanizing, pledging is unifying. Are people going to get hurt? Yes! People always get hurt its apart of being human. People die of heart attacks playing in pickup basketball games. Should they ban people from playing basketball at the park? Things are going to happen but these are young adults that have made the decision to participate in the same process that Dr. King, Jackie Robinson, Stuart Scott, etc, were subject too. Nothing different, nothing more. Pledging really hasn't changed that much in nature just in duration. These are my thoughts and opinions. Whether you agree or disagree, I won’t lose one wink of sleep tonight.
Good day.
@ Mr. Disagree. When did Jackie Robinson become frat? That is a myth, along with pre 1990 that everyone got beaten during pledging. If you speak to old heads, they will tell you it did go down, but to varying degrees throughout the decades, nothing like what is happening nowadays. It differed from school to school, region, chapter traditions, etc. Bro. King and Marshall were products of their time. Hell, back then freshman were hazed, being called "Dogs", paddled, and all sorts of craziness. There was also a different breed of Black men back then as well…
The reason that things are the way they are now is due to the decision to end pledging and BGLOS replacing it with something that had not been thoroughly thought out (to my knowledge). Its like they threw the water out with the baby. Also the fact that the youth today seem to have such a violent nature about them,do to all they have been exposed to, that it plays out in their everyday activities. Nowadays people are making up stuff or doing ritualistic things of the pass to pledges that they themselves have no meaning of. So who is really "made?"
Even if there were some way to make it so that the victim, not the frat, liable if things get out of hand; I still would have a hard time sleeping at night knowing that my brothers seriously injured or killed someone to bring them into the frat "right". I do agree that this moratorium may spawn ghost lines and other rogue behavior, but I would hope that brothers would go about bringing "change" the right way. I will say most aspirants know somewhat what they are getting themselves into when they decide to go underground, but they will never know completely. They have to trust their big brothers. Sometimes your big brothers let you down…and then bad shit happens. Make no mistake, I believe that one should EARN the right to wear the letters, but they shouldn't have broken body parts or loose their life because it. Sometimes I feel people care more about "making folks" and less about anything else that concerns your org. The mentalility of "My chapter supercedes the organization" pisses me off as well. You have folks coming out the woodworks when its time to bring a line through, but can barely get the same people to volunteer at a soup kitchen or a chapter meeting. It is a very important task, but it isn't your most important. As of right now, the Iotas are the only BGLO fraternity that hasn't had a death linked to its name, the rest of us have. I don't want my fraternity being apart of that measuring contest anymore.
"Ok. Where do I Begin. First off I support Skip Mason, but I do not support this decision. Everything else regarding this matter should be discussed among the Bruhs."
This is where your message should have ended. But it didn't. It's cool, just don't be a hypocrite.
At any rate, I agree with SP and would like to expand on a thing or two.
I, too, disagree with the moratorium. Brothers of Alpha — or ANY organization which has had or may have a moratorium, meed to ask themselves and their leaders the following questions:
1) How will the organization recover the loss of dues if no intake is held in Spring 2010?
2) Did the organization truly utilize every method at its disposal to study and modify intake, such as through the membership intake task force? Or did the general president decide to flex his muscles just because he could, ignoring the work of a committee whose job it is to prevent the need for a moratorium?
There are some people who believe that a distinction between pledging and hazing is just a play on words. I, however, see a clear difference. Those who haze and allow themselves to be hazed engage in activities with no purpose. Pledging has a purpose, there is a lesson to be learned. You may not understand the purpose at that present time, but it will eventually reveal itself. Especially if a responsible prophyte takes the time to clarify any behavior to a neophyte. I am able to make this distinction because I indeed pledged to become a member of my organization. I learned things about myself that I very well may have never learned or maybe not as early in my life. I created life long bonds with people who witnessed and supported me in my times of strength and weakness. I was taught life lessons and most importantly, I was taught even more information about my organization. Information that reaffirmed my desire to become a member in the first place. I worked to become a member of my organization. I have experiences that will forever bond me to my organizations and my chapter. Memories that I can reflect upon through my lifetime commitment to my organization. I was never forced to do any of the things noted in this article because I was not hazed. My pledge process was physically, mentally and emotionally taxing. I was not abused, disrespected or forced to do anything. The most important ties that bind me to my organization did not take place in a classroom. The activities in that classroom did teach me the core values of my organization which I reflect upon each day as I strive to be a better person. I hate that the Divine Nine is being tarnished by acts such as these. I am by no means “paper”, but my life was never put in danger. Chapter members who engage in these life threatening behaviors, in my opinion, are seeking to prove themselves. They are assuming what a “real” process is and because they lack relationships with prophytes who can pass true tradition down, they are left to create what they think is a process. The forbidden fruit of pledging should be honored and upheld. Hazing indeed is illegal and pointless.
Imposing a moratorium on intake is not going to solve the problem. Honestly, it may only add to the problem. In situations where individual chapters have come back from suspension, they seek to then re-establish themselves in the same behavior that got them suspended. Focusing on the intake process as written in a book or changing this process is not going to propel the Divine Nine into the future. Continuing to lessen the initiation time will only water down the process. You will have members of our organizations who are not fully committed to the organization. We will become much like our majority Greek letter counterparts, who join organizations while in school and have no bond after. They will be "given"letters for superficial gain.
I think that Mr. Mason is correct in suspending intake membership into the fraternity Alpha phi Alpha Inc. The problem is that the need for inclusivness into such organizations by prospective candidates, have surpassed the rich traditions that the BLGO have stood for. It is my belief that the Black Letter Greek Organizations stood for service to community and humanity, scholarship, integrity, humility, brotherhood/sisterhood, and linear examples of academic achievement. It is a well know fact that during the birth of the organizations, that the plight of African Americans worldwide were deplorable. African American Scholars during that era suggested that the socio-economic ills felt by African Americans could be diminished significantly, If a insurgence of educational achievement could be attained. The percentage of collegiate examples of success was very small during that time. W.E.B Dubois argued that social change could be accomplished by developing the small group of college-educated blacks he called "the Talented Tenth". He believed that ten percent of the Negro race could save the other ninety percent. This elitist thought process was the mantle behind the principals and cardinals of the BLGO. I myself believe that initiation into any of these organizations is a priviliged that should be only extended to certain individuals. However, a change in the intake process is necessary. The old traditional methods of pledging, hazing,etc..are of a archaic nature. African Americans in particular should not have to submit to the mental and physical drudgery of rehashing the barbaric physical and mental abuse inflicted upon us by our slave captors and overseers. What hurts me is that the practice of pledging and hazing has risen to such violent extremes. Many of the initiates are unaware of the whole intake process and rely solely upon third party extracted information. A lot of them subject themselves to this abuse because of retribution from the organization, such as ostracizing from fraternal/sorrority membership. Alpha Phi Alpha Inc. has a new national campaign aimed at young African American males called from the cradle to the grave. The organization is recognizing the importance of the Black Man's involvement in the social and physcological development of today's young Black Men. We owe our youth the opportuity to have a secure and prosperous future. When there is so much discord and total blatant refusal to follow rules established by an organization (pledging, hazing,improper or immoral acts), Our youth are left with an bad example of leadership from their adult peers who have attained academic and professional success. Distinguishing between whose right or wrong is not the solution. Respecting the purpose and intentions of the founders of the Divine Nine is most imprtant. One important fact in closing, is that focus should placed upon adhering and following the commandments of God and living our lives as followers of HIM. The founders had a tenacity for serving God first then humanity. The whole world is watching how the leadership in the BGLO handle their domestic disputes in regards to pledging. Continued negative press would only class the BGLO as another example of poor leadership from African Americans. Support the visionaries of these organization, and stop living in the past. What one member went through should not have to be the same for a new member. A change must come. This is a new millenium. God Bless.
@mad max Alpha Phi Alpha doesn't have a program called from the cradle to the grave, do you mean from High Chair to Higher Education? Or are you referring to a chapter program.
@Pledged, this line you typed said it all "They are assuming what a “real” process is and because they lack relationships with prophytes who can pass true tradition down, they are left to create what they think is a process."
Not sure what the ramifications will be for the fraternity. But I saw Tukes (the victim) this past weekend, sporting paraphernalia and throwing up the sign.
Hmm..interesting.
[…] Alpha Phi Alpha Imposes Nationwide Membership Moratorium […]
People need to get off thier high horse. Their is nothing traditional about beating a person to a pulp. And if we want to move forward, D9 has to be done away with. They "Used" to be positive. There is nothing positive about them now. THey are riding on pure name sake and things of the past. I am in college and i see how these "d9" greeks act. they think that they are super human, better than everyone else. What is so special about getting your ass beat. Tell me please. Sad part is if to get your job or career you had to get ur ass beat by the "man" we would be the first ones crying to the lord for help. And also in this day n time it is point less. IT has become a fad to join a fraternity or sorority. ASK ME D9 HAS TO BE DONE AWAY WITH. THEY ARE OF NO SERVICE TO ANYONE. THEY RIDE PURELY OFF OF PAST. MAJORITY TALK!!!