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tlon I vld 0 cont r nc at Hlghlan
By Berrie c. Le i
Stag R,porter
Mounting social problems
facing African-Americans
are prompting Black Greek­
letter organizations to take a
concerted role in filling a
Black leadership void.
During a vldeoconference
beld at Highland Park Com­
munity College. last Wednes­
day, called "Blac Fraternites
& Sororities: A Glorious
Past, The Road Ahead," mem­
bers of tbe organizations
t Iked of their roles In- ad­
dre sing African-American
social problems.
Tbe nationwide videocon­
ference bosted by the publi­
cation, Black Issues in ,
Hi gher Education, was
broadca t live, via satellite,
from Black Entertainment
Televi ion (BET) studios in .
Washington D.C.
Colleges, universities,
high schools local fraternity
and orority chapters, and
military installations nation­
wide participated in the
video- conference.
THE CONFERE CE
featured two panels of na­
tional leaders of Black
Greek-letter organization ,
student members, repre-
entatives from the educa­
tional community, and a live
tudio audience.
A national audience par­
ticipated by calling in ques­
tion to the panel from site
around the country.
P ncl di cu 'ion included
.or anizational policie and
re ulauons: elf-regulation
and accountability' Black
Greek on hi tc campu e ;
the re pon Ihilitie of col­
Ic rc to Bla Gree -Ieuer
or a n rz a ti ns : nd con e­
qu nee of n w nile for
brm in In new mem er .
A unc mpl yment, ub-
tance abu ,undereduca­
tion, homelessne s, and
crime take an increasing toll
on Black American , these
organization h ve come to
tbe conclu ion tbat they ill
h ve to take greater role in
ddre sing them.
Before ddressing tbe e
problems, the organization
bad ome in-hou e cleaning
to ta e care or.
I JU IES D deaths
from pledge related activitie
prompted the organization'
to abolish the pledge; initi -
tion proce in order to sur­
vive.
ountin per onal injury
have threatened few of
organiz tion wi th
r Community Coli
o
a
e
bankruptcy.
The ne intake rule have
met ith opposition from
members who think the tradi­
tions of pledging bould be
maintained, but the national
le dersblp claims the tradi­
tion of pledging as adopted
from wbite Gree -letter or­
ganization years after their
foundi ng, where initiall y
members were chosen by
merit, :
The national leaders claim
the new intake process will
enable them to focus more on
outside issues and take in bet­
ter quality members, ithout
worrying about the conse­
quences of pledge related ac­
tivities.
The panel ac nowledged
the role of Black Greek-letter
organization on
predominately. hite college
campuses, aying they are
usually the catylist for ocial
ch nge to benefit Blacks.
tions on predominately white
campu es have to contend
with college administration
which ometimes do not
recognize tbem a legitimate
organizations.
A participant in the studio
audience, who wa a member
of the National Panbelli
League, aid the organization
will 100 into these problems
in order to get Black Greek­
letter organizations recog­
nized.
Many local and national
Black leaders are members of
Black Greek-letter organiza­
tion. The membership of
these organization number
about one million in the
United State nd abroad.
The individual ac-
compli hments of these mem­
bers and the sheer numbers
are prompting the organiza­
tion to take a larger role in
Blac leadership.
Members of the organiza­
tions say they will step up
their efforts to reach out to
youngsters and instill hope
and pride in them, particular­
ly Black male.
ALTHOUGH THEY are a
force to be reckoned wi th,
Black Gree -Ietter organiza-
Whe
COURT
ade
As a junior high s h I student in Baltimore,
Maryland, Dominique Wilkin learned all .
about the law of gravi y. After chool, n
th concrete ba .ketball c urt of the
, Patt rs n Par city playgr und,
h defied it.
the
a rna r x ur
su
m irr w.
t R ar also en ura
th b.t th Y an
r n ighb rh d. urt
m. W . ar r furbishin
hi h-us , rund n playg und c urts all
a ross th co ntry, becaus we kn w
that ven � r . persta lik Dominiqu
there" nothing like a home
court advantag