a taste of tamu

8/9/2019 A TASTE OF TAMU

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A TASTE OF TAMU-COMMERCES GREEK LIFE

By: Daijah Williams


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DaiJah Williams

English 102

Mrs. WhiteMy Family Is My Writing

Deborah Brandt, a Professor of English goes against the grain with a subject we

all have to go through at the beginning of our lives. She has created a name for people

who are sponsors seemed a fitting term for the figures who turned up most typically in

peoples memories of literacy learning: older relatives, teachers, priests, supervisors,

military officers, editors, influential authors, (Carter 15). I personally believe that my

family has been my rock in my grade school career. Throughout the book, she gives the

reader many different yet similar definitions but basically being someone who supports,

teaches, or suppresses their pupil and gains some type of advantage such as parents,

teachers, church ministers, etc. In other words, people who have moved along my school

work and pushed my limits to where I have reached my ultimate potential.

One person that I have to comment on is my grandmother. She was the

only person in my family who graduated from college and encouraged me to enroll. I

remember running through the room looking for her and always finding her in the bed.

Crawling into her king-sized, colorful, high bed that sat in the middle of the bedroom

which was difficult to get into but I managed to pick myself up with my book. I used to

disturb her soap operas or as she called stories, but always lent her attention to me

when I wanted to read. I read to her until I fell asleep in her arms and only then would

she go back and watch her stories. Now that I look back, I remember her walking in the

small apartment down the narrow hall into the living room to drop her things off looking

past exhausted, go to the kitchen to fix a meal for me and my mother, and go watch her


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stories. As I grew older, she always told me You have all the freedom in the world baby,

except when its time to head off to college, so school always came first. My father left

me and my mother one winter day with his new girlfriend and it was very hard for us

beyond that point. My mother handled it very well staying strong for me and equally

distributed her energy and her attention to everything but me at times. When I could not

read to my grandmother because she was at work, I would try to read to my mother but

she was always busy with something. My grandmother took the place of my Literacy

Sponsor in my earlier days until my teachers filled her spot after she moved out to

California.

Reading for some people can be a very easy task but for some, before reading

there is process whether its a simple outline or sitting down with a jar of cookies, soda,

pizza and a snuggie. I will teach the people I am blessed to come in contact with of my

process and how easy it is. All you have to dois read with somebody you love. I plan to

be a sponsor to my children and my childrens children and so on and so forth. This

definition can certainly play a huge part in someones understanding. I tell her how much

I appreciate but I do not feel it is enough so I plan to pay her back through others to show

her what a wonderful sponsor she has been to me. Sponsors, as we ordinarily think of

them, are powerful figures who bankroll events or smooth the way for initiates" (Carter

15)

In a way Greek life is like a family. Being that each brotherhood and sisterhood

has its own special bond. Each Greek contains its own subculture distinct from each other

but all are under the more dominate subculture: Greeks also known as the divine nine.

Just recently I encountered a insider experience with each Greek starting with the weekly


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[Pan-Hellenic] meeting with a representative from each Greek on the campus. Which

would be the fraternities Alpha phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, and the Phi Beta Sigma; the

sororities would be Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Kappa Alpha, and the Zeta Phi Beta. At

this meeting I was introduce to each representative, explained how the meeting would go,

walked thru the life or the president of the [Pan-Hellenic] committee, the upcoming

events and discussions on how much or where they should be. They also informed me of

the coming month and a half filled with the chance for each greek to have their own week

to put on and do anything to their liking to draw in any future pledges or to purely

entertain the campus for their week. Most Greeks plan to have a probate during their

week.

"The objectives of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. are to stimulate the ambition

of its members; to prepare them for the greatest usefulness in the cause of humanity,

freedom, and dignity of the individual; to encourage the highest and noblest form of

manhood; and to aid downtrodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social,

economic, and intellectual status. The Alphas Phi Alpha: Zeta Tau chapter on campus

are known as the Ice Cold Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha had the first week the most

important event that happened was the 2009 probate.111111900000000066666!!!! Is all

you heard while waiting on the east circle. The night was dark, cold, and whimsical. We

heard through people that the alpha were going to be crossing a new line, the place was

not spoken loudly but yet kept a little secret. So as we wait to see who went thru the

grueling process of pledging and is that one step closer to crossing, we hear a spooky

soundtrack start to play as we look up toward the library you see two burning lights, one


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in front of four men dressed in all black with gold masks on, and another light in the

back. The men came down the stairs walked past us and went towards a stage set up in

the middle of the circle, all we could think was they have arrived. You hear faint

whispers from other fraternities commenting on how they came out. As they get on the

stage they repeat the creed they learned, a few mock dances the revealing of their faces

and the national Ape Walk.

Founded:

December 4, 1906 at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.

Incorporated as a perpetual body in 1908

Official Colors: Black and Old Gold

Official Symbol: Sphinx
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4214001&id=681435129


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The next week was the Alpha Kappa Alphas. Mission statement: a sisterhood

composed of women who have consciously chosen this affiliation as a means of self-

fulfillment through volunteer service. Alpha Kappa Alpha cultivates and encourages high

scholastic and ethical standards; promotes unity and friendship among college women;

alleviates problems concerning girls and women; maintains a progressive interest in

college life; and serves all mankind..." Even though they did not cross a line, they did

have a different event every day pink and green was every where. The chapter we have

on campus would be the Epsilon Sigma 16 Kouture Pearls.

Founded:

January 15, 1908 at Howard University, Washington, DC.

Incorporated as a perpetual body in 1913

Official Colors:

Salmon pink and apple green

Official Symbol:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=4&view=global&subj=733923622&pid=30594272&id=1523160004


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Ivy Leaf

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., an international organization of college and

professional men, was founded on January 9th, 1914 at Howard University on the

principles, Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service. The next week was the Phi Beta

Sigmas who did a swim party at the morris recreation center. Their mission statement is,

"Culture for Service and Service for Humanity." The Sigmas are most known to be

country boys, and to only cross a few men on line at a time. On campus is the Eta Zeta

chapter.

Founded:

January 9, 1914 at Howard University, Washington DC. Incorporated as a perpetual body

in 1930.

Official Colors:


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Royal Blue & Pure White

Official Symbol:

Dove

The next Greek here on campus would be the DevaSTating ladies of Delta Sigma

Theta. Founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard

University. These students wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic

excellence and to provide assistance to persons in need. The first public act performed by

the Delta Founders involved their participation in the Women's Suffrage March in

Washington D.C., March 1913. Delta Sigma Theta was incorporated in 1930. Mission.

The ladies of Theta Nu here on campus still strive to keep the legacy and purpose alive,

during their greek week they had health event and better embodiment programs, such as a

program about aids. One of the touchiest subjects on campus, though you wouldnt think

it was as you sat and listen as the questions came in the speaker made it a open and safe


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topic as if we were talking about taking out the trash, they also had informational

handouts

Founded:

January 13, 1913 at Howard University, Washington, DC. Incorporated as a perpetual

body in 1930.

Official Colors:

Crimson and Cream -or- Red and White


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Official Flower:

African Violet

Known as:

The Nupes

Another fraternity on as is the smooth brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi. Originally chartered

and incorporated as Kappa Alpha Nu on April 15, 1911 at Indiana University, the name

was changed to Kappa Alpha Psi effective April 15, 1915. At this time the fraternity

acquired a distinctive Greek letter symbol and Kappa Alpha Psi officially became a

Greek letter fraternity. The Eta Phi: The Blood Thirsty Hammeron campus just took on a

new line during their week, the events were catered mainly to the ladies. The kappas are

known for being lady pleasers.

Founded:

January 15, 1911 at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. Incorporated as a perpetual

body in May, 1911.

Official Colors:

Crimson and Cream

Official Symbol:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31255838&id=1423208299


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Kappa Diamond

The last and final Greek on campus is the dovely ladies of Zeta Phi Beta, sisters to

the Phi Beta Sigmas. Founded on the simple belief that sorority elitism and socializing

should not overshadow the real mission for progressive organizations - to address societal

mores, ills, prejudices, poverty, and health concerns of the day. Founded January 16,

1920, Zeta began as an idea conceived by five coeds at Howard University in

Washington D.C. The purpose of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority is to foster the ideas of service,

charity, scholarship, civil and cultural endeavors, sisterhood and finer womanhood. These

ideals are reflected in the sorority's national program for which its members and auxiliary

groups provide voluntary service to staff, community outreach programs, fund

scholarships, support organized charities, and promote legislation for social and civic

change.During their week they had a pageant for the plus sized girls that gave them a

opportunity to showcase their skills because size definitely isnt everything. In their

intermission was a surprise probate, they crossed 3 dovely ladies into their sister hood.

The chapter on campus Is the dovely ladies of Alpha Epilison.


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Founded:

January 16, 1920 at Howard University, Washington DC. Incorporated as a perpetual

body in 1923.

Official Colors:

Royal Blue & Pure White

Official Symbol:

Dove

So in a way Greek life is like a family. Being that each brotherhood and

sisterhood has its own special bond. Each Greek contains its own subculture distinct from

each other but all are under the more dominate subculture: Greeks also known as the

divine nine. Ive learned that being in a greek is much more then wearing the letters,

stepping and shows. Theres a bond that forms from the times you share with the people

you cross with; a forever bond. Every step of the way, learning, joining and being apart


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of the process of becoming a Greek and maintaining a Greek was exciting and I cant

wait to one day join them!

a taste of tamu

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