[23026] in APO-L
[APO-L] Fwd: Response to the Pending Suspension of Brother Joel Bryant
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Joel Bryant)
Sat Oct 26 16:06:19 2002
Date: Sat, 26 Oct 2002 12:56:15 -0700
Reply-To: Joel Bryant <joelbryant2001@YAHOO.COM>
From: Joel Bryant <joelbryant2001@YAHOO.COM>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
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From: MAPOWIZ@aol.com
Date: Fri, 25 Oct 2002 17:16:33 EDT
Subject: Response to the Pending Suspension of Brother Joel Bryant
To: vice.president@apo.org, executive.director@apo.org
CC: wkeene@howard.edu, joelbryant2001@yahoo.com, kroots@virginia.edu,
doleary@juniper.net, pathfinder@acm.org, jamieconover@hotmail.com,
cmuckle@twcny.rr.com, membership.director@apo.org, JimBeKind@aol.com,
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October 23, 2002
John Wetherington,
National Vice President
Chair, Spirit and Standards Committee
Dear Mr. Wetherington:
With all due respect to the Fraternity and its policies, I must say that I am
very disappointed in the decision to recommend the suspension of Brother Joel
Bryant Omicron Upsilon '78, for what appears to be one-sided allegations. To
allege that he violated the Risk Management Policy of this Fraternity by
"excessively taking pictures in a disturbing manner" is outrageous, and why
is it that Brother Bryant hasn't been able to face his accusers, isn't this
America, doesn't he have the right to know who has brought these allegations
against him. Furthermore, we also know that everyone who was present have not
even been given the opportunity to give their account of what took place. If
you know Bro. Joel like I know him, you would know that these allegations are
very uncharacteristic of him.
Brother Joel Bryant was informed that this event was going to take place by
Keith Roots, and was invited to attend by Rashid Darden . He wasn't even
going to attend if I had not asked him to, because I wasn't available to
attend. He and a few other Brothers graciously accepted the invitation to
meet and greet who ever showed up on campus. We even talked to Jamie Conover
on a conference call prior to the this event and let her know that we would
be in attendance. I personally gave her the email address of a Zeta Phi
Brother from Washington, DC but currently enrolled at the University of
Maryland, who was more than willing to work with the Sponsor as a
representative of Zeta Phi Chapter.
You know, I make it a point to wear my shield on my lapel to represent what I
believe to be part of what makes me who I am and that is Alpha Phi Omega. I
didn't wear it today. Ironically, when I received word of the suspension I
was actually going over the Life Membership application. I had my check book
out, and was prepared to send it off. Needless to say, the application is
still on my desk, don't get me wrong, I am still going to send it, but when
my heart is much lighter. You see, when a Black Man walks on to a
Historically Black College or University (HBCU), his heart usually leads him
to one of the traditional Pan Hellenic Fraternities, like many of the Men of
Alpha Phi Omega that I know. But there is something inside of us; our
strength, courage, integrity, and unconditional will to serve our communities
that brings us to the Old Gold and Royal Blue. In doing so, many times this
means breaking from family traditions, or changing our boyhood dreams,
because for the most part, Pan Hell was all we knew--until we saw the
light...the Light of Alpha Phi Omega.
It's not easy being an "A-Phi-Que," a term that you don't even officially
recognize. But this is part of our culture, a culture that we can't wash
off, and you can't wish off, a culture that we respect and want respected.
This Fraternity talks about Diversity and Expansion, while at the same time
hypocritically, in my opinion, devaluing the diversity that already exists
within its own ranks. You talk about Canada and Australia, and we have
Brothers and Sisters from the Philippines, yes that is diversity, but what
about the thousands of men who pledged this Fraternity at HBCUs since 1947.
You call yourselves justified in suspending a Life member who has done more
towards Diversity than many who call themselves "Brothers of Alpha Phi
Omega." Why isn't the rich history of HBCU Chapters (Men of the Rising Sun)
in the history books and CD ROMs?
Why is it that this struggle still continues in the year 2002, I think that
it is time that we bring these issues to the table once and for all? A
suspension is not going to solve the dilemma that exist between the HBCU
Chapters and the Fraternity. Especially given the fact that this is not about
one man, nor is about one Chapter. Bro. Bryant is not even from Zeta Phi
Chapter and has never even attended a Howard Homecoming, but he pledged in
the Traditions of the Men of the Rising Sun. and is Vice President of
Service, Men of the The Rising Sun at Philadelphia and unconditionally shows
his support. This organization of Brothers from HBCU Chapter who live in the
Philadelphia area has been around since 1979, and was founded by a Brother
from Zeta Phi Chapter, and Bro. Joel has been with it ever since. As the
Executive Director of this Alumni Association, I submit to you that we stand
behind our Brother, Joel Bryant, Life Member-Omicron Upsilon '78, 100%, and
until the full account is given, will remain steadfast in our convictions.
If I can be of any assistance in helping to bridge this divide, let me know!
Fraternally Yours
In Leadership, Friendship, and Service
Mark Harrell, MHS
Zeta Phi '81
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<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"><BR>
October 23, 2002<BR>
<BR>
John Wetherington,<BR>
National Vice President<BR>
Chair, Spirit and Standards Committee<BR>
<BR>
Dear Mr. Wetherington:<BR>
<BR>
With all due respect to the Fraternity and its policies, I must say that I am very disappointed in the decision to recommend the suspension of Brother Joel Bryant Omicron Upsilon '78, for what appears to be one-sided allegations. To allege that he violated the Risk Management Policy of this Fraternity by "excessively taking pictures in a disturbing manner" is outrageous, and why is it that Brother Bryant hasn't been able to face his accusers, isn't this America, doesn't he have the right to know who has brought these allegations against him. Furthermore, we also know that everyone who was present have not even been given the opportunity to give their account of what took place. If you know Bro. Joel like I know him, you would know that these allegations are very uncharacteristic of him.<BR>
<BR>
Brother Joel Bryant was informed that this event was going to take place by Keith Roots, and was invited to attend by Rashid Darden . He wasn't even going to attend if I had not asked him to, because I wasn't available to attend. He and a few other Brothers graciously accepted the invitation to meet and greet who ever showed up on campus. We even talked to Jamie Conover on a conference call prior to the this event and let her know that we would be in attendance. I personally gave her the email address of a Zeta Phi Brother from Washington, DC but currently enrolled at the University of Maryland, who was more than willing to work with the Sponsor as a representative of Zeta Phi Chapter.<BR>
<BR>
You know, I make it a point to wear my shield on my lapel to represent what I believe to be part of what makes me who I am and that is Alpha Phi Omega. I didn't wear it today. Ironically, when I received word of the suspension I was actually going over the Life Membership application. I had my check book out, and was prepared to send it off. Needless to say, the application is still on my desk, don't get me wrong, I am still going to send it, but when my heart is much lighter. You see, when a Black Man walks on to a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), his heart usually leads him to one of the traditional Pan Hellenic Fraternities, like many of the Men of Alpha Phi Omega that I know. But there is something inside of us; our strength, courage, integrity, and unconditional will to serve our communities that brings us to the Old Gold and Royal Blue. In doing so, many times this means breaking from family traditions, or changing our boyhoo!
d dreams, because for the most part, Pan Hell was all we knew--until we saw the light...the Light of Alpha Phi Omega. <BR>
<BR>
It's not easy being an "A-Phi-Que," a term that you don't even officially recognize. But this is part of our culture, a culture that we can't wash off, and you can't wish off, a culture that we respect and want respected. This Fraternity talks about Diversity and Expansion, while at the same time hypocritically, in my opinion, devaluing the diversity that already exists within its own ranks. You talk about Canada and Australia, and we have Brothers and Sisters from the Philippines, yes that is diversity, but what about the thousands of men who pledged this Fraternity at HBCUs since <B>1947. </B>You call yourselves justified in suspending a Life member who has done more towards Diversity than many who call themselves "Brothers of Alpha Phi Omega." Why isn't the rich history of HBCU Chapters (Men of the Rising Sun) in the history books and CD ROMs?<BR>
<BR>
Why is it that this struggle still continues in the year 2002, I think that it is time that we bring these issues to the table once and for all? A suspension is not going to solve the dilemma that exist between the HBCU Chapters and the Fraternity. Especially given the fact that this is not about one man, nor is about one Chapter. Bro. Bryant is not even from Zeta Phi Chapter and has never even attended a Howard Homecoming, but he pledged in the Traditions of the Men of the Rising Sun. and is Vice President of Service, Men of the The Rising Sun at Philadelphia and unconditionally shows his support. This organization of Brothers from HBCU Chapter who live in the Philadelphia area has been around since 1979, and was founded by a Brother from Zeta Phi Chapter, and Bro. Joel has been with it ever since. As the Executive Director of this Alumni Association, I submit to you that we stand behind our Brother, Joel Bryant, Life Member-Omicron Upsilon '78, 100%, and until th!
e full account is given, will remain steadfast in our convictions. <BR>
<BR>
If I can be of any assistance in helping to bridge this divide, let me know!<BR>
<BR>
Fraternally Yours<BR>
<BR>
In Leadership, Friendship, and Service<BR>
<BR>
Mark Harrell, MHS<BR>
Zeta Phi '81<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
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