[23278] in APO-L
Re: [APO-L] Pre-Convention Greetings to my Brothers
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Liz Pund)
Thu Dec 12 13:29:56 2002
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 13:29:52 -0500
Reply-To: Liz Pund <exp28@po.cwru.edu>
From: Liz Pund <exp28@po.cwru.edu>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
In-Reply-To: <000501c2a206$faa92dd0$ee041e0a@iga.local>
Hi everyone,
I am new to this list and I don't understand all the references being
made in this discussion, like APhiQ's and HBCU. Could someone email me
and explain what these mean? (you don't need to reply to the whole
list) I am looking forward to meeting everyone at Nationals!
Thanks in advance. :)
In LFS,
Liz Pund
President, Theta Upsilon
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH
-------------------------------------
Liz Pund
exp28@po.cwru.edu
President, Alpha Phi Omega
Webmaster:
apo.cwru.edu
home.cwru.edu/upb
home.cwru.edu/~exp28
home.cwru.edu/homecoming
-----Original Message-----
From: Alpha Phi Omega Discussion List [mailto:APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU]
On Behalf Of Mark Allen Stratton
Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2002 12:51 PM
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
Subject: Re: [APO-L] Pre-Convention Greetings to my Brothers
Brothers,
I have been reading this discussion with much interest, but over the
course,
I find that there are some comments that I personally feel a need to
respond
to (and at the outset, let me say I am only speaking for myself).
Brother Ken Hunter wrote:
> They choose not to wear letters, nor promote themselves as anything
more
than a collegiate service organization.
Frankly, my belief is that one exhibits the fraternal spirit in word and
deed, not in the wearing of greek-lettered apparel. Certainly, wearing
letters is ONE way to display a sense of pride in our Fraternity, but it
isn't the only way, nor do I think it is the "best" way. I'd much
prefer
that we display our Fraternal spirit through activities that exemplify
the
practice of our Three Cardinal Principles.
> There is a deeply-religious element that I admire (having spent some
time
around TSU and Fisk in Nashville...),
Again, I don't know what a "deeply-relgious element" has do with a
Fraternal
spirit (beyond what our Ritual says). I, for one, am a person of
sincere
faith and worship, but I generally do not openly display it because it
is a
PERSONAL and PRIVATE matter for me. I do not think we can judge one's
committment to Alpha Phi Omega simply through a "religious element".
Again,
I believe the exercise of the Three Cardinal Principles is a BETTER
guide to
ascertain one's belief and support of our Fraternal principles.
> So long as those changes that are made with respect to the realities
of
our time are addressed and included, chapters should still be
> encouraged to maintain and promote their traditions.
And when those chapters or groups don't respect the "realities of our
time",
what then? And this isn't just an issue for A-Phi-Que chapters or
groups;
it's an issue for ALL of our chapters and groups.
While we must and should do a better job at educating ALL of our members
about the Spirit of Fraternalism, I believe there is a way to do that
which
is consistent with the view of our Founder. To me, though, that way
does
NOT include a number of practices that some of our chapter or groups
have
undertaken in the past. I don't care if those activities are tradition,
and
I don't care of those chapters/groups are HBCUs, A-Phi-Que, Co-Ed,
Single
Gender (on single gender campuses), Single-Gender (on co-ed campuses) or
what: Chapters and groups either observe and uphold the Fraternity
policy
(which ideally exists for the betterment and advancement of the
Fraternity
as a whole), or something has to be done.
Our Fraternity policies are designed (ideally) to strengthen the
NATIONAL
organization. As a benefit, some are written in such a way as to give
Chapter's and groups great flexibility in meeting the requirements of
those
policies. We are a group where CLEARLY (in my mind) the "whole is
greater
than the sum of its parts".
Just my thoughts for today. I had really not wanted to enter this
debate,
but after reading some of the comments this morning, I felt compelled to
respond.
I hope to see many of you in New Orleans!
Fraternally,
Mark
