Last week local residents read a story in the Tallahassee Democrat about a brawl between Florida State University football players and members of the Mu Epsilon Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.
As a result, four people were injured.
People were injured, but so was the reputation of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.
It’s already a known fact in the black community that black students must work hard to uphold their culture’s reputation.
With the constant exposure of negative images of blacks in the media, this is imperative.
But for an organization like Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., founded on brotherhood, scholarship and service charged to uplift the community, this act was unacceptable.
Members in the Mu Epsilon Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma should uphold a positive image for themselves, their fraternity and culture.
While the football players share responsibility, this is a bigger deal for Greek members.
Members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, also known as “The Divine Nine,” are supposed to be among the elite of black culture – the leaders.
This week, FSU’s Black Alumni Association responded to the incident expressing the same points.
The excerpt on Tallahassee Democrat’s Web site said, “If the promises of educational opportunities are to be afforded to the next generation of black students, each of us, Greeks and student-athlete alike, must strive to pass on the baton.”
As college students, when we choose to seek a higher education, we’ve became leaders in our community … whether we like it or not.
When we take leadership roles, it is important to uphold leadership qualities.
This incident was a display thuggish behavior that must be discouraged.
A’sia Horne-Smith for the editorial board.