i have been following this story since it first broke in the early part of this week. when i posted the first new story, i was somewhat wheary about the entire situation. there were general quotes in the story, but i figured it was fishy since the official university spokesperson had not yet been notified. well using my acquired journalism skills i got to work asking questions. the university then went on to release statements regarding the investigation, so then it was made official that something must have gone terribly wrong. i cannot imagine how the family of this young brother might be feeling with the sudden lost of him. overnight i spoke with a few people about the issue, and it seem to me that people are more concerned about all membership intake activities being suspended indefinitely by president george c. wright. that is not where the focus should be. i spoke with a friend who is a member of the organization in question just to be supportive, know they are probably catching it from so many ends. this morning i watch a clip on abc13 from a interview with the victim's father, which really alarmed me.
according to the victims father his son was very scared, and terrified of members of this "sorority" yes he did say sorority, and out of respect for his late son he never reported anything, however, for those of us that are familiar with hazing, if you are a active participant, you are just as guilty as the people doing the hazing. i personally could not imagine going to my mother and being terrified about anything and her not taking the initiative as a parent to do something, it blows my mind, and i find it hard to believe that his son was so terrified of members of this organization he would tell his father, and his father would just sit back and let nothing be done.
another issue that i have with this story is the fact the victim was just taken to Cypress, and dropped off at the hospital. what does that say about those that were with him, no matter what the circumstances are when you are with someone, and they become ill, or whatever the case may be it's you responsibility to contact the proper officials, and give statements to aid in the treatment of the individual. personally when i was going through the membership education process for my organization we were there for each other, as were the big brothers.
there comes a time when you just have to be real, and the time is now, pvamu is known for greek life, it's a part of the rich tradition of the institution dating back to 1968 when then president alvin thomas established the national pan hellenic council, however it's not the reason praire view exist, and i think people often forget that. prairie view was established to produce successful african-american students in the state of texas, when the unknown 8 stepped onto the grounds of the alta vista plantation in waller county, letters, and colors didn't exist. change can be hard but it's often needed, i think over the past few years the administration of prairie view have done a wonderful job at turning the image of the school around and we not attract some of the worlds brightest students, i would hate for this isolated incident to cast a cloud over all the good pvamu stands for. i am saying a special prayer for the victim's family and firends, and a prayer for the organization in question, justice will prevail, for i believe.
related links
university official response to students death
houston abc 13 coverage
houston
chronicle story
khou coverage
Friday, October 23, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
19 years later, still healing.....
When I was 16 years old I asked my grandmother
"Granny, what was it like to have to bury a child (my daddy)?" she simply replied "it's a feeling I cannot describe, and it's a feeling I would not want another mother to experience. Your father was my oldest, he could know I needed something and he would just appear. My late grandmother had a way with words when it came to my father. To be honest she was one of the only people I could talk to about my father, she would give it to me real, and for that I am forever grateful! My father is a subject I bring up every now & then, but I have noticed over the past couple years making the transition from boyhood into manhood, has been especially difficult for me. I often wonder how my life would be had my dad been present the past 19 years. Had he not walked out the door early that October morning.
The morning started normal, I woke up in between he and my stepmother, which is where I slept when I visited them, I had recently been diagnosed with asthma, so I was not feeling too good early in the morning, so he went to get me some medicine. He came home gave me the medication, took a shower, and as we were sitting in the living room, he said "I'll be back later or I'll see y'all later" I remember asking daddy can I go, he replied we will do something later this evening. The morning went on pretty normal, until my grandfather came by and took my stepmom into her room, and all I heard was a scream saying "Mr. Gilbert no......." my brother and I ran to see what happened, and she said "Y'all's daddy is gone" I don't remember much about the week following I just remember it was very emotional. As I fast forward 19 years later, I am now 24 years old, and I look at how blessed I am. I had people come into my life, I had a father figure, I had god parents, who stepped in.
People that have not experienced it cannot possibly understand the loss of a parent, even in my case where I didn't know him or recall very many things. I think the hardest thing is have to rely on what other people have to say, you often deal with a lot of things, like people that make them out to be perfect just becasue they are deceased, or the people that just give it to you, and call out whatever issues they had. As the years passed people stopped visiting the grave it became harder, even myself. So many things go through my head when I think of my father, and my own legacy. I think that is where my want for my own children and family come from. I would want my children to have that relationship I didn't have.
With death also come people's true feelings and motives. When I think of ways I have been treated by family members it give me the drive to be independent, support those who support me, and know I have what many want. My mother has been there for me, and to have a strong parent to step up and raise a son is not easy, so I am indebted to her for the rest of my life as well as my older sister for being like a second mother as well.
So as this day comes every year it's getting a little better with time, I still opt not to work, and just be to myself for the most part.... Thanks to everyone who has help me through this situation!
"Granny, what was it like to have to bury a child (my daddy)?" she simply replied "it's a feeling I cannot describe, and it's a feeling I would not want another mother to experience. Your father was my oldest, he could know I needed something and he would just appear. My late grandmother had a way with words when it came to my father. To be honest she was one of the only people I could talk to about my father, she would give it to me real, and for that I am forever grateful! My father is a subject I bring up every now & then, but I have noticed over the past couple years making the transition from boyhood into manhood, has been especially difficult for me. I often wonder how my life would be had my dad been present the past 19 years. Had he not walked out the door early that October morning.
The morning started normal, I woke up in between he and my stepmother, which is where I slept when I visited them, I had recently been diagnosed with asthma, so I was not feeling too good early in the morning, so he went to get me some medicine. He came home gave me the medication, took a shower, and as we were sitting in the living room, he said "I'll be back later or I'll see y'all later" I remember asking daddy can I go, he replied we will do something later this evening. The morning went on pretty normal, until my grandfather came by and took my stepmom into her room, and all I heard was a scream saying "Mr. Gilbert no......." my brother and I ran to see what happened, and she said "Y'all's daddy is gone" I don't remember much about the week following I just remember it was very emotional. As I fast forward 19 years later, I am now 24 years old, and I look at how blessed I am. I had people come into my life, I had a father figure, I had god parents, who stepped in.
People that have not experienced it cannot possibly understand the loss of a parent, even in my case where I didn't know him or recall very many things. I think the hardest thing is have to rely on what other people have to say, you often deal with a lot of things, like people that make them out to be perfect just becasue they are deceased, or the people that just give it to you, and call out whatever issues they had. As the years passed people stopped visiting the grave it became harder, even myself. So many things go through my head when I think of my father, and my own legacy. I think that is where my want for my own children and family come from. I would want my children to have that relationship I didn't have.
With death also come people's true feelings and motives. When I think of ways I have been treated by family members it give me the drive to be independent, support those who support me, and know I have what many want. My mother has been there for me, and to have a strong parent to step up and raise a son is not easy, so I am indebted to her for the rest of my life as well as my older sister for being like a second mother as well.
So as this day comes every year it's getting a little better with time, I still opt not to work, and just be to myself for the most part.... Thanks to everyone who has help me through this situation!
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