COLLEGE BROTHER OE THE YEAR football field, and in the community as well. R.L. was named team captain of special teams and was named Most Outstanding Male Scholar Athlete by the coaches and players. R.L. was a Spring '90 initiate of the Eta Nu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity..., and immediately became president displaying his leadership to a young chapter of mainly his line brothers. The line name was the Winds of Change, and so deserving for a brother who brought about a change into the chapter, along with chapter advisor Dennis Hatchett. R.L. volunteered his time to speak at various area churches to youth groups, gave time to the Community Food Shelter for the Homeless, and to the At-Risk Kids (ARK) program at ECU. Robert L. Beeman, II If Robert Lee Beeman II had a motto, it would probably be "success is the fruit of one's labor." At 27, Mr. Beeman is an ex-Marine, star football player and former Eta Nu chapter president. Not only did he finish tops in his 1991 class of nearly 4,000 undergraduate seniors, but Bro. Beeman graduated Magna Cum Laude. Among his list of awards, Bro. Beeman was the winner of the Omega Psi Phi Award, the Kappa Alpha Psi Award, and the University Award, the highest honor for a graduating senior. He gained acceptance into two national honor societies. Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key. He was awarded at the Breakfast of Champions for athletic and academic excellence. Among many more awards Bro. Beeman is probably most fond of being on the Chancellor's List every semester of his four years with an incredible 4.0 G.P.A. Bro. Beeman will be attending Law School at Harvard this Fall. He says he wishes to gain from an education, instant respect and the ability to help his fellow man. He hopes one day to become an ambassador or a U.S. Congressman. His goal at the moment is to graduate No. 1 in his class at Harvard. Robert Lee Beeman II, known by is peers as R.L., displayed leadership abilities not only in the classroom, but also on the Page 32
Bro. Beeman does not consider himself to be a success in life at this stage because that is yet to be seen. However, he says, "potential is nothing if you don't work at it and cultivate it. I have never let anyone tell me what I can and cannot do because I feel that I can become anything or anyone I desire." R.L. has truly been a blessing to the Eta Nu Chapter and has touched and inspired so many that have been fortunate enough to make his acquaintance.H (Alumni Bro. of the Yr. cont...) keep everything in perspective. "Family is extremely important to me. I really appreciate the spiritual background my family has given me, which I think is important for all I do, not just with the fraternity." He said, "I believe in the spirit of fraternity. I believe it's something very good and valuable about men, particularly AfricanAmerican men, coming together in a positive association to help the community as a whole. There are so very few of us who try to do this, and because of this I will probably always be actively involved in the fraternity and will strive to epitomize all it represents.H
(Afrocentrism cont...) circumstances. "Afrocentrism" situates black people, whether in Africa or throughout the diaspora, in their own history in a way that makes their relation to the history of others more meaningful. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity with its origins in self study has certainly played a central role in promoting this old idea. if not its new name.M Robert L. Harris, Jr., who was made in Theta Chapter, Chicago, in 1963, is President of the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History and former Director of the Africana Studies and Research Center at Cornell University, where he is Associate Professor of African-American History. (Chap, of the Year cont...) Year" was named "District Brother of the Year". At this same meeting Eta Lambda was chosen as the "Chapter of the Year". It was off to Vicksburg, Mississippi for the delegates of Eta Lambda Chapter for the Southern Regional Convention whose theme was "Alpha South: Poised for the 21 st Century". There was much for Eta Lambda to do at the Regional. In addition to being in the running for "Chapter of the Year", and Bro. Carter up for "Brother of the Year", Eta Lambda Bro. Robert Willis was running for Southern Region Vice President. With a determined delegation we were able to assist Bro. Willis in being voted to the position of Southern Regional Vice President. We were guided in our efforts by Bro. Willis' campaign chairman, Bro. Lloyd Givens. For our part we were named Southern Region "Chapter of the Year" and eventually named National "Chapter of the Year". Bro. Carter was second runner up in the "Brother of the Year" competition. Last but not least we would like to send our condolences to the family of Eta Lambda Brother F.V. Rollins who passed on to Omega Chapter.l George K. Robinson, Jr.
The SphinxlSpring 1992