WHAT’S GOING ON OUT WEST?
HHAMY’S AMY’S HHOUSE: OUSE:
Let s take a trip back in time In the year 1930, in the face of widespread exclusion from white founded fraternities and sororities, several Black Greek organizations came together for a single purpose: “Unanimity of thought and action as far as possible in the conduct of Greek letter collegiate fraternities and sororities, and to consider problems of mutual interest to its member organizations ” With that, the Divine were born
Today, we stand in the aftermath of their achievement, and are blessed by those that carry on their mission
This issue will focus on the NPHC in Lubbock, their contributions, and the stories of some of their members With that being said, allow me to introduce the Divine
THE PHIRST &
the Phinest
Where better to begin than the Phirst (and Phinest) ladies to form a sorority?
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was founded in Washington D.C in 1908 by nine brave young women seeking to break the barriers set against African Americans in Greek life.
Since then, their mission has been to “be of 'Service to All Mankind.” They accomplish this mission through incredible philanthropy efforts such as the Mississippi Health Project, which aimed to provide proper healthcare in Mississippi AfricanAmerican communities.
In the name of service, the Zeta Tau Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was established in 1971, To better understand our AKA undergrad chapter, I sat down with one of it’s members, Ore Without any further ado, allow me to introduce the Texas Tech Undergraduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha
ZEALOUS
ZETA TAU.
History Influence Service These principles (particularly the idea of giving back to the community) are what drew Ore to Alpha Kappa Alpha Of course, being the oldest sorority in the D9, AKA has earned plenty of proverbial stripes in the field of philanthropy
Take, for example, the establishment of the American Council on Human Rights. This human rights group was established by Alpha Kappa Alpha and several other Greek organizations in 1947 and aided in the civil rights movement by way of federal policy recommendations.
Today, Ore and the rest of the Zeta Tau chapter seek to draw from those that came before to aid and inspire those who are yet to come. “Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. prides itself on community service, and creating solutions for all problems around humanity.” Ore stated. These efforts can be seen all over Lubbock, whether its working with the Boys & Girls club or singing Christmas carols and handing out cards to nursing homes, the AKAs are out doing what they do best Being of service to all mankind!
As a part of the Divine 9, Ore is inspired by the commitment shown by all of its members “We’re definitely a much smaller community, but our significant impacts and contributions more than make up for it ” One such contribution being helping establish the IEE (formerly known as the BCC) at Texas Tech
On a more personal level, Ore holds pride in being an AKA “Being able to say I am a part of the oldest Greek letter sorority established for African American women is something I’m proud of.” And with the storied past and bright future of Alpha Kappa Alpha, who wouldn’t be proud to put on those letters?
Ultimately, Ore would describe her experience as an AKA as “amazing”. Being a part of the organization helps her to give back to her community, whether its through donation drives or social events. Thanks to Ore and the Zealous Zeta Tau chapter, the legacy of the original nine members lives on out west.
Lastly, I asked why Ore thinks Alpha Kappa Alpha is the best, and her answer was simple: “We’re the Phirst and the Phinest. We paved the way.”
While members of Delta Sigma Theta carry the title of “Devastating Divas”, their actions are anything but diva-ish, especially considering the fact that you’re most likely to see them organizing a voting drive or helping feed the homeless around Lubbock.
artered in 1970, the Elite Eta Lambda chapter of ta Sigma Theta was founded by 13 black women t sought to bring the Delta ideology westward. sh forward 55 years and the original members uld be proud to see the devastation the Divas have sed...if you consider community service, outreach, uplifting those around them to be devastating t is.
order to gain a greater understanding of the men of Delta Sigma Theta, I sat down with one of members, Ayianah. However in Delta Land I heard prefers the name...
Watchoutforthereds!
MΔIN
C2LLΣCTIΘN.
Ayianah may hold legacy status, but for her joining Delta Sigma Theta was a matter of principle rather than blood “I love everything that Delta brings to the community and I really wanted to be apart of that ” stated Ayianah Deltas are dedicated to public service initiatives, using a structure known as the Five Point Thrust to provide them In the past, service came in the form of things like the National Library Project, which established a traveling library through the segregated South
Today, events such as donation drives and Meals on Wheels services are some of the ways the Elite Eta Lambda have shown themselves to be committed to the cause Ayianah and her line are planning even more events in the future, stating that her “line is still new, but there’s so much more in store for the future ” Now I don’t know why, but I feel like on September 20th we’ll see the Deltas hit the field
Being a Delta has its own personal benefits as well, Ayianah adds. Beyond being “tons of fun and introducing you to great people in the form of sisters and mentors”, she learned skills like time management are of the utmost importance as “you have to be mindful of your time, be on top of your stuff You have to understand managing both your time and Delta business ” Balancing school with her obligations as a member of DST has taught Ayianah to be very mindful, very classy, and very Delta
Being in Lubbock adds another layer to her experience As a smaller community, Lubbock has much more room for growth than larger cities. Which begs the question, who better to fill that space with culture than the Devastating Divas?
The path to Delta Land is different for everyone, and for Ayianah continuing the legacy of the Deltas in her family played a role, and serves as a personal badge of honor in the Land of Delta. For those looking to become a Delta or join greek life, Ayianah advises prospects to do their research on every organization, and be sure that Delta is what fits you best. In her words: “If you know you want to be a Delta, then you know.”
Lastly, I asked why Ayianah feels the Deltas are the best, and her answer was simple: “There’s no comparing to the badDST.”
The Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated is a community-conscious and action-oriented organization. Over the last century, they have more than lived up to the expectations set by the Five Pearls all those years ago
That of course has been accomplished by the organization’s various philanthropic efforts, including (but not limited to) various foundations, partnerships. The chapter is also ever ambitious when it comes to expansion, being the first Greek-letter organization to charter a chapter in Africa
They were established in 1993, but recently the presence of the Lovely Lambda Omicron chapter had been rather diminished. Now that their numbers are replenished, I sat down with one of the members, Raven. Seeing as we’ve already gone over how the Zetas were established, its only fitting that we also talk about...
REVIVAL.
Sometimes, less is more In the case of Raven and the Lovely Lambda Omicron chapter, it rings truer than ever “With my intake class being the revival of the Lambda Omicron Chapter, before us there was only one Zeta, and her having the confidence to be there by herself was inspiring.” It’s that confidence, as well as the principles that Zeta Phi Beta stands for that drew Raven to the organization
The ideals of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood are what the Zetas are built upon, and what they exemplify through their actions. Whether it’s highway cleanup or a prom dress donation drive, the Lovely Ladies of Lambda Omicron seek to lead by example, all the while making Lubbock a cleaner and more hospitable city
It’s also through these principals and ideals that Raven was able to gain a greater understanding of herself “Before I joined well I still am a little rough around the edges” Raven states with a slight chuckle, “Joining this org really helped me with my femininity...I can be a bit of a tomboy while still representing finer womanhood ”
Rav rd wor we had a lot of work to do ” Hard work is no exaggeration, as the Zetas are extremely involved in community service. The upcoming Zeta Week is a great example. For the first week of September the Zetas will be hosting activities that range from a leisurely campus tour to a virtual bingo event
Despite the heavy workload, Raven feels like it’s all worth it in the end “It’s been a blast! I like what I’ve learned when it comes to being a leader and professionalism, as well as being able to go to various conferences and meeting other Zetas!”
Being a Zeta is a source of pride for Raven, but far from her only one. “I’m a dancer, an artist, a gamer, and so much more” Raven states “Being a Zeta is a part of who I am, not all of me ” Her identity as a Zeta is still important, she notes, and she urges aspiring Greeks to do the research, show interest, and be sure that its somewhere “that you can call home”
Lastly, I asked why Raven feels the Zeta’s are the best and her answer was probably the most wholesome thing I heard that day: “We love to give back to the community, and we accept everyone!”
Last but certainly not least, we have Alpha Phi Alpha.
Alpha Phi Alpha is the oldest of the Divine 9, and holds some of its most distinguished alumni. Several important cultural figures such as John Mack and Martin Luther King Jr. proudly wore the black and gold, and sought to further the Alpha’s mission of "Manly Deeds, Scholarship, and Love For All Mankind."
The Alphas go about completing that mission through social leadership, providing aid whenever and where ever they can Most notably being at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement, no doubt aided by NAACP founder W E B Dubois’ membership.
The Alphas are ever growing of course, and in an effort to complete their mission in Lubbock, Texas, the Eta Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha was founded in 1972. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the Hysterical Eta Upsilon Chapter, I sat down with one of the Alphas on campus. One of the first things I learned about Alpha Phi Alpha was...
GREATER IS REQUIRED. TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN,
“First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All.” Having been born into a household that surrounded him with Greek life, Donovan was never a stranger to the life of service that comes with it But for him, that was just another reason that put the Alphas on top
“The Alphas on the yard were very involved, very active, and very helpful...All the good I saw them doing, I saw myself doing as well ” The achievements of Alpha are as vast as the fraternity itself From being on the frontlines of the Civil Rights Movement to fostering some of the brightest minds in American history, Alpha Phi Alpha prove themselves to truly be Servants of All.
Donovan is an interesting case, having pledged at the brother chapter to Eta Upsilon, tHE Eta Epsilon at the University of North Texas. ”The transition was smooth.” Donovan said. “Once an Alpha, Always an Alpha.”
Donovan understands what role he and the Alphas play in the Black community in Lubbock. “People see what we do, they like what we do and they see our impact on the Black community.”
Coming from a larger campus, Donovan knows the importance of helping foster a healthy black community, and as such works with his brothers here in Lubbock to do that, and they sure do it well.
Their service in Lubbock is exactly that: allnurturing The Eta Upsilon chapter does all they can to make Lubbock a better and brighter place You might find them hosting a start of semester cookout to greet new students, or helping students move in and/or register to vote.
All in all, Alpha Phi Alpha is one of the most storied organizations in the Divine 9, and is certainly among the most recognizable The actions of the Alphas of the past paved the way for the Eta Epsilon chapter to be the force for good that it is today Donovan advises aspiring Alphas to “You got to have community service, you got to have good leadership skills, and most importantly, always try to be a good brother ”
Lastly, I asked why Donovan feels like the Alphas are the best, and his answer was the same mantra he repeated throughout our interview: “First of All,
WHAT’S
I’m gonna be honest with you guys, I usually don’t care for horror movies. Why would I pay to be in fear? Diddy being loose in the streets already keeps me up at night. That being said, this movie was absolutely spectacular! I have never seen a single piece of the “Aliens” franchise (definitely a stain on my sci-fi fan resume), but that did not at all take away from my experience. If anything, it added to it seeing as I had no idea just how terrifying a Xenomorph could be. Alien: Romulus follows a crew of ambitious upstarts (read: overworked miners) trying to escape the dreary conditions of their home planet, and do so by boarding the titular “Romulus” ship Unknown to the ships captors, there is a bloodthirsty, acid bleeding, flesh ripping, overly drooling alien on board, And that, my friends, is where the fun begins The movie is incredibly atmospheric, with an environment that’s as retro as it is futuristic, and a wonderful soundtrack to accompany it The presence of the Alien is felt even when it’s not in the room, and I wish I was being metaphorical when I say that All in all, it was an amazing movie, and I recommend it to anyone that wants to shine a flashlight in every corner of a room before they enter it for about a week and a half!
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS HE FINALLY DID IT! For those of you not aware, now-megastar rapper Travis Scott had a couple mixtapes before his breakout album “Rodeo” One of these mixtapes was a 12 song bundle of joy called “Days Before Rodeo” This mixtape is honestly probably one of my favorites of all time, the raw and grungy vocals from a younger Travis who is still trying to find his sound combined with the murky, hazy, codeine dream that is the production formed something that would forever change the rap game 10 years later, Travis has finally added the mixtape to streaming services, and even given us bonus songs from that era that were never released Travis now stands to hit #1 on Billboard behind a 10 year old mixtape, but there is one issue: he isn’t the only one who wants that #1 spot Enter Sabrina Carpenter, Disney star turned pop star who has had the summer on lock behind her recent release, “Short and Sweet” As of right now, the #1 spot remains undetermined, but only time will tell if nostalgia or novelty prevails (I hope Travis gets it)
“Run it!” or whatever Chris Brown said
While I myself absolutely despise the idea of running for fun (it heals the body but at what cost?), I do think events that sponsor social interaction and provide an activity that is both healthy and free of cost are amazing! That was the intro to tell y’all that the Ventura Run Club did exactly that right here in Lubbock. In addition to a nice 2.3 mile run, Ventura also offered ice baths, mimosas, food trucks, and a whole 9am Barre class! I have no idea what Barre is, but that probably means it’s good for you. Their first run was Aug. 31st at 8am, so stay tuned for more from them!
howdoyoubeefwithawholecountry?
Elon Musk and his reign of terror during his time as CEO of Twitter have claimed yet another victim This time, the casualty is the entire country of Brazil. I’m being kind of dramatic, Elon Musk didn’t wipe out the entire country of Brazil but he did manage to get Twitter banned in the country. In Brazil, political misinformation is a crime (THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT POLICY RIGHT GUYS?) and Twitter had been under investigation for refusing to ban accounts that spread said misinformation. Elon (being the 5'7 mound of pure ego that he is) said “Nah, Imma do my own thing” and decided to stand on his business. Literally. Brazil saw that, did some thinking, and decided to burn the business down. Honestly, big ups to Brazil, there’s already too many stupid people on Twitter to allow this tomfoolery!
I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING IT THIS FAR, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO HELPED THIS ISSUE COME TO LIFE.
PHOTO/VIDEOGRAPHERS:
BUT I GOT ONE MORE THING FOR Y’ALL...
Today is a great day! not only do I get to share this issue with you guys but its also my big sister’s birthday! I just want to tell you I love you and you’re an amazing sister, you’ve always been there for me when i needed you and even when I thought I didn’t. you introduced me to so many amazing songs, you taught me how to dress, and you put me on game! I’m blessed that I can even call you my sister, I cherish every moment we get to spend together, and I look back on the years we spent growing up together with such joy! P.S: don’t let this get to your head, I’m still #1 in this family but you’re a close second.
PHOTO CREDITS: KAYLA