Deshanee Miner aka Sue I Cide 4/7/08

2008-04-07T08:13:00.000-07:00

Deshanee Miner aka Sue I Cide

So here is what I really think about the past week after my opinion piece. I don’t regret it. What I regret is not telling people how to read an editorial. All week I have had people coming at me. I have had people hitting my facebook or prompting me to hit theirs. I had people on my honesty box. I have had people calling my dad who is a member a Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. and is active in the graduate chapter.

Funny thing though, I got to see how many people love the Sigma’s. You have a following, even if you didn’t know it. Not only that, the members have the utmost pride in not only their organization but their chapter. Honestly that awesome.

However, I have been misinterpreted more this week that I think I have ever been in my life. Every time someone had something to say about my commentary I had to go back and read it because I know I didn’t say anything about whatever they were blaming me for.

Lets look at some examples shall we:

"Even though a lot of events were cut short.... YOU and everyone else still came out to other events so there must have been something there that you liked."

Honestly, I had fun during Sigma Week, looking back I didn’t say I didn’t. I went to a majority of the events. There was a presents on campus and they attracted the students.

"How can you talk about what some had on at the DNN when you were also their revealing skin"

I didn’t see anywhere where I was criticizing what anyone was wearing. The line where I said
“So if you did get into the party at about 9 p.m. then you got a good 2 hours of partying. You saw nearly naked bodies, Young Buck and even a few other oddities that were entertaining.”
Did we not see that?

"You cannot blame PBS on the fight team that was not their doing that was either the promoters or the venue's call. PBS did not know that there were two different securities companies at the party."

There was no blame placed on Phi Beta Sigma. I wondered if it was a good idea and asked the general question of why was the fight team fighting in line.

Moving on…
"However, we as readers must take into consideration your strong personal affiliation to its members. Hypothetically speaking of course an Alpha Pearl would say the Luau was the best party ever, she is an Alpha pearl. I am in no means referring to you as an auxiliary member of the members B.L.A.C.K. I am just making a point. Yet the coin toss comes down this question, "If you had received special attention would you have had a better time?"

My strong personal affiliation? Meaning… what? I didn’t know B.L.A.C.K. Inc. had an auxiliary organization. I have friends and relatives in lots or organizations on campus. Does that mean I can’t complement them? Should I mention again that my dad is a Sigma and often seen and active? Want to know who got special treatment at B.L.A.C.K.’s dinner, everyone. The event made the ladies feel special.

"So if you have such an adverse opinion about how other people present themselves in public, then you might should stand up as a role model."

Let me explained something about that party. It is my understanding that the original purpose of that party was the less you wear the less you pay. So I was not surprised at anything I saw. I had not problem, that was the theme, people dressed for the theme. The closest I got to talk about the close was the same quote I mention above when I mentioned what you saw inside.

"An informative paragraph not a bias article about the organization if I am not mistaken that you father belongs to."

I don’t think I’m bias, sorry. Like I mentioned above, my father is a part of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. and has been for most of my life.

The inspiration for writing the pieces was sitting back and watching Keith Pitts shut down stuff like he was Diddy shutting down the studio

I look back at all the positive pieces I have written, to all the negative and they don’t balance. I guess you write one bad review and you go down in flames.

The people that messaged me directly, gave their opinion online, or came and talked to me THANK YOU. Seriously! I am so glad you did it. I know how you feel, where you stand and we moved on with our lives.

This week showed me something. How cowardly people can be. As for the people who used honesty box to send me threat. That’s just cowardly; seriously, we are too old for that.

And for those who called my father, you could have come to me, wrote to me, anything, but come to me. Not him.

From Behind the Lens by Blu Canon

2008-04-07T08:10:00.000-07:00

From Behind the Lens
By Kenneth Cummings aka Blu Canon

Imagine that I am behind a microphone as you read this.

I, Kenneth Michael Cummings am a member of the greatest organization on campus—The Meter. I, Kenneth Michael Cummings am a member of one of the Divine Nine or National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternities—Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. I, Kenneth Michael Cummings am, most importantly, a man before any of the previous stated.

Last weeks issue of The Meter seems to have caused a lot of controversy—from the front page story about food services to the infamous pages six and seven. And if you don’t know what I’m talking about, I advice you to pick up last issue of The Meter or go online to www.tsumeter.com so that you won’t be in the dark about what is going on. What you are about to read are the thoughts of me: a photographer for The Meter, a man, a Sigma, and as a friend or foe (which ever you want me to be to you—and if you chose the latter, then that’s on you).

R-E-A-D. Those letters together spell read, and if you don’t read then you will or have missed out! It seems that everyone has a problem with the COMMENTARY that was written about SIGMA WEEK. It seems that everyone has a problem with the COMMENTARY that was written about SIGMA WEEK. No, that isn’t a type-o, I meant to type it twice so that you don’t mistake what I’m saying. The writer, who happens to be a good friend of mine, did her analysis of SIGMA WEEK. She DID NOT and I repeat DID NOT bash the men of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Zeta Alpha Chapter as many of you may think. I got so tired of hearing the question,

“Kenny, why did The Meter talk bad about ya’ll (The Sigmas)?”

What do I say in return? I say that they need to read! I say that if you read to understand and read not just the surface you would see that the writer did not bash the Sigmas. Now, to my brothers, if you hate me for what I’m about to say in this editorial, then I ask you to tell me what “PHI” stands for. The Women’s Appreciation was whack! I didn’t like the way it was done. Yeah, I attended and I wish it had gone better—and honestly, I KNOW that WE can do better. No, I wasn’t the chair of the event, but I know that from my eyes, the women were not appreciated! I’ve seen photos of the chicken—it could have made someone sick! Like I told the brothers at the end of the event, I was so glad that the women that showed up were the only ones that showed up. And dare I say it?

Although I am not a member of B.L.A.C.K., Inc., I must say that B.L.A.C.K. does it better anyway! How can I say that? Well, I attended a B.L.A.C.K., Inc. event this past fall semester—“The Appetizer.” It was a small scale women’s appreciation, but if you compare the photos taken at B.L.A.C.K., Inc’s event from our event…I’m just saying.

Secondly, Miss Jasmine Washington, you stated in a comment left on tsumeter.com,

“You cannot blame PBS on the fight team that was not their doing that was either the promoters or the venue's call. PBS did not know that there were two different securities companies at the party.”

As I stated to you earlier, “Re-read the COMMENTARY and tell me WHERE you see that PBS was "BLAMED" for the fight. The writer said NOTHING about PBS. NOTHING my dear!”

And to the most recent comment or “editorial” written on Facebook about the writer of the editorial written last week by Mr. Doug Christopher, I ask, WHAT? If you get mad at this, I ask again, WHAT? I always ask people to respect other’s opinion and I respect yours. But did YOU read the article? Did YOU participate in Sigma Week events? Did YOU see what I saw? I don’t know. Maybe you did and maybe you didn’t. I know you did the fliers and I commend you on your work; however as I said about the previous person, WHERE was PHI BETA SIGMA BLAMED for the fight at the DNN Jam in the COMMENTARY?

And if either of you are going to talk about how she dressed, both of you can go to my public facebook album, search my 119 photo albums, go to SIGMA WEEK 2K8 ALBUM SEVEN!!!! (D@MN NE@R N@KED JAM 1 of 3) album, select picture number 47 of 60 (on the second row, third from the left) and tell me what she was wearing.

Do these quotes look familiar?

“How can you talk about what some had on at the DNN when you were also their revealing skin (NOT AS MUCH AS OTHER BUT STILL REVEALING).”--Jasmine B. Washington

“Next the infamous DNN Jam. I can not mentally envision what attire she adorned, but I am sure it was not a turtle neck and flannel leggings. So if she has such an adverse opinion about how other people present themselves in public, then she should stand up as a role model.”--Doug Christopher (from a his facebook note)

Last time I checked, when it’s hot, people don’t mind having their arms out.

The Probate: It was interesting and yes, I took photos of that event as well. I posted a disclaimer on the album on facebook, and I had to revise it when one of MY OWN fraternity brothers made some statements that I felt were truly disrespectful. I enjoy my frat, but all this childish mess is getting on my nerves. Yeah, I did what I did and said what I said about the Alphas during the whole homecoming step show incident, but my roommate opened my eyes and showed me that I was being childish as well. So, I stopped.

People always tell me that I shouldn’t respond to certain things and I understand that, but I don’t respond in mean ways, I state the truth. I’ve had to do this to two members of Alpha Phi Alpha, Mr. Keith Batts and Dr. Andre Bean. Don’t bash me about being the “first in line” and not being “accepted” when you don’t know the truth. Get Your Facts Straight! (I know ya’ll are tired of hearing that from me.) I learned that from working for The Meter. Oh, I have the original message, so don’t say you didn’t type it. Mr. Batts just deleted his before I could think about copying it. (I've already had my talk with Dr. Bean; he came and saw me man to man. Will you Mr. Batts?)

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, adults and children, Greeks and G.D.I.s, haters and lovers, friends and foes, these are my words. When you cross the line of coming at a friend of mine about information that you know NOTHING about, I don’t mind stepping in to speak my mind. I’m tired of keeping quiet. Oh trust me, the writer of the commentary last week can stand her own and she has done another commentary about Kappa week as well as Alpha Week later to come. (Although not published in the paper you can visit this link:
Kaptivating...not so much)

Get your facts straight! To my brothers of Zeta Alpha, as I talk to myself as well, let's not be mad…let's get better. Well, that can actually be stated for many of the orgs on campus.

Oh, and if you have an issue with me and what you read, don’t honesty box me…don’t leave a comment on tsumeter.com under an anonymous name. I’m a human just like you. If you get mad—cry me a river, build a bridge and get over it! Or you can come to me and we can talk...man to man/woman.

What We Really Think

Deshanee Miner aka Sue I Cide 4/7/08

From Behind the Lens by Blu Canon