While finishing my last semester at Henry Ford Community College, I needed one more credit to obtain my associate's degree. I decided to register for the staff training course for HFCC's radio station, WHFR. Our final project was to do a 30-minute radio show without editing it and recording it in Quicktime (we didn't have time to learn Pro Tools). WHFR is a non-commercial radio station, there is no mainstream music allowed and no commercials (only school and community PSAs). I went with a Detroit hip-hop themed show.
Vault: Racial Divide between Greek organizations.
I spent the first semester of my junior year reporting on Greek life at CMU. One thing I noticed was that when events were publicized as all Greek events, they generally were divided: Panhellenic and Inter-Fraternity Councils were seen as one and National Pan-Hellenic Council was seen as its own separate entity. I wondered if the councils were aware of what was going on and I was granted permission to write the story for CM Life. What started as one turned into two, the second story involves non-traditional members of these fraternities and sororities (Black women pledging traditionally White sororities and White men pledging traditionally Black fraternities). Due to reasons beyond my control, the story never got a chance to run, but I wanted to post it because it was one month of my life, for something I really became interested in.
Central Michigan University's Greek system may be looked at as one community by the general public but there are visible differences between some organizations.
The National Pan-Hellenic Council is made up of nine historically African-American fraternities and sororities.
The Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council are traditionally White organizations.
According to NPHC president and Alpha Phi Alpha member, Shell Brummell, the reason there is a divide is because people are scared to step out of their comfort zones.
"The biggest reason for the divide is race," Brummell said. "It's not racism, it all has to do with comfort levels."
Delta Chi vice president Devin Jones said that it is hard for members of his organization to break out of their shell, and not just with other Greeks.
Central Michigan University's Greek system may be looked at as one community by the general public but there are visible differences between some organizations.
The Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council are three councils under the Greek umbrella, according to Kappa Alpha Psi member Julius Bryant there is a separation between the councils.
"There is a divide and it is visible," the Lansing senior said. "We do two completely different things and serve two different purposes."
"There is a divide and it is visible," the Lansing senior said. "We do two completely different things and serve two different purposes."
The National Pan-Hellenic Council is made up of nine historically African-American fraternities and sororities.The Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council are traditionally White organizations.
According to NPHC president and Alpha Phi Alpha member, Shell Brummell, the reason there is a divide is because people are scared to step out of their comfort zones.
"The biggest reason for the divide is race," Brummell said. "It's not racism, it all has to do with comfort levels."
Delta Chi vice president Devin Jones said that it is hard for members of his organization to break out of their shell, and not just with other Greeks.
Vault: The Unusual Greeks
Part two to the series I worked on about race and Greeks. This one introduces Sean Novak, a White male who is a member of a NPHC fraternity and Jorie Simpson, a Black woman in a traditionally White sorority.
Look closely at members of Greek organizations at Central Michigan University and some will appear not to be like the others.
Some students stepped outside their own comfort zones to join Greek organizations based on what they provided for them, not what was expected of them.
Sean Novak, the Assistant Director of Minority Student Services, became a member of Phi Beta Sigma a historically African-American fraternity while he was an undergraduate at CMU.
Novak, who is a Caucasian male, joined the fraternity because he felt most connected to the other members.
"At the time when I started to give it some serious thought I had already been heavily involved with organizations that were predominately African American," Novak said. "I didn't allow the fact that the organization was historically Black to deter me no more than a person of color would joining a historically white fraternity."
Jorie Simpson, an African-American woman, said when she first arrived at CMU she thought she was going to be a part of a NPHC sorority but changed her mind after finding out about Alpha Sigma Alpha.
"At the time when I started to give it some serious thought I had already been heavily involved with organizations that were predominately African American," Novak said. "I didn't allow the fact that the organization was historically Black to deter me no more than a person of color would joining a historically white fraternity."
Jorie Simpson, an African-American woman, said when she first arrived at CMU she thought she was going to be a part of a NPHC sorority but changed her mind after finding out about Alpha Sigma Alpha.
Twitter: @Alex_Washington
When I first got into Twitter, people took it as a joke or phase. They told me Twitter wasn't going to last long and naturally they thought it was stupid. Now, Twitter is one of the fastest growing social networks and I owe a lot to it. Not only have I managed to get my blog the hits that it has, I found out about (and received) two job opportunities —both writing of course— through Twitter. Recently I got my 1,000th follower which to me is kind of cool because odds are more people will visit my blog/story links when I post them. People found out about my page through word of mouth, now when I go to local events a lot of times I'm asked: "Hey don't I know you from Twitter?"
Video: Campus Connector
Mount Pleasant City Commission is closer to deciding what to do with one of the town's busiest roads, Main Street. The redesign to the street will have a large effect on Central Michigan University students, Mount Pleasant residents and local businesses. Allison Quast has unofficially become the voice of the cycling community and is hoping the Commission will make the safest decision for cyclists.
Blog: Tha 'A' Side
I started Tha 'A' Side after several failed attempts at blogging; it took a while for me to find what I wanted the focus to be and after letting my heart (instead of my mind) lead the way, it was born. I always knew Detroit had a scene, but I didn't know just how big and influential that scene was. I figured if I didn't know other people wouldn't either. I have always loved music, but the hip-hop culture is so enticing to me. The five elements—DJing, graffiti, knowledge/community awareness, breakdancing, and rapping—all played a role in my upbringing, hip-hop is me.
Getting started in the Detroit scene was simpler than I thought especially with the social network Twitter. I'm happy I started the blog, besides meeting great people I get to do what I love.
Getting started in the Detroit scene was simpler than I thought especially with the social network Twitter. I'm happy I started the blog, besides meeting great people I get to do what I love.
Photo: Rock the Bells 2009
Rock the Bells is one of the largest annual hip-hop tours and last summer I was able to attend the show at the DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, Mich. However, I did not go just as a fan of the rappers that were performing, I had a photo pass and was taking pictures for Metro Times. The camera used was a 10 megapixel Kodak EasyShare M853, while these photos were taken with a simple point-and-shoot (DSLRs were not allowed to remain in the venue), I'm happy with the way they turned out.
Column: 2010 Census
I have been interested in column writing for quite some time, but I never knew what I wanted to talk about. When I received the 2010 Census form, I was upset that the word 'Negro' was used by the Bureau to describe African-Americans and took matters into my own hands on my form and posted a photo that was viewed by over 300 people. I was asked to write this column about what I did and how I felt. I am proud of the outcome of it and received more support than I thought I would get.
*I did re-fill out my Census, if you were wondering. I realized I was doing the same thing I claimed the government had done.
"'Negro' offensive, should be removed from Census" published in Central Michigan Life April 9, 2010:
Cracker.
That is what I scribbled next to ‘White’ on my 2010 Census.
I stared at my Census for several minutes trying to take in the fact that the government looked at me as nothing more than a (well-educated) Negro.
I was angry, hurt and disappointed and debated if I wanted to fulfill my American obligation and be counted for another ten years.
What is a Negro?
*I did re-fill out my Census, if you were wondering. I realized I was doing the same thing I claimed the government had done.
"'Negro' offensive, should be removed from Census" published in Central Michigan Life April 9, 2010:
The photo that started it all.
That is what I scribbled next to ‘White’ on my 2010 Census.
I stared at my Census for several minutes trying to take in the fact that the government looked at me as nothing more than a (well-educated) Negro.
I was angry, hurt and disappointed and debated if I wanted to fulfill my American obligation and be counted for another ten years.
What is a Negro?
Audio: Maria Leone
I enrolled in my first online journalism course last semester and one assignment was to create an audio story. It was something I had never done before and I definitely wasn't familiar with the program Audacity. For my project, I interviewed Maria Leone, an aspiring acoustic singer and junior at Central Michigan University. Maria usually performs at open mic nights in the Mount Pleasant area and I got her to speak on when she started singing and why she liked it so much.
Interview: Mike Posner
My first assignment for MichiganHipHop.com was to interview Southfield, Michigan native Mike Posner. At the time of the interview, Mike was a junior at Duke University and had just released his first mixtape "A Matter of Time." Shortly after this interview was posted it was announced that Mike Posner had signed a record deal with J Records.
Posted: June 10, 2009 on MichiganHipHop.com (Mike and I after his show at Central Michigan University)
When did you get started in music?
When I was in the 5th grade, I played the drums, and friends used to come over and we’d jam. I never stopped making music from that point on. When I was 13, I started producing songs. And I started singing one year ago,s after I stopped producing for other people.
Why did you stop producing for other artists?
Posted: June 10, 2009 on MichiganHipHop.com (Mike and I after his show at Central Michigan University)
By day, Mike Posner is a typical college student at Duke University, but at night the Southfield native trades his books for beats. The 21-year-old junior and his band, The Brain Trust, released their DJ Benzi and Don Cannon-hosted mixtape A Matter of Time in March and held the coveted #1 free download on iTunesU.
For many, the idea of living such an active life and juggling classes is intimidating, but with the school supporting him, Mike Posner can only seize the opportunity. The not quite Hip Hop artist traveled to Austin, Tex. last month to perform at one of the nation’s largest music festivals, South By Southwest.
In an interview with MichiganHipHop, he talks about G.O.O.D. Music signee and Finally Famous brethren Big Sean, how The Brain Trust came to be and his Detroit homecoming.When did you get started in music?
When I was in the 5th grade, I played the drums, and friends used to come over and we’d jam. I never stopped making music from that point on. When I was 13, I started producing songs. And I started singing one year ago,s after I stopped producing for other people.
Why did you stop producing for other artists?
News: 2008 Northern Illinois Shooting
I was a freshman in college when I joined Central Michigan Life. During second semester, I was asked to localize the Northern Illinois University shooting. It was my first cover piece for CM Life and the first large story I only had one day to gather information and contact sources.
'Close to home' published in Central Michigan Life on February 18, 2008.
Last week’s Northern Illinois University tragedy hit home for Stan Shingles.
Nineteen years ago, the director of University Recreational Services taught at NIU, and he still has friends who work there. Five students were killed Thursday in a lecture hall shooting.
Shingles said it frightens people at CMU because the NIU shooting, as well as the April 16 shooting at Virginia Tech that left 32 students dead, both occurred in rural towns.
“What’s alarming to all of us is that Blacksburg, Va., and DeKalb, Ill., are very much like Mount Pleasant,” Shingles said. “They’re rural college towns, so we all have this perception of being safe because they’re not urban centered – but what happened at Virginia Tech and at Northern Illinois can happen at Central Michigan.”
At approximately 3 p.m. Thursday, Stephen Kazmierczak opened fire with a shotgun and two handguns during a Geology lecture in NIU’s Cole Hall, shooting 22 students before killing himself.
'Close to home' published in Central Michigan Life on February 18, 2008.
Last week’s Northern Illinois University tragedy hit home for Stan Shingles.Nineteen years ago, the director of University Recreational Services taught at NIU, and he still has friends who work there. Five students were killed Thursday in a lecture hall shooting.
Shingles said it frightens people at CMU because the NIU shooting, as well as the April 16 shooting at Virginia Tech that left 32 students dead, both occurred in rural towns.
“What’s alarming to all of us is that Blacksburg, Va., and DeKalb, Ill., are very much like Mount Pleasant,” Shingles said. “They’re rural college towns, so we all have this perception of being safe because they’re not urban centered – but what happened at Virginia Tech and at Northern Illinois can happen at Central Michigan.”
At approximately 3 p.m. Thursday, Stephen Kazmierczak opened fire with a shotgun and two handguns during a Geology lecture in NIU’s Cole Hall, shooting 22 students before killing himself.
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