Thursday, March 4, 2010

College Campus Violence: Is This How We Do It?



     The smell of catfish, barbecue ribs and Cajun chicken fill the air.  Marching bands and entertainers from across the Midwest pump to the funky beats of old school Michael Jackson music.  The funk is followed by the latest hip hop grooves from Trey Songz to Gucci Mane.  Neighborhoods all around Lincoln University are filled with people enjoying the activities associated with LU’s 2009 Homecoming Festival and Parade.  The theme for the event is “This Is How We Do It.”  A vibe I really feel good about because it also happened to be the theme song for my wedding party back in the day.  The brothers and sisters up on Fraternity Hill are celebrating as they overlook Dwight Reed Stadium where the Blue Tigers are playing Pittsburg State University.  A week earlier, I was at the Circle City Classic in Indianapolis.  I feel as if I’m experiencing the Classic all over again in Jefferson City, Missouri.  My family feels the love on campus between alumni and current students.  I even videotape the festival and parade for my son who plays on the LU football team.  The players don’t get to see all of the activities that go on around the big game.  I leave LU with reaffirmation that our son is in good hands and has chosen the right college. 
     Late one Tuesday evening in February I receive a call from my son.  He says, “Daddy, I just left the cafeteria and there was a big old fight.”  What happened son?  “I got my food and when I turned around several of my teammates were fighting right there inside the cafeteria at Scruggs University Center.”  He said.  Apparently a group of guys started a fight with a former LU football player and his former teammates went to his aid.  By the time campus police arrived the fight was over.  No one likes a melee in the school cafeteria, but I told my son to be careful and things would get better.  The next night my son calls me again.  This time a Greek event turned violent and it involved some of the same guys from the cafeteria fight.  At this point I’m worried about this situation getting out of hand and escalating into something much worse.  What happened to problem solving?  I must ask our young brothers.  Is this how we do it?
     In March of 2009, strong language was exchanged between students of one dormitory and members of the Morehouse College football team.  According to a report by the Black College Wire, witnesses saw members of the football team beat and stomp one student.  An anonymous witness also claims to have seen a student beaten with a track hurdle.  I ask again.  Is this how we do it?  The following week a Morehouse College administrator was ordered to suspend all outdoor events because of the series of fights that had taken place on campus.    That meant the cancellation of hump Wednesdays, dorm wars and spring fest until further notice.
     Last Friday, I sent a letter expressing my concerns to the President of Lincoln University Dr. Carolyn Mahoney.  I assured her that my family and my son are enjoying our overall experience at a Historically Black College.   Here’s a highlight of my letter. 

Dear Dr. Mahoney,
     “I understand the people causing the violence are a small minority.  I just need some assurance that the bad people will be kicked out of school so they can’t continue to cause problems for the rest of the student body.  At some point we must look at the bottom line and understand that this type of activity can ruin student recruiting.  It can cause damage to the University’s reputation that could take much time to repair.  I believe you owe it to our students to take strong corrective action.  You owe it to the alumni who support you, the school and you owe it to yourselves.” 
   To her credit Dr. Mahoney responded to my letter immediately.  Dr. Mahoney replied, “I appreciate your bringing these concerns to our attention.  I have asked Police Chief Bill Nelson to contact you.  You should hear from him in the near future.  Please be assured that Lincoln University will investigate your concerns and appropriate action will be taken.” 
 
   That same day I received a phone call from Lincoln University Police Chief Bill Nelson.  He explained that his officers are aware of the situation and working to build their case against the troublemakers.  The key to their success will be students who witnessed the fights to come forward and tell police what they saw.  If LU Students want to make their campus a better place, a safer place, they must take responsibility and help investigators.

     In the year 1866 a group of Missouri soldiers from the 62nd & 65th United States Colored Infantry pooled $6,400 and purchased land on top of a hill in Jefferson City to start a college.  They wanted to educate themselves and future generations.  These brave men had fought with guns, knives and their bare hands for their own freedom.  Now they wanted to fight with their minds for a different kind of liberty and justice that only education can deliver.  Surely what these so-called Buffalo Soldiers had in mind was not to see brothers fighting brothers on their own college campus.  Their goal was for our young people to win the battles against injustice by earning a Bachelor’s degree, a Masters degree and of course a Ph.D. 

     Now is the time for young people on all college campuses to stand up and beat down violence with their minds.  This, my friend, is how we to do it.          


Monday, February 22, 2010

Predators In Our Schools

Her lips were as soft as pillows. Her breasts were as sweet as honey. After weeks of observing him from afar, she devours him with her lustful ways overwhelming him with her sexual power. It sounds like a chapter from a romance novel. Unfortunately, it's a scenario played out in real life for a 17 year old male student who was seduced by a female teaching assistant from his high school. According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, early this year Pike High School teaching assistant Taine Abdullah picked up this student from his home and they went to see a movie. After the show she gave the young man a fat, juicy french kiss then dropped him off back at home. When I was in high school a french kiss from a girl would set a boy's body on fire. Imagine how this kid's hormones felt after that surprise at the end of a date with a fully developed 40 year old woman. The macho, earthy, human side of me is tempted to say, "Not bad young fella. You've had a cougar experience and survived." Then I remember the boy is a student and this teaching assistant is supposed be a mentor. The father in me says, "We must protect our children from these predators."

"I don't want anything to happen to her because I love her." That's what a teenage girl told Metro Police after her basketball coach was arrested for child seduction last December. Sarah Strahm was hired by Pike High School last spring to turn the program around. She came from Ben Davis High School which was fresh from an undefeated season and ranked as the number one girls hoops team in the nation. By all accounts the Pike girls really responded to Strahm on the court. The were playing better than in previous years and seemed poised to return to a being a respectable program. Detectives claim Strahm had sexual contact with the victim on five occasions. Across town at Warren Central High School two swim coaches Seth Sexton and Matthew Brown were arrested in January. They were accused of having sex with two different girls on the swim team.

The number of Indiana children who were victims of maltreatment in 2007 was 18,380 according to the Administration for Children and Families a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. From that number 15.6% of the children were also victims of sexual abuse. The recently reported cases of adults, specifically, coaches and teachers having sex with Hoosier children shows that parents must show more diligence. Parents are called upon to do a better job of knowing the types of adults their children are around at school and during other activities. In most cases of child seduction the adult is someone the victim and even their parents trust. Parents must have open communication lines with their children so that when red flag activity or conversation starts between an adult and their child they can intervene before it goes too far. Many of us have the good touch, bad touch discussion with them when they're in grade school, but what about the more sophisticated forms good touch, bad touch that takes place in high school. We must talk to our girls and boys about inappropriate conversations, emails, text messages and photos that adults should not exchange with children. We must return to being overly protective as we were when they were young. Doing so could save our children from predators.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Toyota Turmoil


Another day and another recall by Toyota Motor Sales. One week after an all out media blitz to assure customers that Toyota is still a trustworthy brand; the automaker is apologizing to its public once again. This time the fault is with the anti-lock brake system (ABS) in the 2010 Prius. According to Toyota some owners report inconsistencies when they brake on rough or slick surfaces. Around 133,000 Prius vehicles are being recalled so that a software update can be made to repair the anti-lock brake system in the 2010 Prius.

In an article submitted to the Washington Post Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Company, issues an apology, “When consumers purchase a Toyota, they are not simply purchasing a car, truck or van. They are placing their trust in our company.
The past few weeks, however, have made clear that Toyota has not lived up to the high standards we set for ourselves. More important, we have not lived up to the high standards you have come to expect from us. I am deeply disappointed by that and apologize. As the president of Toyota, I take personal responsibility. That is why I am personally leading the effort to restore trust in our word and in our products.”

This is the latest in a series of Toyota recalls involving tricky floor mats and sticky gas pedals. Consumers who don’t own a Toyota may be leery of buying one now. Those who do own one have serious cause for concern. A lawsuit being filed in a U.S. District Court claims certain Toyota car buyers have lost part of their resale value due to the recalls. A lawyer involved in the suit wonders how customers can be certain problems from past recalls have really been fixed. Toyota President, Mr. Toyoda claims 80% of all Toyotas sold in the United States during the last 20 years are still on the road. American automakers like General Motors are not shedding tears for their rival. These major problems come when for the first time ever Toyota has posted an annual loss. You can bet your next “Low Down Payment” that we’ll see a slew of anti-Toyota commercials and sales promotions in the weeks and months ahead.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Football: It's Just A Game


Big Afro, smart and articulate these words describe wide receiver Gene Washington of the San Franciso 49ers. Crafty, tough, smooth and excellent hands describe the skills that made Washington a great football player. Long before he was the Director of Football Operations for the NFL, Washington wore #18 with pride on his way to four consecutive pro bowls from 1969 t0 1972. In 1970 I fell in love with the game of football and the 49ers, largely because of him. When San Franciso lost the NFC Championship game to Dallas two years in a row I was devastated. I became an official Cowboys hater. Growing up in Central Indiana I usually saw a heavy dose of the Chicago Bears and the Cincinnati Bengals. However, my heart was in San Francisco. Whenever they were on television in my area I was glued to the game.
The Jets are going to lay licks on Payton Manning, force the Colts to run the ball and fall to Cinderella. The ghost of Joe Namath or Joe Willie himself is going to show up and give the Jets a repeat victory over Indianapolis. With all of this madness going on I was fully engaged in watching the Colts play the Jets for the AFC Championship. As I settled into the game I noticed my teenage son wasn’t around. He was in his room talking on his cell phone, texting or using the web cam to communicate with friends. I found it odd because he’s a football player who loves the game. I couldn’t imagine why he wouldn’t be totally into his hometown team playing for a chance to reach the Super Bowl. At half time I went to his room and asked why wasn’t he supporting our hometown team by watching the game? He said, “I like the Colts but they’re not my favorite team.” “Well, who is your favorite team?” I replied. To my surprise he said, “Daddy, I don’t have a favorite NFL team. I have a few teams that I like, but no favorite.” Needless to say when the Colts took an “L” at the hands of the Saints in the Super Bowl, I wasn’t surprised when my son showed no emotion during or after the game. No one can remove the 49ers as my favorite team in my heart, but in my mind my hometown Colts had lost a game they were supposed to win. My son’s disposition reminded me that as much as I love football, it's just a game.