BY JUSTIN MCCLURE
Staff Writer The addition to Delta Sigma Theta, an African American sorority, has rendered SU’s Divine Nine presence greater in April 2014. The Divine Nine is a series of nine African American fraternities and sororities that have been in place since the early 1900s. Five fraternities and four sororities make up the group including Iota Phi Theta, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho as well as those represent at SU which are Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta. Twenty-five members make up the new sorority, but getting the organization on campus was not an overnight process, said Sara Lowery, Coordinator of Student Life. “I’m excited. Any time we add to our family it’s good, that’s what’s important to me,” Lowery said. “We’re heavily women dominant here, and this gives them one more option to be a part of something while they’re in college.” Delta Sigma Theta, along with the other fraternities and sororities, will have various responsibilities to fulfill. Part of the university’s Greek Life mission statement includes developing community and philanthropic outreach, maximizing leadership potential and maintaining the self-development of each member. The organizations also participate in an event known as Greek Week. This weeklong event pits fraternities and sororities against each other in various events like karaoke, flag football and banner competitions. An awards ceremony and barbeque concludes the week’s festivities. A member of Sigma Pi, freshman Dan Burkoski said he thinks the addition of a new sorority is great for the campus community. “SU’s Greek life is a welcoming group of organizations that offers a place for all SU students to fit in and feel one with the community,” Burkoski said. “I believe a new African American sorority is a great addition to Greek life.” Although it is an African American sorority, members of all ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to join any fraternity or sorority they wish. At SU, many Greek life chapters have members of Caucasian, African, Hispanic and Middle Eastern descent. Like Burkoski, senior Tyler Post said the move takes every student’s aspirations into consideration. “It’s a good thing that there is a strictly African American sorority coming to SU if, for some reason, any African American students felt left out of Greek life in any way,” he said. “There isn’t any reason anyone of a certain race should be excluded.” Delta Sigma Theta will be expected to maintain and demonstrate the same set of principles and values that other organizations have to. “I hold all Greeks to the same standard of holding true to their code of conduct and making sure they’re consistent with what their missions of sisterhood, brotherhood and friendship,” said Lowery. “When they fall short, we correct them.” The next move for the university will be focusing on bringing a Latino sorority to campus, giving more opportunities to students wanting to get involved in Greek culture. BY JUSTIN MCCLURE
Staff Writer Further developments in the status of MyClasses have prompted the university to call upon the assistance of students and faculty come May 2014 because in June 2015, the contract that allows the university to utilize the Blackboard Inc. learning management system is set to expire. University officials now face the predicament of renewing the contract with Blackboard Inc., or beginning to look for another platform that allows the campus community to access their academic materials. A request for learning management system proposals was established through the University System of Maryland on April 9. By May 8, the university will know what products are up for review. The campus community is being encouraged to help the nine member review committee test potential vendors’ products from Blackboard Inc., Instructure Inc., Desire2Learn, Moodlerooms and BrainHoney. Student, faculty and staff testing will begin on May 19 and end July 13, with the final decision coming July 25. “The biggest thing is that this is your voice as a student (and faculty member),” said Melissa Thomas, Manager of Instructional Design and Delivery. “The learning management system touches upon academic life; this is an opportunity for everyone to help use the tools that will be made available through their courses.” Learning management systems deliver educational programs and activities via web, mobile device and other media platforms, and as Melissa Thomas maintains, the integration of new technologies is crucial to academic success. “You’re going to have those who are looking for something new and improved,” said Thomas. “People find what they don’t like when they constantly use a product, but with change comes the additional task of learning something new; we want everyone’s perspective.” For those interested in volunteering, sign up can be done on the MyClasses review website at www.salisbury.edu/instructionaldesign/lmsreview/. BY JACOB TROXELL
News Editor Racist remarks toward African-Americans made by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling got him banned for life from the National Basketball Association last week, and have stirred up the opinions of many about where racism is in today’s culture. An audio recording of Sterling and his girlfriend was released by TMZ and included the Clippers owner telling his girlfriend that he was upset over a photo she posted on Instagram, which pictured her and NBA Hall-of-Famer Magic Johnson at a Clippers game. “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people,” Sterling said in the recording. “Do you have to?” Last week was also Salisbury University’s 19th annual Multicultural Festival Week where campus community members expressed what motivates them in life. Numerous performances were held and the president’s diversity awards were presented to different SU students, faculty and staff. NBA players and many others have shared their opinions since Sterling was banned for life, and some people feel that Sterling’s comments are an example of how racism is still present in today’s society. “It surprised me that a man in the NBA of all sports would say that,” said sophomore Brian Kragler. “I was very relieved that he was forced to sell the team and I agree with the NBA’s decision to ban him for life. Racism has always been here and will always be here.” Some SU students say they have even witnessed racism themselves. “I’ve dealt with racism and most of it has been since I’ve been at Salisbury,” senior Robb White said. “People are accepting the fact that they are supposed to accept everybody, but they are not accepting everyone. The minute (someone) doesn’t accept one person they stereotype them, and begin believing the stereotype applies to everyone like them, letting racism grow.” Before NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced Sterling’s Punishment, rumors circulated that the Golden State Warriors were going to boycott game 5 of their playoff series against the Clippers. “If it were me I would have a very hard time stepping on the court and making money for a man that had little respect for me and my teammates,” said sophomore Will Drozdoski. “Racism is still alive today, but far more prevalent in our parents’ generation than our own. We as a society certainly are not at the point where Americans treat one another solely by their actions, instead of their ethnicity. But I feel that Salisbury students do a better job of treating each other equally than many other Americans. While some areas in the United States have one sided populations, the city of Salisbury consists of a 55 percent white population, 32 percent African-American, seven percent Hispanic and four percent Asian. Although SU’s Multicultural Festival was last week, some students would also like to have events dedicated to all races uniting as one even more often. “In order to limit racism I feel that first we as a society need to stop associating stereotypes with people before getting to know one another,” said sophomore Chris Hook. “Maybe (SU can) have a racism awareness week (also) and promote togetherness between races and show everyone that even though we are diverse we are still one.” |
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