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Kristin
I just wanted to share this with you all from a friend of mine who introduced me to Kristin who I have only know for 2 years but who she has known for most of her life, she's non greek and wanted to share her feelings cause Kristin isn't here to do it herself. I challenge you all to take it in and try to digest it:
I cannot write to you about the activities leading up to the deaths of Kristin High and Kenitha Saafir. There are many speculated stories by those not present that evening and those that were present seem to have no real conscience to speak the truth. To the family and friends of Kristin High there is only one solid truth. They will never see their loved one again. The friends of Kristin High truly want their voices heard. Anybody that can honestly say that they do not think hazing takes place in Greek organizations, despite efforts and laws forbidding it, has got to pull their head out of the sand. There are far to many unreported incidents and reported incidents of hazing in Greek fraternities and sororities being swept under the rug and being ignored. It is a shame that two people had to lose their lives, mothers and fathers had to lose their children, sisters and brothers lost a sibling, and an innocent child now has to grow up without his mother because of senseless, reckless, and irresponsible behavior. I am not directly involved with Greek organizations, but I am familiar enough to know that Alpha Kappa Alpha promotes sisterhood and integrity. I can only wonder where that sisterhood and integrity was the night my friend was killed. An organization as large as Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc., can not hold each and every member by her hand and make sure that they abide by the rules, but they can be more accountable and need to be a little more accepting of the fact that a large number of it’s members has taken part in illegal hazing. In fact those individuals that go through a hazing ritual are respected more then those that don’t. An anti-hazing act that is implemented to cover ass and preserve the organization name has absolutely no substance if the organizations are allowed to constantly look at situations with blinders on. Implementing an anti-hazing law among sororities and fraternities should not alleviate the organizations accountability when their members break the rules, especially when it results in bodily injury and in this case two deaths.
An effective solution to this problem (and it is a huge problem) can only be achieved if the powers that be in the organizations choose to open their eyes to the reality of what really takes place. It is only until then that they can become more active in the prevention of tragic accidents like this. As friends of Kristin High we have to ask ourselves if we are willing to wait for that day or are we ready to take as many steps as we can to expose the wrong doings of some members of Greek fraternities and sororities. We are now Kristin’s voice and we will be heard.
-B. Tate
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