Depositions Underway In AKA Drowning Lawsuit

[enlightenment06]

The past few posts have really been something. For the first time in a long time I feel enriched by Greekchat

[Ms Public Service]

LA WEEKLY
SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2004

Drowning Deaths Remembered
Two years after alleged hazing tragedy, families have tears but not closure
by Christine Pelisek

Twenty-two-year-old Kristin High wanted to be a civil rights attorney. The former Cal State Los Angeles student and mother of a 2-year-old boy named Skyler had marched in numerous rallies against police abuse, organized the NAACP chapter of her L.A. campus and worked on committees to register people from her Compton neighborhood to vote.

Her burgeoning activism ended on September 9, 2002, when High and fellow classmate 24-year-old Kenitha Saafir drowned in waves that were reportedly 6 to 8 feet high at Dockweiler State Beach just after 10:30 p.m. Their families claimed the deaths were a sorority pledge ritual gone awry and filed a $100 million lawsuit against Alpha Kappa Alpha, the nation’s oldest black sorority, and against individuals who were with High and Saafir that night.

“Kristin had a call to change the world,” said High’s mother, the Rev. Patricia Strong-Fargas, in front of 70 friends and family at the Holy Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Compton who gathered Sunday for a peace rally and to remember the deaths of the two students. “She had started that change. I can’t stop till her dreams and causes have made a difference in this world.”

Strong-Fargas alleged that her daughter had gone through months of humiliation and that High’s would-be sorority sisters had forced her to act like a slave and called upon her at all hours to cook meals, paint fingernails, act as a chauffeur, do chores and braid hair. One night, claims Strong-Fargas, her daughter came home bathed in green paint. Another time, her face and hair were coated in mayonnaise. According to Strong-Fargas’ lawyer, High’s fiancé gave a deposition claiming that just days before her death, High was tied up, blindfolded and led into the water at the same spot where the two women drowned on September 9. Strong-Fargas alleges that the same thing happened the night they died.

Currently negotiating to settle the case with Alpha Kappa Alpha, Strong-Fargas says she won’t settle till changes are made. She has asked for more oversight and wants the sorority to contribute money to anti-hazing groups. She also wants a 24-hour crisis line.

“Personally, I believe they are trying to sweep it under the rug and this is a method of trying to settle without people knowing the whole story,” she said. “I want change. And they are finding out that this will not silence us. Even with reform, I am going to make sure they stick to it.” She plans to write a book, tour around high schools to let students know about hazing, and help raise Skyler, now 4, who is permanently joined at the hip with his grandmother.

A second settlement-mediation meeting is scheduled for September 24.

The memorial and rally were sponsored by Mothers Against Hazing, an anti-hazing group that Strong-Fargas started two years ago, after the national Alpha Kappa Alpha leadership, whose famous alumnae include Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and actress Jada Pinkett Smith, denied any responsibility in the deaths of High and Saafir. AKA insisted it hasn’t had a chapter at California State University, Los Angeles, since 1989, although family members of the deceased claim the national AKA Web site listed the local chapter until just after the deaths.

The first memorial, held last year, drew more than 300 people, and Strong-Fargas expected a big turnout this year. She invited the press as well as local politicians, including L.A. County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, Compton Mayor Eric Perrodin and L.A. City Councilman Bernard Parks, whose own granddaughter Lori Rene Gonzalez was murdered in 2000. She also invited former Compton residents Venus and Serena Williams, whose half sister, Yetunde Price, was killed by an alleged Compton gang member in 2003. They were all no-shows.

“Where are my people tonight?” she said to the less-than-half-filled church. “This will not stop me. It will put more fire in my engine.”

The memorial soon turned to praying, singing (the church singers could give Whitney Houston a run for her money) and trying to make sense of violence.

“Her big sisters didn’t take care of her,” said a tearful Karim Saafir from the podium about his wife, who he says was also a photographer, artist, and CEO of South House Photography. “I think hazing is a threat. Those who get involved in sororities look at them as support organizations. We need to make sure they live up to that. No one should have to sacrifice their life in the process.”

http://www.laweekly.com/ink/printme.php?eid=57047

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by Ms Public Service
LA WEEKLY
SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2004

Drowning Deaths Remembered
Two years after alleged hazing tragedy, families have tears but not closure
by Christine Pelisek

Twenty-two-year-old Kristin High wanted to be a civil rights attorney. The former Cal State Los Angeles student and mother of a 2-year-old boy named Skyler had marched in numerous rallies against police abuse, organized the NAACP chapter of her L.A. campus and worked on committees to register people from her Compton neighborhood to vote.

Her burgeoning activism ended on September 9, 2002, when High and fellow classmate 24-year-old Kenitha Saafir drowned in waves that were reportedly 6 to 8 feet high at Dockweiler State Beach just after 10:30 p.m. Their families claimed the deaths were a sorority pledge ritual gone awry and filed a $100 million lawsuit against Alpha Kappa Alpha, the nation’s oldest black sorority, and against individuals who were with High and Saafir that night.

“Kristin had a call to change the world,” said High’s mother, the Rev. Patricia Strong-Fargas, in front of 70 friends and family at the Holy Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Compton who gathered Sunday for a peace rally and to remember the deaths of the two students. “She had started that change. I can’t stop till her dreams and causes have made a difference in this world.”

Strong-Fargas alleged that her daughter had gone through months of humiliation and that High’s would-be sorority sisters had forced her to act like a slave and called upon her at all hours to cook meals, paint fingernails, act as a chauffeur, do chores and braid hair. One night, claims Strong-Fargas, her daughter came home bathed in green paint. Another time, her face and hair were coated in mayonnaise. According to Strong-Fargas’ lawyer, High’s fiancé gave a deposition claiming that just days before her death, High was tied up, blindfolded and led into the water at the same spot where the two women drowned on September 9. Strong-Fargas alleges that the same thing happened the night they died.

Currently negotiating to settle the case with Alpha Kappa Alpha, Strong-Fargas says she won’t settle till changes are made. She has asked for more oversight and wants the sorority to contribute money to anti-hazing groups. She also wants a 24-hour crisis line.

“Personally, I believe they are trying to sweep it under the rug and this is a method of trying to settle without people knowing the whole story,” she said. “I want change. And they are finding out that this will not silence us. Even with reform, I am going to make sure they stick to it.” She plans to write a book, tour around high schools to let students know about hazing, and help raise Skyler, now 4, who is permanently joined at the hip with his grandmother.

A second settlement-mediation meeting is scheduled for September 24.

The memorial and rally were sponsored by Mothers Against Hazing, an anti-hazing group that Strong-Fargas started two years ago, after the national Alpha Kappa Alpha leadership, whose famous alumnae include Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and actress Jada Pinkett Smith, denied any responsibility in the deaths of High and Saafir. AKA insisted it hasn’t had a chapter at California State University, Los Angeles, since 1989, although family members of the deceased claim the national AKA Web site listed the local chapter until just after the deaths.

The first memorial, held last year, drew more than 300 people, and Strong-Fargas expected a big turnout this year. She invited the press as well as local politicians, including L.A. County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, Compton Mayor Eric Perrodin and L.A. City Councilman Bernard Parks, whose own granddaughter Lori Rene Gonzalez was murdered in 2000. She also invited former Compton residents Venus and Serena Williams, whose half sister, Yetunde Price, was killed by an alleged Compton gang member in 2003. They were all no-shows.

“Where are my people tonight?” she said to the less-than-half-filled church. “This will not stop me. It will put more fire in my engine.”

The memorial soon turned to praying, singing (the church singers could give Whitney Houston a run for her money) and trying to make sense of violence.

“Her big sisters didn’t take care of her,” said a tearful Karim Saafir from the podium about his wife, who he says was also a photographer, artist, and CEO of South House Photography. “I think hazing is a threat. Those who get involved in sororities look at them as support organizations. We need to make sure they live up to that. No one should have to sacrifice their life in the process.”

http://www.laweekly.com/ink/printme.php?eid=57047

I have trouble believing the comment about the website. But, what I do know is that we ALL need to get to praying; praying for peace for the families, praying that those responsible will feel a conviction and willingly accept the consequences and, last, praying that the innocent will be spared in this enormous mess.

[msn4med1975]

Originally posted by preciousjeni
I have trouble believing the comment about the website. But, what I do know is that we ALL need to get to praying; praying for peace for the families, praying that those responsible will feel a conviction and willingly accept the consequences and, last, praying that the innocent will be spared in this enormous mess.

You might want to scroll through some of the threads on this topic from a few years ago. You'd be surprised as to what was revealed at the time.

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by msn4med1975
You might want to scroll through some of the threads on this topic from a few years ago. You'd be surprised as to what was revealed at the time.

I read all the posts. Overwhelmingly, the evidence points to either renegades or even perps who committed the act. The fact stands that there was no chapter at the school so AKA simply can't be held accountable, though in court, there's no telling what will happen over time. My suggestion to pray (hard) stems from the continued presence of this damaging case.

I'm trying to get God back in this mess!!!

[msn4med1975]

Originally posted by preciousjeni
I read all the posts. Overwhelmingly, the evidence points to either renegades or even perps who committed the act. The fact stands that there was no chapter at the school so AKA simply can't be held accountable, though in court, there's no telling what will happen over time. My suggestion to pray (hard) stems from the continued presence of this damaging case.

I'm trying to get God back in this mess!!!

I didn't mean JUST this thread, and have no issue with you and the praying thing. I was referring to the website issue and whether or not the chapter was still listed at the time. Until a few years ago prospective Deltas wouldn't have had such an easy way to verify a chapter's suspension or potential that the suspension was being lifted.

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by msn4med1975
I didn't mean JUST this thread, and have no issue with you and the praying thing. I was referring to the website issue and whether or not the chapter was still listed at the time. Until a few years ago prospective Deltas wouldn't have had such an easy way to verify a chapter's suspension or potential that the suspension was being lifted.

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Thanx for clarifying! I really admire Delta's work in that area, by the way. While the lists are a lot of work to keep up, I KNOW there are scads of people who appreciate it.

[desilu]

I seem to see a lot of messages that take away the blame from the national level, but I have a question. Why is it that the AKA national website had the chapter posted as active if they have been inactive since 1989? And how is it that no one in the area knew anything, including other AKA's. Its just hard to believe that in an area where the Divine Nine is supposed to be so tight (according to a previous message), no one knew anything was going down. Someone had to know something.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
"Greater Service, Greater Progress"
Spring, 2003

[StrangeFruit]

I don't know what happened, whether folks at that institution was aware of that line or not. I do know, however that it is very possible for non-members of an organization to NOT know what other organizations are doing.

In my opinion that's how it should be. I know several masons that wouldn't open their mouths about their process or whatever they do.

I can remember, when in college, new members of SGRho popping up out of know where. No one knew what they did, how many did it, where they did it, etc. And I admired that about them.

A sistahfriend of mine, also an SGRho told me of another line going on b/c she we were close and she knew my philosophy which meant that what she told me remained between us and the Creator. Everybody was shocked when the new ladies of SGRho appeared with their new members jacket sporting their numbers, name, etc. So to the SGRho that wondered how no one knew, it's very possible b/c I witnessed it first hand from your Sorors.

I don't know what the solution is to eliminating hazing. I do know however that something needs to be done and it seems like it's a taboo topic among the more seasoned members.

Folks need to screened more. I get a little frustrated with members that never transfer to grad chapters, don't attend formal functions, etc.

Let me first say that I wouldn't change my process. The only regret I have is not being able to experience it as those did before Sp. 91. I wanted that dress alike thing and doing crazy but fun things. I recall my freshman year being so new to NPHC - I knew nothing about them absolutely nothing. But I met an Alpha at a party and after it got over the shock of me not knowing what those letters were on his chest, we started talking and I would rack his brain about being an Alpha. He told me about his line having to go downtown dressed as the Wizard of Oz characters and sing songs from that play. I thought that was crazy but fun. Those Alphas were so close and I really admired that. Very respectful towards me and true gentleman.

The Sigmas were so radical that I initially thought they were muslims (Nation of Islam). But they too were respectful, very protective, etc.

This was back in the late 80s and the people were different-thought different, roled different. So we have to look at what's going on in society and the people seeking membership into our organizations. Folks always switch up just before time "intake" time. It's too late by then. We need to watch people from the door. If they were freaks their freshman and sophmore year it's not likely that they are going to change their ways come Fall of their junior year. And if you don't want freaks in your chapter/organization then you know not to go for the mask that they put on that semester.

I do hope that one day NPHC will really sit down and discuss what the "new" process has done to NPHC. Depending on where you live we are not taken that seriously. We are not seen as folks that make substantial differences for the masses in our communities and that what the bottom line should be: Improving, edifying our communities.

[abaici]

Originally posted by desilu
I seem to see a lot of messages that take away the blame from the national level, but I have a question. Why is it that the AKA national website had the chapter posted as active if they have been inactive since 1989? And how is it that no one in the area knew anything, including other AKA's. Its just hard to believe that in an area where the Divine Nine is supposed to be so tight (according to a previous message), no one knew anything was going down. Someone had to know something.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
"Greater Service, Greater Progress"
Spring, 2003

I'll just say this. Regarding the website, some people are conspiracy-minded, and it's really not that deep. Also, it's very possible for illegal activity to take place without people knowing. It's not that hard to imagine.

[desilu]

It's really not that deep? I'm just saying that it is strange that the national website had them posted when they weren't supposed to be. I don't think that's a conspiracy, just a technical mistake. But it was still a mistake made by nationals, so maybe they do bare some responsibility. And all I meant by saying that "people could have known" is just that. If there were other local AKA's then there is a chance that they might have known something. But you're right, there is a chance that no one knew anyting. I'm just saying that to pull off everything that they did with no one knowing or even suspecting anything had to have been near impossible.

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by desilu
It's really not that deep? I'm just saying that it is strange that the national website had them posted when they weren't supposed to be. I don't think that's a conspiracy, just a technical mistake.

Are you talking about hearsay? The only place I read that the site had the chapter listed was from the family of the deceased woman. Of course they're going to say that!

[SKEEphistAKAte]

Originally posted by desilu
"people could have known" ... I'm just saying that to pull off everything that they did with no one knowing or even suspecting anything had to have been near impossible.

You're right people should have known. The ladies who were pledging should have known. Regardless of what the national page says, when you are in undergrad and you want to pledge, you know good and well whether or not the chapter on your yard is suspended. You know that. They aren't allowed to participate in certain acitivities and other restrictions are imposed. If the chapter had been off the yard since 89, you would know that. You know if you are participating in some ol' underground renegade type activities. So, if other people should have known what was going on, then the ladies pledging most definitely should have known.

[desilu]

As far as the comment about the natinal website listing them as active being hearsay, of course its hearsay. Right now, untill they settle the lawsuit, everything on greekchat, in the newspapers, on the web, etc. is going to be "hearsay". But I wouldn't necessarily rule it out. And it is true that the girls who were being pledged should have known better. They should have known what was up. I guess my question to that would be why didn't they know better? What could they have been told to make them do what they did? Only they know. And to reply this comment: "You know if you are participating in some ol' underground renegade type activities." As far as that's concerned, nobody should technically be doing anything anyway, but they do. Hazing is hazing, and its against the rules, but people are hazed all the time. It was no different with them.

[SKEEphistAKAte]

Originally posted by desilu
And to reply this comment: "You know if you are participating in some ol' underground renegade type activities." As far as that's concerned, nobody should technically be doing anything anyway, but they do. Hazing is hazing, and its against the rules, but people are hazed all the time. It was no different with them.

You're right, people do it all of the time. My point is, if you KNOWINGLY get involved in activities that are not sanctioned by the organization, activities that are, in fact, banned by the organization, you can't turn around and say "I'm going to sue this organization because I participated in what I knew to be some ol' underground renegade type activities." That is my point.