What Would You Do To Be An AKA? College Seniors Sue Sorority For Violating Human Rights

March 6th, 2013 - By Veronica Wells

howard akas

It’s no surprise that in the black community belonging to the Divine Nine, a historically black fraternity or sorority is big deal for some people. Hurt feelings, deflated pride much drama and in the worst cases even death has been associated with the process of being pledged into one of these organizations.

The latest case of women not making the cut comes from two college seniors at Howard University. Washington City Paper is reporting that Laurin Compton and Lauren Cofield have filed a lawsuit against Alpha Kappa Alpha saying they violated their human rights and Howard University for allowing the hazing to take place.

The women say the hazing began their freshman year when they were invited to “Ivy Day,” a ceremony for outgoing AKAs and prospective pledges or inductees, Howard’s AKA chapter’s pledging privileges have been taken away for past hazing violations.

They claim the hazing came in the form of the AKAs telling them they couldn’t pearls, the colors pink, green or any colors that could be blended to make pink or green. The inductees, who were called “Sweets” or, in some cases, “weak bitches,” were also told they couldn’t speak to non-AKA members.

Compton’s mother, who is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, wrote a letter complaining about the process. Cofield’s mother, also a member, addressed the hazing as well.

From there Compton and Cofield were ostracized by the sorority members being labeled “snitch-friendly” and “snitch-sympathists.”

In 2013, three years later, Compton and Cofield still haven’t been inducted. When they applied again, the Howard chapter told them that their cap for new members had been reached.

Cofield and Compton believe since they’re mothers are both AKAs, and they are subsequently legacy pledges, they should have been the first members offered induction into the sorority. They believe their human rights were violated because they were discriminated against because of their familial connection to the sorority. They are requesting that the court grant an injunction to place the current pledging process on hold.

Do you think these women and their mothers are taking things a little too far, or do they actually have a legit case?

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  • KAPPA89

    No org colors, cant eat in certain places, etc,etc..thats hazing? TO BE HONEST, it sounds like a pretty good INTAKE PROGRAM, as stipulated by that respective ORG. I was expecting to read something juicy and all i read was a bunch of fluff. These two girls sound like AKA should be PROUD to have them, when it should be the other way around. AKA doesnt need them. It should not be a privilge for AKA to accept them..THEY SHOULD BE PRIVILEGED TO JOIN AKA and they can select whoever they please. At the end of the day, they should have done the things they were requested to do. It shouldnt have been that big of a deal. Cant eat somewhere…so what? As for not speaking to other friends? Maybe not on campus during the day and in public.Thats what pledging used to be. Your friends would understand. Not wearing pink and green? I think not.. going to sorority events? Absoulutely!!..support every event they have..stay with the other perspectives and stay in your lane. That doesnt mean you need to stay there all night either..That does mean to use some common sense as well. I respect Alpha Chapter and if they didnt open up there mouth and complained and were humble in all the pre-intake stuff, they probably would have gotten two of those 8 spots that went to seniors. After reading everything, they were there own ENEMY and there wasnt any true hazing-physical harm involved; HOWEVER, it comes down to that CAP NUMBER on legacies as mandated by AKA…But, they would get a “NO” vote from me on acceptance into alpha chapter because of how all this went down…BUT A “YES” vote if they did the things that were asked just like everyone else, had a good demeanor and if i felt that they would remain active with the org after graduation, bled PINK AND GREEN and not just doing this for MAMA.

  • KAPPA89

    IN regards to my own opinion, I am a member of a BGLO with a son who is a freshman in college. The plaintiffs mother is not only an AKA but was initiated at Alpha Chapter. i can relate to the pride and honor of having your child initiated in the org of which you are part of and if that child is initiated into the chapter where you were a part of,,and its ALPHA CHAPTER? that is an even bigger honor. That being said, I would give this candidate the benefit of the doubt that if given the opportunity, she would be very active in AKA after graduation. ON THE OTHER HAND, if an effort isnt being made to interact with current-former members and you are acting like you are entitled to being a part of ALPHA CHAPTER because of your mother, or shown humility, deference, and respect…MY VOTE WOULD BE NO AS WELL!! The chapter was suspended for two years because of them and that would pose a red flag for me as well if I was a member of ALPHA CHAPTER, especailly when there wasnt any physical harm involved. THAT part of the lawsuit should be thrown out. Calling former and current alpha chapter sorors/other members of AKA? Thats considered hazing? If so, times have surely changed in 24years! FOR THE RECORD, I would highly recommend to my son, if he is duly qualified, to CONTACT WHOEVER XYZ CHAPTER said to at whatever time..YOU just cant walk in an org without them KNOWING WHO YOU ARE, much like you cant get a job without an interview or some background on you. From experience, these calls are very important because others are TRYING TO GET TO KNOW YOU, see whats in your heart, could offer words of encourgament and also TEST YOUR WILL to see how bad you want it? 430am wake up calls, etc isnt a bad thing..GET OVER IT.

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