University of Phi Beta Sigma

Over the past twenty years, as the officers of Phi Beta Sigma have come increasingly from the ranks of American corporations, we have seen a steady movement away from the Conclave Model that our Founders gave us to the Corporate President/Board Model that is now clearly in force.

Our Founders recognized that the Conclave Model would place the supreme power in the hands of those (our chapters) who would be governed by the rules, regulations and decisions that they would make for themselves. Now that the President and General Board has substituted our group wisdom and focus for the parochial wisdom that they have limited us to, the collective energy and development of the Fraternity has become weak and relegated Sigma to a position far inferior to all of the other members of the Pan-Hellenic Council.

Part of the strategy that has enabled our officers to usurp the legitimate authority of our Fraternity and to substitute their illegitimate authority over our chapters has been the slow, steady dissolution of all of the informational materials and systems that would allow valid Fraternity participation.

From 1914 until 1990, Phi Beta Sigma met in Conclave and conducted its business in the transparency and the light that Brotherhood demands. Since 1990, in illegal election after illegal election, the trust and organizational memory that should exist between Brothers has been disrupted to the point that many young Brothers have no memory of ever participating in the system that the Founders gave us and actually harbor a fear of the one system that insures that the actual will of the Brotherhood can be successfully carried out.

The various materials developed and safeguarded during the entire history of Phi Beta Sigma (the Sigma Light for prospective members and the Perfection Scoop for members) have been allowed to remain out of print while all manner of superfluous and useless self-aggrandizing activities (galas) have been promoted and financially supported.

The National Magazine has become the vehicle to carry ever increasing pictures of the organizational president with less and less information from our member chapters. Despite the considerable talent of the appointed Editor, it now appears that others have not only taken control of content; but also the actual publication parameters.

In the final insult, our officers have become so exclusive (Remember the inclusive We versus the exclusive we) that we, whose votes they sought, no longer have any direct way to contact them with comments, suggestions or criticisms). They have removed their phones and emails from all websites.

We, the members of Phi Beta Sigma, have a right to both light and Brotherhood. If our officers are not willing to live up to their creed to assist us in our corporate education, we have both the responsibility and the ability to educate ourselves.

I announce today the University of Phi Beta Sigma.

This new vehicle will be open to any Brother in Sigma who desires to share information and inspiration with his Brothers. Under the authority vested in me by God and Brother Doar (Mess wid that if you can), I am appointing myself Managing Dean of the University. We will be an international university managed electronically by Bluephi.net.

I plan to load six video presentations over the next two months. Four of the videos will give the history of the development of parliamentary procedure and demonstrate how those rules can be used by our Brothers. Before 1990, no state meeting, no regional conference and no Conclave was held without teaching sessions in parliamentary procedure. Now – with the absence of any grounded knowledge of procedure, the officers are able to violate the Brothers in the Conclave (the session where the Brothers are supposed to be supreme and where officers technically do not exist). Parliamentary procedure becomes, therefore, a weapon used against Brothers rather than a tool to be used by them. The fifth video will demonstrate how a successful regional conference should be conducted and the final video will show how Brothers can successfully run their Conclave and how to reduce the president (who does not exist during the Conclave) to the presiding officer (whose abilities and limitations are clearly delineated in Roberts Rules of Order.

I am requesting that Brother Mark “Mallet” Pacich head the Department of History. Plans are under way to share the rich history of Phi Beta Sigma with our Brothers and there is no man in Sigma more dedicated or qualified to shepherd the unfolding of our history than Dean Mallet.

I am asking Brother Greg Brandon to head the Department of Conclave Organization (or any other name that he may find more suitable). The Constitution says that the Conclave is supreme; but that supremacy cannot be exercised in the absence of the necessary and required Conclave Committees. I am asking Brother Brandon to set up the necessary committees and to get representative membership for each committee so that the committees will have the opportunity to organize themselves and begin producing the reports that they will raise at the upcoming Conclave.

I am asking Brother Todd Le Bon to act as Dean of the Department of Chapter interaction and Information. Essentially, I am asking Todd to expand his Eastern Regional Newsletter, with help from cohorts in other regions, to print uncensored information relative to the good works being done by Sigma chapters and Sigma Brothers.

I am asking Brother Warren Galloway to begin the coordination of the video recording of our Sigma Giants before they pass away. Just this week, we lost DSC Brother Lucius M. Young. We have lost Bill Doar, Oscar Morgan, Francis Hall and many others with their voices and wisdom unrecorded for posterity. I am asking Brother John Horhn of Alpha Chapter to work with Warren to begin filming the young Sigma men who are now moving into national and international leadership. I am asking them to become Co-Deans of the Department of Sigma Achievement.

Brother 2nd Vice President – tell me what department you wish to head and it’s yours. Also – pass the word to all undergraduates. You may not as yet be a college graduate; but you are a full member of Phi Beta Sigma.

Brother Steven Townsend – name your department. As the old spiritual says, “Plenty Good Room – plenty good room in our father’s kingdom – plenty good room – plenty good room – just choose your seat and sit down”.

And finally, in this initial rollout of the university, I am asking Brother Linden Houston to head the Department of Research. Brother Houston’s primary duty will be the further exploration and development of information on the life and contributions of Founder Charles I. Brown.

For almost twenty years, we have allowed our officers to disrespect us and elevate themselves above us as though we were beneath them. For an equal period, we have watched as all of the precious supports have been removed.

The long night has ended. Form here on out, we will take care of ourselves. If you have an interest and would like to become a part of this teaching and informational university, please feel free to contact me.

Calling ALL Sigmas to the floor. We’ve got some here, we could damn well use some more.