Prospectiverushee- LSU is a very deep South school. Were you a freshman when you rushed? Are there any minorities in the NPC orginizations there? Do you feel you were cut simply because of your race? Did you eliminate any houses yourself? As an outsider, I can hardly see how that experience was positive. I think it shows that racism still exist in a place of higher education in this new century. Sorry for all the questions. I am just very interested in learning about how much race still plays into NPC rush at certain schools.

To my knowledge there aren't any other Africian Americans in NPC sororities here at LSU. As far as other ethnic groups such as Latino or Asian,I'm not sure.

In my last couple of post I don't think I was very clear about my experience when I rushed. I went into rush without any expectations. I wasn't expecting to get a bid. If I hadn't gooten one,then fine. If not that was great to. Rush was like an experiment for me. I wanted to see if I had the guts to do it since I tend to talk myself out of things, and I wanted to see what it was like. I had always wanted to know what it would be like and now I know.

I don't thing my race had anything to do with me not being offered a bid. There could have been a number of factors. Such as:

-me being a upperclassman(I'm a senior)

-my gpa isn't the greatest

-finances(the sororites here cost a grip and my money situation wasn't the greatest at the time)

-my campus activites.(I'm not as active as I should be cause I work and carry a full time load)

Don't get me wrong, my race could have had some part in it to and I'm not going to sit here and say that it hadn't crossed my mind. But if I keep thinking that way,then it would turn me off of the Greek System for good. Instead, I choose to think that it was there(LSU's)loose and that there is a sisterhood out there for me.

I truly have to say I am impressed with this entire string and with everyone who is so willing to express their personal opinion. Even if we don't agree, and least there is a discussion happening. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

Personally -
I am a Black women raised in Latin America, Asia, and Europe, and it has been damn hard to find a sorority I felt comfortable with. I was raised in such a diverse cultural environment that pledging the GLOs and BGLOs at the schools I attended (one very southern, one an HBCU)almost seemed absurd. I had very little in common with either group, though "racially" I was Black...and told by MANY that "culturally" I was White (whatever that means):rolleyes. These campuses didn't have Latina, Asian, or Multicultural orgs. and the people I did have a great deal in common with weren't into sororities anyway. It's only now, after searching for 10 years, that I have found an organization which, I believe, accepts me for who I am and what I stand for. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

In essence, you must go with what's in your heart. Be true to who YOU are! Not matter which organization you join, in the end, it's not about race... it's about friendship.

Perhaps I've been lucky in that my GLO's chapter has a rich cultural diversity...I'm just a Sister to my Sisters. Perhaps as minorities we (minority Sisters) empathize better with each other. However, I don't think that's the case - even to my "majority" Sisters, I'm a Sister. If anyone brings up heritage or culture, it's because we choose to enrich our knowledge of each other as individuals, therefore grow as Sisters. (This sounds incredibly idealistic, certainly, however this is definitely one of the best advantages of being in a small, close-knit Chapter. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif)

Ethnicity/culture isn't an issue in identifying me as a Sister, whereas my role within the the Sisterhood and Chapter definitely is. As far as outside my GLO...well, I don't really care what I'm identified as. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif As long as my Sisters and I are comfortable with each other, what else matters?

http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif OK, having said that: alpha1906, I think your assessment rings true for GLOs (or any organization, really) where minority members are either chosen as, or just happen to be, token members. I also understand that ethnic/culture-based GLOs (and organizations) are a support structure for people of the particular ethnicity/culture.

As a minority, I concurr that minorities (myself included) need strong cultural structure to maintain and affirm my ethnic identity. My personal choice as far as maintaining that socio-cultural structure and support happens to be through non-greek organizations (including but not limited to my family, and city-wide cultural organizations). I would say that greek life is definitely a positive way to be supportive of one's culture/ethnicity, yet it's not the only way to do so.

With all the opportunities within greekdom as well as through non-greek organizations, if I can be supportive of my culture through non-greek orgs., and supportive of other ideals that are equally important to me through greek life, then I can accomplish the most in my life (and in others' lives) by affiliating with a greek. org that's not necessarily culturally based, yet supports ideals equally important to me. This doesn not mean I've turned my back on my heritage, or reject it in any way.

It infinitely enriches my life (and others' lives) to be involved with my family, temple, a community Indian association, as well as a community Hindu association. I've grown (and helped others grow) and affirmed that women can succeed and not be alone in our quest for excellence, as students and as professionals in technical fields, through my Sisterhood (Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies).

I don't at all refute the choice of members in BGLOs, LGLOs, AAGLOs, MCGLOs...as you can tell, I am all for supporting, promoting, and living one's heritage, and if greek life is the best avenue for someone to promote and sustain their heritage, I'm all for it! Yet I certainly do want to bring to light on why a minority may choose to go the GLO route, even if a greek organization of their culture/ethnicity exists.


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equeen
A Lioness has her Pride!
@>--;--
Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies

[This message has been edited by equeen (edited August 14, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by equeen (edited August 14, 2000).]

I completely understand where you're coming from, alpha1906. It's tough being a minority on a predominately White campus. But, it was just as difficult for me to be at an HBCU. While I learned a great deal about myself and my culture, I still had to do the same explaining there I did at the other school I attended. If not more so. The sorority I "fell in love with" happens to be multicultural, and it truly embraces who I am, not just what I am.

Phoenix,
May I ask the name of your sorority? If you don't wanna post, you can email it to me.

Tiara98:

I must disagree with your assertion:

"For example: a woman of African descent who grew up in a predominantly white area will most likely feel the more comfortable in a predominantly white sorority."

For me, and several women I made, that is incorrect. Having been raised in all- or nearly all-white environments my entire life, I was only too happy to seek out Alpha Kappa Alpha the minute I stepped onto my nearly all-white college campus.

To all: I think the decision to align oneself with those primarily outside (or inside) one's culture is a conscious choice. No harm if you choose either one, just be straight up about what you're doing.

DG

To Each, Their Own.

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I have sold my soul to the evil corporate world. I'm quite happy about it.
-Anynomous

Hey,
On my campus there is no separation of color really when it comes to frats. historically white frats have black, latino and all colors of guys in there frat.I am in a historically white sorority and I am not mocked and neither are those guys. I guess I just go to an open minded school.
kdlady

I am an African American woman in a predominatey white sorority and I have never and will never regret my decision. I feel sort of the way haley does. Black women have always ostracized me for not being "black enough". Well, truthfully, I am not and am happy the way I am. I like hard rock and classical, abhor rap and r&b, all of my friends have always been white, I speak properly and do not use lingo, I carry myself with respect and if that is seen as not being "black", well COOL! I have been called an "Uncle Tom", an "Oreo", a sell-out. And guess what, it doesn't bother me. Those attitudes just make me glad I made the choice I did even more. I have been questioned about my choice by everyone from national officers to my parents. I caused a ruckus at my convention a few years ago because not only was I the only African American to be there, everyone wanted to talk to me about how to attract more minorities to their chapters, and that made me feel good! PROUD TO BE A SIGMA 3!!!!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by sigmagrrl (edited September 25, 2000).]

SigmaGrrl,

As long as you are happy within yourself, what others say to/about you won't matter and will roll right off your back! Do your thing! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

I don't think that's really an issue at my school. Well first of all, there are either NO black women who join NPC sororities or there are VERY few. But there are many people of Asian and Hispanic descent in the NPC sororities. I myself am half Puerto Rican and I just joined Sigma Sigma Sigma, and no one criticizes me for it http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif And if a black woman wanted to join, I don't think she would encounter any issues.

I found it! Back to the top.

Kelli, this is for you

Rain Man

THis was an interesting thread.

All these black women talking about how they have been ostracized by other black folks. I am absolutely boggled.

I attended a predominately white school all my life

I like rock, and classical, and roots, as well as r&b and rap

I have never been a "typical" anything, and don't believe such things exist. All of that stuff is the outer shell of the person that you are.

So here is my belief, and I won't bother apologising for it because no one ever really means it when they do: If you as a black person don't have ANY black friends, you have a problem.

Forget about the school you go to, the region you live in, or where you grow up. Excuses are tools of the incompetent, and they build monuments of NOTHINGNESS. I find it impossible to believe that you're not doing it to yourself. THere are black people who like opera, who attend majority white schools, who don't speak slang and have never eaten a collard green (that would be me, ick) and we still know and love who we are. Part of loving me is loving my people. Loving them is knowing them. Doesn't mean I have to participate in all the cultural traditions, but I can appreciate them. How can you say that you do not even appreciate that, and then avow that you don't have a problem with yourself?

I think that these individuals are kidding themselves. Wake up! You don't have to love ALL black folks. You don't have to actively seek us out. But stop segregating yourself from your own, because the only person you hurt is yourself!

Ok, I am kinda lost on this , so sorry if i offend anyone, and if I doI am sorry and don't mean too.

When you go out for rush, or for interest meetings, why should you only go because they are"your own" I don't agree with any of that. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/mad.gif That feels like we are being pushed back time wise. When you pick an org, whether it's a GLO,BGLO,MCGLO,LGLO or any other organization, hopefully you are choosing this org to represent you as a person, and u like what this org stands for,how they do it, what they acomplish, and whats in your heart.
I feel as though if you are only picking an org because they relate to you race wise then you totally miss the whole concept of being greek.
Some people have a problem with black females and males being apart of glo's that are not BGLO's. But so what , like everyone says not every org is for every person. Just because you are black, does not grant you automatic membership into a BGLO.So therefore, we all find a place to hang our hat and call home. It should be about what makes YOU happy and no one else, cause in the end we all are reaching for the same goal
One and Much Greek Love to all http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif