Alabama recruitment fall-out
 

KD disbanded the CAB for the Alabama chapter and will have a leadership team from National Kappa Delta on campus during recruitment. The chapter leadership has received additional training for both formal recruitment and COB. They issued a letter re. all of the steps National Kappa Delta has taken after last fall's mess.

http://www.kappadelta.org/default.as...135&naid=17151

Here's the article referenced in the press release:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/annasoldner/...tly-segregated

Thank you for the link! It's going to be a long haul.

What's the point?

KD is pretty much throwing money (that all chapters pay for dues) into the toilet. So they're on campus for rush...let's say 25% of the girls who get bids are black. Are those consultants going to make the sisters ask the black pledges to go to parties with them? Are they going to force the fraternities that drop KD from their mixer schedule to reinstate them? Most importantly, are they going to follow up and make sure those women of color get involved, stay involved, and remain members until graduation? I think we know the answer.

If you find the campus atmosphere repugnant, don't do a lot of bullshit pr moves - pull your chapter.

Well, in at least one chapter (and I don't remember which), collegians went to the press saying that the alumnae had been the problem. If that's really true, that the collegians wanted to pledge black women and the alumnae overrode their wishes, then removing the local alumnae and having the membership selection duties done by HQ representatives seems like a pretty good move.

Removing the advisory board =/= removing alumnae influence. AT ALL.

And as I said - maybe hq can step in and give people bids. They can't make other people treat them as sisters.

Don't get me wrong, I wish it was as easy as doing these things, but it's not.

If somebody doesn't challenge the system, the system will never change. Part of our mission is to educate our members. This is part of member education.

I agree with what National KD is doing. They are taking steps to make sure the process is fair. That's the first step to changing the culture in the chapter. I think there are enough good collegians in the Alabama chapter that if an AA woman were to join it would work out.

The answer to is whether National KD going to follow up is "Yes, of course, they are." National KD takes a pretty hands on approach with chapter issues. When they target a chapter for work on something, they pretty much stay with that chapter and that issue on an on-going basis. (Causing some eyerolling -- "Oh, Lord. Is Nationals still bitching about THAT?" "Yes. Yes, they are.") I expect that the University of Alabama is going to hear about this on a regular basis until the issue has improved in the chapter and in the Panhellenic community.

The alternative is to do nothing. That is no alternative. I applaud KD for taking a difficult stand against the alumnae that are likely very powerful and give lots of money. Chapters change by more than 1/4 every single year. This issue can be tackled quicker than you think. If this is what KD wants to invest their money in, it is money well spent.

I'd be curious, as a business decision, to see how this plays out. How dependent are large chapters on alumni donations when, for example, they need to do serious renovations or repairs?

To assume that the measures KD nationals are taking will have a huge negative impact on alumnae donations may be... unfair (for lack of a better word). This campus has clearly had a huge problem going back many years, but perhaps there have been many members over the years who agree with the collegians and despise what the actively involved alumnae have done (assuming the accusations/reports are true), and they're glad that someone finally had the guts to buck the system. There's a chance that donations will now pour in from all over.

We'll see.

The speculation about alumnae (in any of the UofA chapters) withholding donations is just that - speculation that provides fodder for sensationalized news stories. I know many active alums of many UofA chapters, and as far as I know, this has no basis in truth.

Unfortunately, articles like the one linked use plenty of errors to spin the story, like this one, which is not true:

Last fall only 3 or 4 AA girls participated in NPC recruitment. It will be interesting to see if more elect to participate this year. If these girls feel they will be the hounded subjects of sensationalized news stories, some may be reluctant to participate.

Alternatively more girls could rush simply for the increased attention. But the chapters will be able to work it out.

I wish KD the best. I'd like to see Alpha Xi Delta join the biggest Greek system in the country, but not until this issue normalizes. And their efforts are part of that!

The thing is, some people don't see it as bucking the system. Some alums see it as this chapter getting away with just probation because of its size and being in a popular Greek system - i.e. if this chapter was at your alma mater or mine, they'd be closed down so fast after that article their head would spin.

And incidentally, my comments are not toward KD specifically. Any other group with a chapter at Alabama would likely do the same exact thing in the situation, and my side eye would also be the same.

1. The Alabama problem isn't just one chapter's problem. It's a pattern across multiple NPC groups. Shutting down one chapter isn't going to solve the problem. This isn't about one or two or ten chapters misbehaving, as much as it is about a system is stuck in a historical pattern of institutionalized racism. Other schools have transitioned away from those patterns. This one can, too.

2. Insofar as my sorority historically helped build a system that is neck-deep in institutionalized racism and segregation, I think we should stick around and work on the problem. Walking away is easy. Working on the problem is hard and uncomfortable. KD wasn't mentioned in the first set of articles as a problem child. Now that National KD is working on the issue, National KD is getting flak. It's uncomfortable. It's also the right thing to do.

Very classy statement! I like how they stated a couple of times the importance of student-driven decisions and processes.

It'll be interesting to see how Alabama's recruitment goes this year. I feel sorry for the undergrads who, in addition to regular Alabama recruitment stress, now have the added stress of being under a national microscope. I don't think I could handle it! :)

Ugh! Okay I just read the second link. Very depressing! :(

That article is full of misinformation.

Question
 

I am just curious, what part of that article misrepresents what went on? I also think that the alumnae are getting a great deal of the blame thrown their way.
I think that if you read the article, you very quickly realize that there are active chapter members who are not on board with diversifying their membership. I think a lot of attitudes must change before a racially diverse member feels welcome.

The first reports in other organizations at Alabama specifically stated that some alumnae blocked voting on PNMs who weren't white. That's why alums are getting a lot of blame. There were collegians who were complaining specifically that they would have LOVED to have a specific PNM as a member, but the alumnae said "No."

There are active members who are copping an attitude. However, that attitude may have as much to do with being in "Big Trouble" as being unwilling to welcome an AA PNM. And nobody likes having change handed down from above, and that's how this is going to go.

I've worked with some really diverse chapters. I don't think that the college age women at Alabama are THAT different from college age women at other campuses in values or outlook. It's not not 1954, it's 2014.

It seems to me that the article's author had a specific viewpoint that she wanted to support and found everything she could to support her viewpoint. Activist journalism 101.

I think the better story would have been to find these AA women who pledged NPC sororities after the president issued COB period and write about their experience. Even better would be to follow them during next year's formal recruitment.

I think KD's approach is probably similar to all of the other NPC groups on campus. I also think we don't know the full story and we will never know the full story.

So very true.

I read the buzzfeed article a few days ago. I thought it seemed fair. I felt like it didn't blame the sororities specifically because it acknowledged that they're not in a bubble. Race issues are still alive throughout the school, state, region, etc.

I appreciated that so many of the groups and members followed HQ rules and deferred to HQ PR teams, including those that could come out looking better than worse.

I don't get why people can't believe that sororities don't track race. I've never indicated my race on any form for my sorority. Honestly, if they did, the less diverse chapters probably would have had some heat a long time ago.

Alabama is making progress. Iceberg slow but still.

The chapter members need to be open and there needs to be a pool of PNMs that can help improve the diversity. If formal rush continues to have few to no non-whites and chapters max out quota/total during formal, they'll continue to be white. More chapters need to actively seek out diversity during COB and Panhel needs to actively attract diversity to the formal rush PNM pool.

KDCat, I support Kappa Delta wholeheartedly, as a Panhellenic sister, just as I support ALL GLOs (NPC, NPHC, and so on) who are striving to do the best they can. Before people take the splinter out of KD's eye, they need to take the forest out of their own. And they need to shut the hell up. Either work to solve the problem, or get the eff out of the way.

for the love of Mike, I don't live in that world, and I would no more judge it than I would want you guys to be judging the world I live in. There's rampant racism in Arizona. Actually I think it's well established that Arizona in general is batshit crazy. Please. Don't wind me up any tighter than I already am.

Let me know what I can do for your fine organization, and I'll do it. Your Panhellenic sister, AZTheta.

I completely agree.

I didn't see the relevance to the race issue of much of what the article used to negatively depict the Greek system. To a casual reader unfamiliar with the system, it might leave the impression that the University shoulders the cost of the houses. The University is not being unfair or discriminatory by not providing housing to an org with 14 members.

I didn't find the part about cost relevant either -- other than to perpetuate the stereotype of Greeks as elitist rich kids. But the author's cherry pickin' did make me chuckle:

And the 2013-2014 "in-dorm" fees? $5978.


Agree. These are the girls I would like to hear from as well. The interview with the active really didn't cover anything relevant.

Well, yes, many have that impression because the university leases the land to chapters for really low amounts.

Then how is not leasing land to an org with 14 members relevant to race (or some form of institutional discrimination, as spun by the article)?

The University did help:

From the article:

There's also the issue of, if a black woman goes through NPC rush and doesn't get a bid, does that affect her chances of being considered for an NPHC group if she then decides she wants to pursue one of them?

The quote above re SLG just solidifies the incorrect assumption that a sorority = the house. If the members honestly shared that attitude, the demise of their chapter is no one's fault but theirs.

The comparison is important at schools where most members can choose to live in. At Alabama, even for the chapters with the big new houses, most members don't have the option, and only four of the big houses are operating. A fair number of members never get to live in at all (the sophomore class is bigger than the house capacity for the biggest houses, plus the officers have to live in). So the vast majority of members are paying the out-of-house fees, on top of their living expenses, for either three or four years. It's a significant cost.

Perhaps people perceive that there is a bias to the large, historically white Greek organizations because there has been a history of racial discrimination yet Univeristy of Alabamacontinues to lease them the land at a very low cost.

If the school is willing to lease land to other organizations, that is good. But it doesn't negate the fact that an organization is still a getting low-cost lease and has a history of discriminating against others. The right doesn't cancel out the wrong.

Even within an organization (even on Kappa Delta's own Facebook page!) there is discussion about how certain chapters are permitted to engage in behavior that would be grounds for chapter closure elsewhere in the country.

Whether you think this article is unfair or not, the story isn't finished, and a lot of history is left to be written. All eyes are on you Alabama.

^^^YUP

That was kind of an odd statement for her to make—from what I understand, SLG and other MCGLOs follow a model more similar to NPHCs regarding membership selection, organization, and chapter size. You wouldn't think there'd be a hard-and-fast expectation for them to have a house.

That’s true – though many who have the opportunity to move in elect to live off-campus (juniors and seniors).

IMO, the impression the article leaves by including the discussion of the 14-member multicultural sorority is that the sorority failed because they did not have a house, implying an inequity or lack of support from the institution because they were non-white.

And that the NPC Greeks are elitist via the cost of their "clubs," and that presumably this is a barrier to race.

It may certainly be a barrier (it is a barrier to any student who cannot afford it). I did a brief search for some demographics on the cost issue and tripped across this study which (among other issues) explores cost, social class perception, and familial influences (who knew the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors had a research journal?):

ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN’S PERSPECTIVES ON HISTORICALLY WHITE SORORITY LIFE: A CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND CULTURAL CAPITAL ANALYSIS
http://afa1976.org/Portals/0/documen...20Fall2012.pdf

I don't see a way to make the cost of a social organization fair to those (of any race) who cannot afford the cost -- or even separate it from the social class perception the (OP) article perpetuates.

So you are suggesting that the Greeks be punished by charging more for leases, yanking leases, or booting chapters from campus? Just wondering what you feel is just.

It will be interesting to see what happens this fall. My own feeling is that fewer AA PNMs will register than some tend to imagine (I think it is wrong to assume that droves of AA freshmen girls are interested in joining -- and would if they could -- in my mind, that assumption reflects a non-minority perspective on its own).

IMO, some of the loudest (and most sensational) voices are no more concerned about racism than they are with a sensational story and/or reason to hate Greeks. I predict that the AA PNMs that do participate will be on their radar, especially any who do not receive a bid. This year has the potential to be awkward for these girls - I hope they can just be PNMs - not story opportunities.

It's not as simple as "interested in joining" if you don't come from the right background. You know that as well as anyone.

I think you misunderstood the point I was trying to make -- that it is wrong to assume droves of AA freshmen girls are just dying to join NPC sororities.

(Though certainly their race should not be a barrier if they do wish to join)

Certainly there are other issues and perceptions that may revolve around familial exposure, background, and connections. See the research article I linked.

(but of interest on the topic of the "right background" - a wonderful man who immigrated from a country in South America painted my house eight years ago. He was fairly new to our country - about 2 years I think -and still struggled a little with English at the time. I spoke with him again about 2 years ago, and he told me his daughter was at Alabama. And an ADPi.)

I'm only going to address the housing issue. The University holds the mortgages on these places...ALL of them that have mortgages are thru the University. The ones that are paid for - or that the house corps have equity in - have to be bought back by the University. So, UA is getting the interest on the loans, don't have to house these students, and have at least some control over their living environment, But pulling the plug on one would mean having to buy back the "improvements" if the chapter leaves. The housing answer is far more complicated than pull their charter and take the house. And it may be a sweet deal for the land lease, but the mortgage payments have to be made and the upkeep has to be paid. And UA funds none of that.

I'm not really suggesting any punishment such as yanking a lease or pulling a charter. I stated understood the predicament that KD HQ is in, and I'm not suggesting that they do something of the sort, at least right now. I'm just pointing out that many non-Greeks perceive that their continued presence and low-cost lease on campus property, in spite of a history of racism, is suggestive of favoritism. Other members of their own organization are publicly questioning why resources are diverted to a chapter who has behaved in such a manner, which I don't think is an unreasonable question.

In my opinion, it sounds like the University has gotten very cosy with organizations on these leases, and now it would be very difficult for them to back out, no matter what they do. Where do they draw the line? What does a chapter have to do to lose a lease that is assisted with tax-payer funds?

I actually believe that the vast majority of the active GLO sororities at Alabama would embrace integration, and obviously, many chapters already have. But, if this kind of behavior and bad attitude persists, then the narrative isn't done.

I also just want to say, there is a tremendous amount of trash talking happening on the public thread regarding this topic on the Kappa Delta HQ Facebook page.... particularly against the woman who was interviewed for this story. I'm a little surprised that they are allowing any of this feedback to remain up there at this point.... interesting.

It wouldn't look good for KD to seem defensive or too hotsy totsy to take it. I would say at least part of their purpose in all of this is to spark debate. Debate in America also means an abundance of lunacy and simple mean-ness. I'm sure their HQ put on their collective big girl pants in advance to withstand this.