Is Rush really color blind???
 

Hello All:

This summer I will be starting my Senior Honors thesis on the Greek System at various colleges and universities, primarily studying how racially diverse chapters are, and why it differs from school to school. For example, my fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi has had African-American, Asian-American, and Hispanics join. But I know that other Phi Psi chapters might not even consider someone who is a minority, although I would hope not. I would really like to hear from fraternity and sorority members from different schools to honestly speak about race- does it differ from private and public universities, does it matter what part of the country the school is located, and really does it still matter in 2002? Thanks in advance, and I hope to hear from some of you.

The greek community is like any other community, when it comes to race. Society at whole is not color blind, and race is still an issue in 2002. The greek community is not immune to it, unfortunately.

I know in my chapter we rush people regardless of race. My Associate member class had an African American, a Muslim, a Hindu from England, and a half white/half african american. We're brothers just the same regardless of color. We were also the first white fraternity at UF to iniate a man of color. Not all fraternities are the same nor are all chapters of the same fraternity the same. Basically it's like all parts of society people tend to congregate with people of their background but that doesn't mean that we discriminate. Too often the media and independants like to look at the Greek community as being Racist or Discriminate but "Typical" black fraternities tend to attract African Americans with the multi cultural fraternities tending to have African Americans and Latinos. Most "white" fraternities are all white because most people of different back grounds would rather be somewhere else. Sorry to go off on a bit of a rant but I get annoyed by people who tell me the Greek community is rascist. Anyway, I have brothers of different colors but I also have friends in the Multi Culturals. We even do socials with Sigma Lambda Beta and are adjacent to the lot for the Q-Dogs, a "Black" fraterntiy. Greeks are just like everyone else, we just like to have a bond that binds us together.

in our last group of guys only one was white :)

Thanks all so far..

This is what I want to hear. I am not trying to portray GLO's as racist, which is why I want to get an honest view of Greek life outside of my chapter. By the way, I am an African-American who joined a predominately white fraternity, and I know that maybe if I went to certain chapters, I might not be as welcome as I could be. My girlfriend, who is an African American as well as a member of a traditionally white sorority, and I have been to other campuses, and have not felt welcomed by our "brothers" or "sisters". That's too bad, but it's true. But we like our chapters, so we do not regret joining, nor do we feel that we "sold out". My particular chapter has always been the leader at my school, as well as nationally, within Phi Kappa Psi in terms of racial diversity, so that is why I want to find out how it differs at other schools. I'm smart enough to know that maybe a lot of big state universities, and a lot of the schools in the south have greek systems that are very much separated by race, and a lot of smaller, private schools are more interracial, and they look at the person as a whole, not just the color of his/her skin. I just would like to find people who have stories that they would like to share either way-even if you think that it is a good thing to not admit someone of a different race. Thanks again...

at sdsu it does not matter. there are houses that have all mixes of races. our house is very diverse and we bid guys baised on who they are as a person.

Josh:


That is why thou are truly indeed my brother, and why Phi Kappa Psi is a noble fraternity!

Amici, Usque, Aderas...

Steve...
Phi Kappa Psi
California Beta Chapter

HELL YEAH!!!


High, High, High!!!


It's so cool to have someone from my fraternity on here now!!

I think it totally has to do with the area that your school is in.
If your school is in an area that is traditionally diverse/not segregated.. mostly the frats/sorors aren't either... if you're in an area that still tends to be not racially mixed... then most of the sorors and other things tend to be as well. I go to school in an area that is VERY mixed ... (San Francisco) and our sorority is fairly mixed.. I must say majority caucasion... but we have some asian american girls... some latina girls.. and ME ( I am black and white) we have also had other africian american girls in the past.. just none active at the moment (excpet for me) I also think it's not only due to the existing members who in some cases maybe be more than happy to take on different races... but the different races who may perceive that they might not want them.. and not rush. It's a two way street.. I know in my new member book there's a section about where we need to think about silent messages we may be putting out un intentionally that would keep people of different races... or religions.. or people with disabilities form pledging.

:D

I went to a big public school and I would say the greek system is fairly diverse.
I would say that a fairly good amount of the houses have minorities. And not just one either. As a african american in a historically white sorority, I picked mine because when our IHQ was recruiting they were looking at girls of all races, years in school, personality, etc. And thats what they continue to look at. Like someone said it all depends on the area and just how comfortable people are. I am sure some people think about a person's race when they rush after all being Greek doesnt eliminate issues society deals with, and as another person said I might not get the welcome I would like from other chapters in my org. (after everything my org has been through dealing with race I should hope I would get a nice one). If anything plays an issue on my campus in rushing its more likely to be what year in school you are and sometimes unfortunately how much money mommy and daddy have :rolleyes:

Phikappapsiman,

You're right about big state schools and some schools in the South not having very integrated Greek systems. However, I have found that it isn't necessarily because the organizations don't want to be racially diverse, but more because minorities have shown little interest in rushing.

I live in Georgia and am an advisor to one of my sorority's chapters at a state school here. I can honestly say that our chapter does not discriminate against anyone, regardless of race or religion, and that we do have minority women in many of our chapters throughout the country. However, the chapter I advise is rarely offered the chance to "integrate" minority women into our organization because so few go through the Rush process.
People go where they feel most comfortable. This is true everywhere, not just in the Greek system, so I can certainly understand why some minority women prefer to join Greek organizations that are made up of other minority women with whom they share a common background.

Concerning the chapter I advise: We occasionally have Asian women rush (and do have Asian chapter members), but very few African-American women do so (only one in the past 2 years, if memory serves). I feel that part of the reason for this is because the HBGLO organizations on campus are very well-known in the community, so they draw many of the interested minority women due to their strong reputations. I don't think that this is a "bad" thing at all. After all, we each want quality women in our organizations. If Alpha Kappa Alpha gets a wonderful AA woman to join their group, then it may be a personal loss for Delta Zeta because we didn't get her as a member, but, overall, the Greek system as a whole has been made stronger by her membership. That, to me, is the most important thing. :)

I want to say something now. Rush is colorblind for my chapter. In fact we try to get people of all backgrounds and all walks of life. Ethnicly (spelling?) speaking we are the most diverse fraternity on campous. The problem we have with trying to recruit minorinties is that most would rather join a NPHC org. All five NPHC fraternties are here. Another factor that makes it hard for us to rush/recruit non-"white" people is that they're not too many here in the first place. Its like a cracker buffet.
So, even though these numbers seem small, I'm proud of them. Just remember that only like 6% of campous is greek, and minorities don't make up that big of a population here.
We have two Aferican Americans, One half Mexican, One Asian guy, and one guy who I don't know what race he is ( I think he's mixed) but it doesn't matter!! They are all my brothers!

Although it is true that African-Americans are a rarity to go through GLO recruitment in the south, here's an article for you:

http://www.dailytexan.utexas.edu/web...1_s05_Two.html

This article is from recruitment in 2001, and shows how even though things aren't necessarily where they should be (and are for the most part in the rest of the nation), things are on the up-and-up.

I'm proud that my chapter took the initiative to break the racial barriers at University of Texas!

Well said Dionysus ;)

Thanks.

I would like to say that I am a memeber of an all white sorority. I am an African American. I do argee with Phikappa, there are other chapters that do discriminate against minorities. I have not been accepted by memebers of different chapters, which is totally frustrating. I joined my chapter because they saw the real me, not skin color. It's really hard. My school is not that diverse. We only have 1 NPHC chapter here Zeta Phi Beta. And 3 NPC and 2 IFC. There have been minorities in the frats here but not in the sororites. I will say this when I came through rush in the fall of 2000, there were 3 African American goin through rush and we all joined the same sorority :D imagine that. That was the most and only time that minorities ever went through our school's rush. My pledge class we had 10 girls (were a small school) and 5 of us were minorities. I will say that I am very proud to be in my sorority, I have learned from them and have learned from me. That's the way it should be, a learning experience.

One heart one way
Sigma Kappa

dgtxalum

I just wanted to say how great it was to read the article... It contained one of my sisters AVIVA who I find to be one of the strongest individuals I have met... to me she's not my "white sister" but rather the sweet, dedicated, and intelligent woman who I know as my sister. She is on our national board and has served as a role model to all of our sisters whatever color they may be.... Just wanted to also say that at my house (we've been around for only three years) that we have two mexican sisters and have pledged African American women as well.... the potential in a sister does not lie in their skin color but in their mind....

brown suga
alpha Kappa Delta Phi Sorority, Inc.

The Greek system in Long Beach is an accurate representation of the campus as a whole racially. We have everything in every house, we have white girls, latina women, african-american women, and pacific-islander women. I know that when Sigma Kappa looks at women during recruitment, race is not even an issue. We judge a woman based on how she interacts with the group and how well her personality meshes with ours.

YOU GUYS ROCK!!!

Thank you ALL so much for the GREAT insight into GLO's around the country! We all know that this is not a perfect world, and neither is Greek life. But, there is progress being made, and not just at the smaller schools. My dad is a Omega Psi Phi, and my mom is a Delta Sigma Theta, as is my sister, and 4 aunts. So, they were all a little disappointed when I didn't join the Q's. But, they know that college life is short, and you gotta go where you feel the most comfortable, and not worry about what others think. Friendship and brotherhood/sisterhood should be color-blind, and what is important is getting the best members for your chapter-men and women who will help the chapter grow and develop. Thanks again all, and I look forward to more posts...

Sincerely,

PhiKappaPsiMan...

I understand you Dovegal. I know I was thinking about rushing NPC, but in the back of my mind I was like some of these girls will see me as a minority first and not as a sister. In reality, no matter what org. you pledge, you are going to have some people that you might not like and who might not like you. It is a matter of respecting that person and the fact that you both share similar ideas and goals.

I wish I could say my campus is as diverse, but it isn't.
Out of seven NPC sororities there are probably two or three african american sisters. I wish that there were more, but we have a problem here.
6% of my school's population is non caucasian.
There are currently 7 NPHC groups on my campus and they have 50% of the african american population on campus in them.
That being said there are now 11 IFC groups here and they have quite a few non caucasian members. Even Farmhouse, which is known for it's redneck country boys, has members that are not white.
Now, there are sisters with ethnicity in each sorority, I believe. We have sisters with asian and latino backrounds in my chapter. There are other asian and latino sisters in the other chapter.
If you want current numbers, though, I can give you our greek life office's number and you can contact our advisor. I am sure he could help you find out the exact numbers, but it is really really sad.
Out of 420 PNM's last fall only one face was not white. I want more diversity in the chapters here, I just don't know how to achieve that. And honestly I don't think most of the chapters on my campus care except a few.

O.K. everyone...

Another question. Do you think that it is easier for a IFC fraternity to have non-white members than a NPC sorority? Think about it...

It must be. From what I see it's like a ratio 3:1. Better question, WHY?

I would say yes but that's just me looking around at what's going on...

I have no idea why there are more minority males in fraternitites. That is a good question. I just want to say thanks to lilsnake for your supporting words :) I will say that the negative comments have not put a bad name on Sigma Kappa. I love everything that Sigma Kappa stands for but I have notice that some chapters forget what it does stand for.

One heart one way
Sigma Kappa

Yes, I would say it's easier for an IFC fraternity to have non-white members than an NPC sorority. But I also think it's easier for guys in general to join fraternities than it is for girls to join sororities --- and I think that the reason goes back to Rush and Panhellenic rules.

Fraternities conduct rush much differently than NPC sororities. Fraternity rush is not nearly as structured, and bids are given out more frequently -- some guys are offered bids in the summertime before even setting foot on campus as a freshman.

There isn't any bid matching or house cutting with fraternities like there is with sororities, so there's less chance of someone not getting into a house that they like (and that likes them). Also, many guys join later in their college years, after they've made friends with fraternity members and have seen what Greek life has to offer, so just because a guy doesn't join as a freshman doesn't mean he won't be accepted later on.

On the other hand, NPC sororities have very strict rules governing Rush, so the process is not as "open" as fraternity rush is. Most girls join during formal rush while they are freshmen, and most sororities prefer to select younger women as opposed to upper classmen so that they have members who will be dedicated for several years instead of just one or two. (Fraternities don't seem to care about age/college level as much, although this may be an incorrect assumption on my part.)

Also, Panhellenic creates quotas for NPC sororities during Rush and, if a sorority reaches quota after formal Rush, then they cannot actively recruit new members until a slot comes up in the chapter such as a senior graduating or someone transferring schools or going alumna. So, many times, this quota keeps interested girls (minority or otherwise) from joining throughout the year.

This being said, I don't have a problem with the way that Panhellenic Council governs Rush. I think it is conducted in the best way possible, and that quotas definitely play an important role in helping to keep all of the sororities on campus, from the largest to the smallest, successful and vital. However, I can certainly see how the many rules of NPC rush could keep some college girls from joining a house they love, and one that loves them in return. So, I suppose that my opinion here is that it's easier for minority men to join fraternities moreso than minority women to join sororities because, in many cases, it's easier overall for men to join a GLO than a woman to join a GLO. It's not really a race issue as much as it is a rush issue.

While I am a White Male of a White Greek Organization, I hate Niggars, Chinks, Spicts, wet backs, Red People, purple people, or anyone else that is not White!

Did I cover it all?

One of the finest moments I have had in my life is talking with Brother Rodney---- Who is Afro American in a Limo upon the death of My and Our Patroness.

He is a fine Brother Who I am Proud to call a Brother!

I am envesious of some of my greek members who do not go out to get a tan! I burn like hell but tan! S, N, E, and many others dont have to work on it!

So What! It dont rub off people!

I Will be more than proud to Kiss any of the Ladys of any Soroity when we can get together and meet, I will hug and shake hands with the Many Brothers of different Fraternitys that I have met!

We are all some what the same, the love for our Organizations and the people who we deal with everyday on this site!

We are the Best Of The Best and do not ever forget it!


:cool:

Earp sometimes you really scare me with the beginning of your post :eek: But I always know you have a great point to make with them ;)

I'd also say its easier for a minority to get into the IFC before the NPC, but I think a lot of it deals with how guys interact with each other in general. Guys seem more willing to take what could be considered a "risk". Girls arent that brave and think a lot of about what others perceive. Thats just my opinion based on what I see in general.

Its nice to see other AA trying to break though and not care about what others think of them joinning NPC's and IFC's. Everyone should go where they feel comfortable.

Honestly, I think most ifc and npc greeks are pretty open, but alot of the reason that minorities don't necessarily join these groups is because sometimes they just don't feel comfortable. It's also all in the makeup of the organization as well. Sometimes when minorities see all white members in a group they may not feel so comfortable in joining. Believe me I rushed in the south, and I'm hispanic but I'm honestly as color blind as they come. But actually their is still quite a deal of racial discrimination in the south and that's pretty evident. But I'd have to say that overall it's improving.:)

i think that is has to do with your college or university here theere are a there are about that same # of girls and guys that arent white in the greek community and i go to a mostly white school so i think it all depends on your school and location:rolleyes:

Yes, there is raceism depending on what part of the Country you are from and How deep seeded your school is!

VMI NO FEMALES! DA! Westpoint, No Females, DA!

Well that has changed.

I HAVE BEEN AROUND for a while and when you meet a person of different color religion, or gendar it is a little scary for both! Guess what they feel the same way!

Well that is until you get to know each other and find out, hey this is a real person.

We as a group of People have done more to cement a realationship than anyother site that I have ever seen!

We have our pissin and moanin contests, but guess what? Here we are working together as a unit!

OK, had a COP at the Duplex for the last 2 hrs so could not get up to speed, and am getting ready to fix dinner!

Well, he is a buddy of mine, well He Is Gay! Hay Hay!:)

I think the world of hime, but guess what I like Ladys!:D

God I love being amberdextrious with people!

Hell I am starving, roast beef, taters carrots and gravy for me sports fans!

Hello,phikappapsiman,

At Cleveland State University where I attend, Rushing Minorities is pretty much becoming the norm here on campus. we currently have two IFC organizations (Tau Kappa Epsilon and Sigma Tau Gamma, which I am a member) Two Panhel Organizations(Alpha Epsilon Phi and Theta Phi Alpha) and All nine orgainzations of the NPHC.

It's makes me glad to see that rush is becoming more open to all races on campus. I remember when I was pledging, a couple of members from a AA fraternity were not happy about my chosing sigtau over them. Also At the time, I was the second African-American to become a member at my chapter.

Now, It's a little bit more easier for minorities to be able to check out what the IFC And Panhell have to offer, which is very cool.

I have a uncle who is a member of Omega Psi Phi and a aunt who is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho and they couldn't believe I was part of a White fraternity, but they were happy for me.

While I don't expect the greek system to be totally perfect, I applaud them for making the effort to ensure everyone has a right to decide who they like to join.:D

Garth, Kuddos to you! STG was started in West Central Mo. CMSU,and is growing as we all wish we were in these trying times.
One of the Oldest Chapters is at PSU Kansas Home of My Gorillas!

We all hope there is interaction between not only the races and religions but the Greek Organizations as well!

We as GC ers are doing more for relatiuonships among all greeks than anything I have ever seen and Please take a moment to pat yourselves on the backs!!!!!!:)

Until we get to know an individual, we are all a little leary in some form or another!

But hey, He/She may be very great people!:cool:

Hi everyone..this is my first time posting on greek Chat and I believe it is the first time anyone from my sorority has posted as well. I am a sister of Theta Nu Xi, Multicultural Sorority Incorporated.
I am a black female who attends a very predominately white university where people are quite segregated. Some of this is by choice but a lot of the reason here has to do with the environment which is not very open to mixing.
Theta Nu Xi was brought to this campus in the spring of 2001 and I thank God every day that it has been. Every campus should have a multicultural sorority and fraternity so that people can see that you don't have to have the same color skin in order to be brothers and sisters in the eyes of greekdom.

Also I wanted to touch on what someone said about most of the people being Black or Latino in Multicultural Sororities and Fraternities. That may be true in cases where multicultural greek orgs have a race base (such as they were intially all latino or all asian) but in the case of most Multicultural orgs it is a beautiful mixture of all races. People really should stop thinking of Multicultural orgs as "MINORITY" groups because that is NOT by any means what they are. They are exactly what the name says...MULTICULTURAL! which includes all races even white people :)

Thanks for reading and if you would like to find out more about my sorority go to.... www.thetanuxi.org

I would like to think that rush is color blind, and at least from my side it was. This was my first year on the "other side of rush." I go to a pretty small liberal arts school, and the Greek system is pretty prevalent. All of the sororities are predominantly white, but so is my school. This year during recruitment, there were a couple of black girls that went through. On my side of rush, there were a couple of those girls that we wanted, some that we didn't. Some of them had personalities that meshed with our chapter, and some of them didn't fit in at all. Our decision wasn't based on color, though, it was more about personality. There was one of the black girls in particular that I wanted to join Chi Omega, so you can imagine my disappointment when our bid list was read out and her name was nowhere on that list. At first I blamed myself. I blamed my chapter. However, it turned out that all of the black girls (there were probably about five of them) had made a pact with each other to all join the same sorority. They figured that since they had a better chance of all getting into the other sorority together, they all preffed the other one. I was even more disappointed when I found that out. I talked to that girl on bid day, because she was in tears. She had actually wanted to pref Chi Omega, but she felt obligated to join the other since she had made a pact. You know at that point, what are you supposed to do? I did the Panhellenic thing and wished her the best of luck with her sorority. One thing that I did tell her was that I was so disappointed that she felt like she had to join the other sorority, because she was black. The issue of color never came up in our selection sessions. She's very happy in her other sorority now, so maybe things worked out for the best.
So my point is: while there may not be racism in rush, I do believe that there is pressure for a minority to join a predominantly white sorority. I'm Asian and I don't really feel that sense of pressure. If I was that exclusive I would pretty much just have to hang out with myself. IIn addition, I feel that if my chapter were to pick black girls simply for the sake of adding diversity to our chapter, that would be just as much of a problem. I hope that this adds an interesting perspective to this issue.

Much love,
RedHotChiO