*The Machine* Won't Let Sorority Vote For Its Own Member For Homecoming Queen
 

When will it ever end Alabama? *smh*

Article 1 http://www.cw.ua.edu/article/2015/10...begins-at-home

Article 2 http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/..._must_add.html

Article 3 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/...b022a4ce5fa05d

*Smh*, indeed. It all seems so silly to the rest of the world. It sounds like things may be slowly changing, though, and that's good.

I feel for the Alpha Gam homecoming candidate who doesn't have a banner or any support at her own chapter house! That is just weird and wrong. I would feel so hurt and disappointed and let down.

It's also frustrating to know how controlled by the boys these young women are. I get it, I know it happens, but I wish they could just realize how much power they do have, collectively. Instead they're letting the boys assign their value and popularity. Again, very frustrating since these are groups that are supposed to strengthen and empower women.

I agree...there are MANY more sorority members than fraternity members. The sororities ought to be taking over the Machine and running it.
Rest assured, though, that not everyone votes the way the Machine dictates.

The references to the "first class of black women" (they're not all in the same pledge class so what on earth does this mean) and "first four black women to join" are wrong, there were African-American members in the NPC groups previously. Do your research people.

My mind is boggled by the statement that Alabama doesn't have an inclusion/diversity office. My university has a Vice President of Inclusion, who serves in the President's Cabinet and heads a whole division of various offices, centers, initiatives, etc. To not have anything like this at a major university speaks volumes.

https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...a6&oe=5695ACD7

She has her campaign page on fb -->https://www.facebook.com/halle4queen

I agree. Completely mind-boggling.

The candidates --> http://theodysseyonline.com/alabama/...didates/185064

Bama has the Crossroads Community Center instead of a diversity office. There is a director, program assistant, and student staff, though no cabinet position:

http://crossroads.ua.edu/


*ETA: Checked for a strategic plan of some sort -- this falls under the Office of Equal Opportunity -- the Strategic Diversity Plan:

http://eop.ua.edu/

There are a number of inaccuracies and misleading omissions in that article. As Greek-centric as the Bama campus appears, there is (and always has been) a strong anti-Greek sentiment among many on campus (even beyond objection to machine activity).

Wishing Halle Lindsay the best -- I won't be surprised if she wins (which might be an awkward congrats banner situation for Alpha Gam). No one can actually dictate how individuals vote, and Halle does have some public support of sisters -- here is a blog by an AGD supporting Halle for HQ:

https://herunpopularopinion.wordpres...-fights-alone/

The candidates were narrowed to the 5 finalists yesterday:

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/articl...news/151009819

Thanks!

So, I scoured GC for 'Machine' threads and found this in one:

from this thread http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...hlight=machine

This makes me crazy. I have seen it happen over the years when a sorority ends up with more than 1 Homecoming candidate and can you imagine the pain of the candidate(s) who don't get their sorority's backing. :(

I suppose if someone chooses to run despite the fact that their sorority has already selected their top candidate, the individual deciding to run against their group's best wishes is sort of making that an inevitable outcome, right?

Well, you don't always know beforehand who a sorority will select. See, at several schools, each fraternity chooses its own Queen candidate and so do many clubs (like BLEND), including the sororities. So you could have several members of one sorority being chosen to run due to that and often, a sorority will choose to throw its weight behind one member to increase its chances of winning.

It's even harder when a sorority has more than 1 member in, say, the Top 5. Somebody is going to get hurt. What pisses me off here is that girls were being told who to vote for.

Northerner here...

We didn't really even "do" Homecoming when I was in school, and at the school I work for, I think there is a Homecoming queen, but it's definitely not something that is a big deal.

What is the big deal of being Homecoming queen? Is this the first step in running for office/marrying into the right family/getting into medical school? I'm not trying to be sarcastic. I just don't understand why this is such a big deal that it has gotten to this point.

And thinking back to when I was 18, wow...I feel for all the girls. It's hard being in that position. I'd like to think I'd do the right thing, but I don't know. Peer pressure is a hard thing to go against at that age. I know I wasn't all that confident and secure in myself.

Heard about this a couple of days ago and was just waiting for this to hit GC. From my perspective, it just seems sad that your sisters would not support you in your efforts AND adding salt to the wound would display someone else's banner on the house.

Yea, for a sorority to display a banner backing another sorority's candidate for queen because of pressure from a shadowy organization that likes to exert control and because fraternity guys hold a "no swaps" threat over the group... I guess the vows of sisterhood just aren't strong enough to go against all of that. Hopefully the young woman in question is strong enough and confident enough to overlook all of that when Homecoming is over. Also hope she wins. That would be sweet. As more and more out of staters enter schools in the south, this may end due to a massive load of "who the hell cares about The Machine?"

This....nothing says desperate more than letting the thought of not having certain fraternities ask you to come to a party with cheap beer in their basement justify you turning your back on a sister. I hope she wins and and fails to mention them at all so they get no PR out of this whatsoever. Or tells all who will listen that she won despite the lack of support she received from her chapter.

Sisterhood, indeed.

I can only hope the Alpha Gams at Bama have some small measure of shame. How they look her in the eye at chapter, I have no idea.

Having served on her chapter's EC, she would have known this would be an awkward situation for her chapter when she accepted the backing of another org knowing her own chapter would be supporting the Phi Mu.

Not that frats should be dictating the slate, but she probably also realizes that people are free to vote for whomever they choose, regardless of what banner hangs on the house. Which is apparently how it played for the latest SGA election -- her boyfriend is SGA President (defeated the machine-backed candidate).

This process is SO archaic!
Why are candidates "nominated" for homecoming? If candidates are supposed to be "very qualified" (damn, this is for a homecoming candidate, not to be CEO of a Fortune 500 company), have them fill out an applicate and interview in front of a panel!

It's not that big of a deal -- the media escalating HQ into something major seems to be using the situation to criticize the "machine" and use as fodder to spin into racial discrimination. Otherwise, it's not much of a story.

I don't see this as a situation that pertains to her race. However one feels about Greeks block voting or the influence of the machine, it wouldn't have mattered what race she is or what other org put her up for HQ. But this is an easy angle for a sensational story.

Yes of course, it's her problem and she should have known better than to put her loving and loyal sisters in such a pickle.

This is not directed to you specifically -- just an observation about the vows/bonds of sisterhood (that bugs me sometimes):

Before we all get all indignant about the sisterhood of it all, let's remember that if she (or any other sister) transferred to another campus, that her "lifelong sisterhood" there -- that she (and they) have vowed to uphold -- could vote not to even affiliate her. And no one would think a thing about it, because that's just how it's done.

Holy crap. Our niece (a Theta) was one of the Homecoming Queen finalists at Bama (didn't win) back in 2012, IIRC. Didn't realize it was so political/brutal. O.o

There were four Greeks on the court that year -- three who were put up by NPC sororities and one by the NHPC. Bear Bryant's great granddaughter was queen that year (an Alpha Gam).

http://uanews.ua.edu/2012/10/five-se...ecoming-court/

I don't think that is what was meant. It was more that she knew going into this the entire reality of the situation- she went in with her eyes open, and wasn't surprised when it shook out like this. It's not a matter of "she should have known better," implying that she did something wrong. It is a matter of "she knew what would happen, and moved forward with her candidacy." In my opinion, this implies that she is a strong, confident woman who is willing to make her own choices, in spite of what others may be thinking or planning.

Who are you to make such "observations?" :mad:

Not for every sorority. In Alpha Xi Delta, if you are a sister, you are welcomed into any chapter.

This isn't an election for POTUS. I can't imagine the scenario where a chapter would support another sorority's member over their own. If she is not worthy of their support then they may need to put her in front of standards. And if she hasn't done anything so heinous as to justify that, then she should have the support of her sisters.

These girls REALLY need to start exerting their power on campus. Maybe we should be providing free copies of Lysistrata to every pledge to see the power of women across boundaries and what they can do when they are motivated. Deny one or two fraternities any parties with the sororities and see how long they last. Panhel on every campus should be a feared and revered organization. Because that many women can accomplish ANYTHING. And do it in heels with full makeup.

I agree. I would also say this is more a case of internalized sexism than anything intentionally going against vows of sisterhood. They want to be popular with the fraternities, they want to be popular on campus with the boys - it's a shame that they don't realize they don't need them!

Just an alum on an internet message board. Like you.

NPC chapters voting on affiliating transfers is actually fact rather than observation. I don't know how many chapters other than Alpha Xi have a blanket acceptance policy, but I'm not sure why my pointing that out makes you angry.

IMO, the boys need the girls at the parties more than the other way around. Sorority events don't revolve around guys anyway, but frat events mostly do.

It's been ages since I was active, but I think we have to vote on an affiliate, but she'd have to have done something absolutely heinous for us not to let her in.

Good point -- all that and they fear losing a broad Greek support for candidates (for whatever) they wish to put up in the future.

Thanks, yes, exactly.

Oh Amen!! Just Amen!!

SHOTS FIRED.

I'm going to ask this and please know I'm not trying to offend anyone.

AGD is the group that caused the furor over rush a short while ago - correct? I'm speaking of the deal where they wanted to bid the African-American girl and their alum advisors took her off the bid list. Could any of those alumnae have their hands in the Machine (or even in BLEND) and be doing this to teach the chapter a lesson?

If this makes no sense or I got the group wrong please let me know and I'll delete this ASAP. I find this Machine business fascinating,.in the same way I find the Mafia fascinating.

You are correct...