Alpha Phi Smoking Gun Just Published on IG
 

So the @FriendInHeaven account on Instagram has been very active and has dropped several new bombshells.

There is one post about how they cheat on Panhellenic rules and have 2 different membership rosters. One is the official one and one is what they submit to Panhellenic to report fewer members so that they can COB more members. Maybe a lot of groups do this. Maybe some of you can speak to that.

But, the really big bombshell is the summary of an official presentation made by the leadership to tell volunteers how to match PNMs to Members by scoring both the members and the PNMs by image and then matching them on a spreadsheet. They have gotten really really brazen with this strategy. They clearly feel untouchable. Perhaps they are wrong.

Read it for yourself.

Happy Birthday to someone special at the EO. This is just for you!

So much for "values-based" recruitment. :rolleyes:

It's not just embarrassing, it's flat out gross.

I'll say! How is this even possible? Are the volunteers calling them out on this? Are they going along with it? Is all of National Council on board with this strategy?

At what point does a large portion of the membership get together and call them out collectively? Will chapters that hear this from the volunteers speak up?

I don't understand how or why they think this will work in perpetuity.

Sorry... perhaps I've drifted out of my lane, but... :confused:

Well. This is no surprise to me whatsoever. I told you guys a long time ago. Ugly ugly ugly behavior. I feel nothing but anger and disgust for the APhi "leadership". You're gonna to lead your fine organization off a cliff, and take the rest of us along for the hell of it.

Now waiting for the APhi mouthpieces to attack me and others again. Bring it, I don't care. You wouldn't attack if you didn't know it's true. Kind of reminds me of what's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue - create diversions to avoid dealing with the internal rot. Save the lecture about "let's wait to see if this is real". What needs to happen here? This isn't fan fiction or some disgruntled members, you guys. This IS very real. APhi has taken "pretty skinny tanned" to a whole other level.

To my APhi sisters: good God almighty, rise up and take back your organization. What the hell is NPC going to do and say now? or will it be more *crickets*? Crystal ball says "girl, you in trouble". Pay attention. We're all going to go down if this isn't addressed swiftly and decisively. I'm so tired of all the politeness and political manuevering. Deck chairs on the Titanic?

PREACH!!!

So absolutely disgusting. I'm appalled that my organization and all other NPC organization can be remotely associated with the action of these fools. Does the NPC not have a method of censuring or expelling member organizations which do not reach our standards?

In other Alpha Phi classy member news, these four Ole Miss Alpha Phis are facing felony vandalism charges. Stay classy! https://hottytoddy.com/2019/10/31/fo...cle-vandalism/ I wonder if they've been kicked out?

I've reviewed the post on Instagram. I'd really like to see some corroboration on this as it is a pretty monumental accusation. As far as I can tell, there's a post on 10/15/18 on babe.net. There's another from a month before that on hercampus.com. The content of these sites leaves a lot to be desired, so I won't help them out with an inbound link.

Are we sure this is a real thing? I would think that at some point, an accusation of this magnitude would warrant coverages from sites other than those openly soliciting readers to send their fraternity boyfriend's racist posts. If there's anything credibly confirming this stuff, it needs to be public. If this is just a few sites republishing questionably sourced takedown leaks, then I'm not sure we should leave this thread up.

ETA: Not to mention, the source appears to be someone who has previously been banned from GC.

There was also a major article about it in at least the Michigan Daily.

It’s clear there’s an organizational issue with Alpha Phi that starts at the top and is geared towards recruiting the prettiest women possible, regardless of other standards. GreekChat choosing to ignore it, shut down conversation about it, or ban people from talking about the obvious problems will only serve to drive them elsewhere (and make GC look complicit).

+1 to everything you wrote.

Thanks. It drove me out of lurking I was so annoyed. It makes literally no sense for these conversations to continually be shut down.

I was editing my post and somehow it didn't take. Here's the edit:

+1.

ETA: Kevin, friendinheaven was banned for joining GC and promoting the Instagram account. Easy to find that info to verify my memory, I didn't even have to look it up, just remembered the question being asked and answered as to "why was friendinheaven banned"" Surely it was discussed by supermoderators? Yes, I have a phenomenal memory. Not eidetic but close to it in many regards; don't have hyperthymesia (but my older brother does). Further, what does being banned from GC have to do with anything regarding what's on the Instagram account? Strange dots to connect, really reaching IMO. *scratching my head*

Kevin, those sites are talking about the “Beta Delta letter” that we have been discussing on here for six months. They have nothing to do with this current thread. The Beta Delta letter was allegedly written by an Alpha Phi member from the U of Michigan. The “smoking gun” which is referenced in this thread is allegedly a summary of a presentation made by national volunteers to chapters. They are two different things and it seems like you’re conflating them.

Also - friend in heaven was banned only because of the site promotion. When the supermod who did it was informed of the situation they quickly undid it.

We got this.

Question:

I follow the IG page and I believe it.

However,

What is MS supposed to look like if not this?

And don't say we don't talk about MS here because that horse done left the barn.

Note: I am not asking for any of the other 25 to go line by line how they do MS, but more like how they would amend the alleged friendinheaven process so it's more in line with that you think it should be.

I'm confused. Are you asking on what we base our MS decisions? Is it not obvious that putting looks as the most important aspect, far above all else, is a recipe for disaster? Is it even a question that this being taught by the organization's leadership is misguiding the collegiate members and setting them up not only to fail, but to fill their chapters with members who have questionable values and cause issues, some which may lead to criminal charges and/or public humiliation?

Or am I misinterpreting your question?

But there have been NPC chapters of women who have questionable values who aren't pretty. That's not really my concern.

My question is whether someone will lay out what the ideal selection and vetting process ought to be.

Looks/appearance figure into it, sure. But so does Gpa, extracurricular involvement, and personality. You assign a value to each of those things and average them out somehow.

Every group does this a little differently, and I’m betting every chapter does it differently. (I seriously doubt that the ABC chapter with 39 members follows the same procedure as the ABC chapter with 409 members.)

If, as described in the Beta Delta letter, you have a woman come through who is beloved by everyone in the chapter who knows her, has extracurricular involvement and good grades - and your national is telling you to kick her to the curb because her looks are inadequate- that’s what everyone is saying is completely wrong.

I think you can make a direct correlation between all the rec request/recruitment advice forums and what NPC sororities typically look for in members -- strong academics, character, commitment to volunteering and community engagement, etc. I don't think any group's rec form has a space for "hotness score." That's overtly different than suggesting PNMs be well-groomed and appropriately attired during recruitment, just as people should be for a variety of situations that have a dress code. What bothers me is that there appears to be a directed sell-out here -- swapping values-based recruitment in favor of stereotypical "hot" looks. If true, it feels like a sell out to Greek Rank, Total Frat Move, and any other misogynist external evaluation venue, in my mind.

So question.... (and you know me, so you know I am coming from a place of understanding and not disrespect)

Why should looks figure into it at all?

For example, what if there is a category that says whether or not a PNM has a professional or put-together hair style.

Then a black or biracial girl comes in with dreadlocks.

What happens when Karen with the clipboard decides to take points off because she has never seen a black hairstyle?

Or a Muslim woman who covers?

I guess what I am saying as an outsider to the process is that what Alpha Phi is alleged to be doing doesn't seem that much different from what the system does as a whole. It's just that one way is codified and organized and the other way is more casual.

Fair enough.

I see it as fruit from the same tree.

Your point about codifying is interesting to me, Sen. I think about that when our faculty votes on tenure and promotion decisions. Yes, we have a clearly written rubric for teaching, scholarship, and service expectations; faculty prepare substantive portfolios and they are reviewed and discussed...but the process still involves an anonymous, secret ballot vote, and any other professor can secretly vote however they want for whatever reason and no one will ever know. If any group's process involves any secret ballot procedure, individual judgments that may vere from the organization's standards will be impossible to avoid. It's the alleged overt/official priority that is being placed on looks that is raising eyebrows and blood pressures, as I see it.

So friendinheaven has been unbanned? I was unaware of that and it doesn’t appear that way in her profile so I’m confused.

I hear you.

I have volunteered on campuses where chapters have not taken black women or other minorities. I cannot speak to their membership selection as I am not involved, however I can say that we gained several amazing members who have gone on to do amazing things as chapter and alumnae membership in our organization. I consider this our win and their missing out.
And would hope that anyone (collegiate members) would be able to discern personal hygiene and appropriate dress and hairstyle these days regardless of ethnicity, but alas. I am often wrong and darn, this gives more food for thought as always.

I take the major offense here to be that the NPC is focusing on values based recruitment and appearance alone should not be a core value for any NPC organization. I have seen allegations that the organization is question is actively seeking out grade risks, risk management risks, morals risks, etc. in order to have the prettiest and most sought after chapters. That completely goes against values based recruiting and a panhellenic sisterhood. .

My heart hurts for members of this organization who can’t support where the organization is heading. As AZTheta said, (or alluded to- I’m not so good as paraphrasing) this choice by one of 26 organizations could cause the demise of all of them. And that’s not okay when potentially 26 organizations have in the past created supportive networks for young collegiate women and their alumnae and most continue to do so to this day, but may get impacted and punished for the actions of one.

I wouldn't say they are actually seeking out the girls that are grade risks, RM risks, girls with behavioral issues, etc. I think the issue is that this organization is IGNORING all of those issues and recruiting based almost solely on the basis of "hotness".

I think that based on many accounts I have heard from people on the ground in various organizations as primary recruitments with this organization involved that there have been pnms known and shared to be substance, grade, risk management risks and chapters have notified each other so that they don’t get the “bad egg” shall it be and and this organization has actively pursued such women with documented issues (shall we call them here, whether they be legal documents, social media, etc.) were actively sought out by the organization if they still fit a certain look. That to me is questionable. I’m not speaking for any organization, only myself when I say that I am concerned about the leadership of such organization and how it will not only affect their members but the NPC as a whole. That being said, I can’t think that the NPC is sitting back unaware and not having talks or plans that the rest of us are unaware of.

Dang that was some crappy English and syntax there. Good thing I teach math and not English. Apologies for anyone trying to decipher that message.

The wisest tack for NPC to take would be to definitively show that A Phi really is cheating or otherwise disobeying rules at rush (an NPC function) rather than criticize their methods of membership selection (an individual org function) and discipline them in some way because of the former.

Interfering with an individual organization’s MS policies (no matter how repugnant) is a bell that can’t be un-rung.

https://media.giphy.com/media/XH6MU5zmqIpAA/giphy.gif

Now this I understand and agree with.

I'm sure it's what you all were saying all along, I just needed a slower path there.

I don't think that NPC has the appetite to interfere with the actual MS policies of any group. Having said that, there can be a great deal of conversation that makes Alpha Phi uncomfortable. Their policies clearly run afoul of the stated goals of value-based recruitment. They are clearly thumbing their noses at it. 33Girl is right that the cheating or breaking of rules is the thing that they can really address. But, do not underestimate the value of the social pressure from NPC peers. The more that Alpha Phi leadership feels like a pariah, the better.

From the NPC website regarding Values-Based Recruitment.

Message From the Chairman: Values-Based Recruitment
Across the country this month and next, new students arrive on campuses eagerly anticipating the launch of their college experiences. A significant number of those female students -- 158,566 in 2015-16 -- will participate in sorority membership recruitment. Sorority chapters are afforded the opportunity and privilege to engage with these women during recruitment. With privilege comes the responsibility of providing an experience grounded in the shared values of the 26 National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) member organizations.

In fall 2015, NPC reaffirmed a collective commitment to values-based membership recruiting. What is values-based recruitment? It starts with the rich words found in the NPC creed: "We, as fraternity women, stand for service through the development of character inspired by the close contact and deep friendship of individual fraternity and Panhellenic life. The opportunity for wide and wise human service, through mutual respect and helpfulness, is the tenet by which we strive to live."

Centering the recruitment process for both the sorority member and the potential new member on the rich core values of each inter/national women's organization helps ensure a rich experience for all who participate.

How recruitment looks and how it is executed varies from campus to campus. Panhellenic communities are challenged to visit old practices and reshape how the process of recruitment benefits all involved. Reflecting on personal values and key values of an organization, and wrapping those around the benefits of sorority membership, should shape conversations during recruitment. These types of conversations give a young woman seeking sorority membership the opportunity to assess her own values and determine whether they're congruent with an organization's. And likewise, this offers sorority chapters the same opportunity of assessment through the mutual selection process.

As a College Panhellenic community navigates through creating positive change and a better understanding of why and how a values-based recruitment experience impacts the community both internally and externally, NPC offers resources: Resolved to Educate and three values and ethics workshops. In addition, numerous volunteers and campus-based professionals will devote countless hours to providing assistance to Panhellenic communities this academic year as they execute the membership recruitment process. NPC says "thank you" for your gift of time, support and commitment to advancing the sorority experience.

Interfraternally,
Donna C. King
Chairman 2015-17

In any NPC sorority, aside from stuff like grades or other, similar basic, noncontroversial requirements for membership, there should be no "Clipboard Karen from International" standing at the door removing names from the list before anybody's met the rushees. That preclusive, "shadow selection" practice was just as repugnant to the Michigan rush chair as the "hot girl" membership selection criterion itself.

I get that many chapters abuse personal appearance standards as a way to quietly block people with disabilities, people of color, non-Christians, and people of size, but for an international organization to be leading that charge? Yikes.

UrsaMajor: I’d like to think what you say is true and the scorn of peers would lead to a change, but when grown professional women appear to be completely espousing the adolescent philosophy “you hate us cause you ain’t us!” I’m not optimistic.

Clearly not every chapter of every NPC group has 6' tall, model-skinny, blonde-hair-down-to-there women. The vast majority have members that are different shapes, sizes, skin color, etc.

I attended my convention last year. Do we have some chapters that may put more of an emphasis on looks? Sure. But that's not a directive from our organization's leadership. And one of those chapters you could argue were the super pretty ones also took home one of our most highly-regarded awards that a chapter can receive, so...

To me, if that's how a chapter wants to build their membership, they can have at it. But I'd argue that many "picture perfect" chapters are not sacrificing the grades, extra-curriculars, volunteer experience, personality, etc. just so they can have some pretty faces in the crowd. Because if you have a chapter filled with grade risks who never volunteer and skirt all of their responsibilities, that chapter won't last very long.

Ultimately, it all boils down to this:

To think that an international organization that is supposed to be empowering women is instead teaching its young collegiate members to reduce other women down to nothing but their looks is disgusting.

However, I'm not sure that much can be done about it by us "outsiders".

And I'm sure NPC doesn't want to touch this with a ten foot pole for the very reason you've laid out here. And does it truly benefit them to try and track down rush infractions? Will that ultimately lead to a change in membership selection? Probably not.

To me, the only thing that will make any significant change is if there is a type of revolt by the Alpha Phi membership at large.

Lying about the amount of active members so you can take more people in rush (essentially, cooking the books) is quite a bit more than an infraction, especially if there’s a pattern of it happening at multiple schools.

Regardless of what we call it, NPC could certainly go after them for this. However, I don't think that's ultimately going to affect their MS criteria or what they're teaching their members about picking what they see as being the prettiest women to be sisters.

I'm going to say it because that's how I roll and it's being forever tiptoed around within this debate in the NPC. Alpha Phi is using "attractive" as a criteria in the very narrowest of ways: attractive/hot white women. Their policy effectively disqualifies anyone who does not fit it, including women of color, women who wear religious garments, physically disabled women etc. Look at photos of these chapters and there is an alarming lack of any diversity, unless you're talking hair color. Dark skin isn't hot. Ethnic features aren't hot. Natural hair isn't hot. Hijabs aren't hot. Wheelchairs aren't hot.

Yes, if true, and from what I have seen it likely is, this is the hill they will die on.

I'm confused. They say there is a smoking gun, they've seen a presentation that was given a year and a half ago, with "case studies." So why just post a summary?

I even remember one of the points of attractiveness being “silky” hair. I’m white as liquid paper but that lets my ass out.