Will my race keep me out of sororities?
 

Last year as an entering freshman, I decided not to do Rush for a variety of reasons, one of them being a lack of diversity in the sororities on my college campus (Washington State University). I looked in pictures on the websites and found 1 or 2 people of color in the chapter. Now that I have decided to do rush (sent in the check, bought clothes...) I'm trying to figure out if my race will affect me negatively while going through rush. I have a 3.4 GPA and I am really involved in activities on campus but I am a sophomore and a minority and I'm just thinking that I'm going into Rush with 2 strikes...can anyone offer me any advice? Thanks :)

I cannot imagine that it would hurt, nor do I think it would help. To me and a lot of the other sorority members I know it would make as much difference as whether you were blonde or brunette. If you're a enthusiastic well-rounded girl then you should definately be able to find a home in one of the sorority chapter on your campus! Good luck!

what does it matter? and why would you being a person of color be a negative aspect? if you're going to think these orgs. are going to look at your skin color in a negative light...do you really believe that you should be in it anyway? what kind of mentality is that if you think that being a person of color is a "strike?"

Hey, justagirl! You're fears are almost completely unfounded! The main reason that you don't see more women of color in NPC sororities, are the same fears that are trying to hold you back! We (NPC orgs in general) thrive on diversity! GO FOR IT! New faces always bring new experiences, everyone has something to offer! GOOD LUCK!

aj

thank you
 

thanks a bunch for your advice...i've just heard some stuff from people and so i was a little timid but i'm all signed up i just need to figure out which clothes i'm wearing which day.

Justagirl, I'm so glad to hear that you're going for it! I wish we had more women of color in NPC sororities!! My general experience with my organization (Alpha Phi) is that our sisters are welcoming of women of all colors!

I wish you the best, and I can't wait to hear about what you're wearing! :D

Yay!! I definately agree! WSU has an awesome Greek Life and I definately agree you should go for it!

thanks to everyone for their words of encouragement. I had just heard things about diversity in the houses Anywho, now that I've gotten some feedback, I've decided to change this to a thread about my rush experience. I go to WSU, and we have Alpha Gamma Delta, Delta Gamma, Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Omicron Pi, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Sigma Kappa, Alpha Phi, Alpha Delta Pi, Pi Beta Phi, Gamma Phi Beta, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta and Kappa Delta on campus. I will go back over on August 17th. Open house is on August 18th, the 19th is House Tours, 20th is Philanthropy Day, the 21st is Preference and the 22nd is Bid Day. I went to the Nordstrom Anniversary sale last week (I love shopping) and 2 new tops and a pref day dress. My pref day dress is pink and black in sort of a 50's style. I got black strappy sandals (that i've been practicing walking in). I need to go back and pick up a few more things, and I have some things in mind but I don't want this post to be too terribly long so I'll probably wait until someone posts after me and then continue :)

Woo Hoo a Washington Rush Story....
 

So what if it's the other side of the state from me.

Good Luck! WSU has a great system (and of course a Gamma Phi chapter). Some friends of mine are alumnae of there.

I agree with what everyone else has said about the diversity issue too.

Another Washington girl here! :D

Just a girl, check your Private messages! :D

HAVE FUN !! and definitely don't worry about lack of diversity, if women like you (and me) never joined, there wouldn't be ANY diversity, not only in sororities but in all aspects of life. If you want a diverse chapter... add yourself to one !! :D

http://superbabies.homestead.com/files/agree.gifWhat she said!

http://superbabies.homestead.com/files/goodluck.gif

hurray!!!! you have a great bunch of groups to choose from. best of luck with rush....and we will be waiting for updates!!!

Hi Justagirl06,

Welcome to GC & I'm glad you decided to rush. To be honest, I like you looked at all of the GLO websites at the 2 nearest 4 year schools near me w/ Greek systems.

Since I've attended / graduated from my alma mater in 91/92, I've noticed an increase in diversity in the NPC GLOs; & ditto what several have already posted.:D :)

No one should be judged by the color of their skin. Period.
The way I see it, having a very diverse house is a plus!

Justagirl06, if you want to rush, go for it! Good luck!!!

http://216.40.249.192/s/contrib/blac...milecrunch.gif

Good luck! You have a great bunch of sororities to choose from.

Hi JustAGirl!

Not sure that this will help at all but I'm black and in Alpha Omicron Pi so diversity does exist in NPC GLOs! And the Alpha Gamma Delta at my school has 2 darker skin girls in it, Gamma Phi Beta has some black girls etc etc etc! Don't think that your ethnicity will necessarily hold you back b/c it won't! Good luck w/ rush and I can't wait to hear how it all goes for you!

Representing the "darker hued" Alpha Phis here.;) Granted, I didn't become an Alpha Phi during recruitment, but to quote the Color Purple, "I'm Here!" :D

Your race is never a "strike" against you. If someone else sees it that way, then that's their damage. Be yourself and HAVE FUN! We're rooting for you!

Amen!

Besides, if you did come across a backwards organization that judged you, you wouldn't want to be there anyway. I am sure you'll be plesantly suprised by the wonderfully accepting people you meet during rush. Best of Luck! :)

Woohoo another rush story!!! :D

Now tell me more about this pink and black dress - pink is my favorite color and I would be happy to have another dress! ;)

I hope that SigkapAlumWSU chimes in on this thread, as she could comment with 1st hand knowledge as to what the socio-political climate is like at WSU.

Welcome to GreekChat, Justagirl!!

With what you've said, and how you've said it, I think you'll be an asset to any sorority that's lucky enough to get you!

Good luck - may you get the house you love and may you love the house you get!

ETA: there are African-American ladies in ADPi, one precious active currently in my chapter!

I am an African American that is a Sigma Kappa. I am living proof that diversity is in NPC.

Plus if some judge on your race it will be their loss and someone else's joy.

good luck :D

One heart, One way

Charter a multicultural sorority to your campus if you are worried about it...

hi!

I just PMed you!

Alpha Gams definetly have diversity because I'm Asian, one of our recent alums is black, and i've met women of all color in AGD. horrah for you rushing!

just BE yourself! thats THE best bit of advice.

WSUSigKap might be quiet due to this warning:

http://forums.greekchat.com/gcforums...threadid=36769


My life, Washington State is a good state, and IMO a great place for IR couples, but there are not many black folx there...

I think JustAGirl and I are the only ones here right now! :D

Okay, thank you for that heads up.
In my experience from visiting the state of Washington, I have never known it to be a hotbed of racism, so I think justagirl06
should be fine and not be overly concerned about being cut for racial reasons.

This is one of my best girl friends
Sigma Kappa is more diversified than any organization on our campus
My other best friend is rushing this fall at Washington U so don't be afraid. . .she did research on each sorority to find out if they were prejudice and she found out that she stood a chance just like anyone else
So just show them how fun, serious, and involved in sorority you want to be
And you're sure to get in


P.S. Don't make the mistake like me. . .and be shy. They'll think that you don't like them.

A girl after my own heart! NORDSTROMS. :D I am in so cal so i don't know WA state very much except it is beautiful...... but you seem to be on the right track be it clothes or rush! Don't worry and be yourself!


Laura

Whee! An Alpha Phi rush thread! *salivates*

Ha Ha! I'm the black alum! :D Don't forget about Leslie who was bi-racial (black and white). Plus we actually had quite a few african americans in my pledge class, but dropped. To a point I think it may have been from pressures about joining an NPC and being black.

Actually I think our chapter has been one of the most (of not the most) diverse chapters UM has had for an NPC sorority.

I am right there with you!!!!

Justagirl06~ I am glad that you have decided to rush! Don't let your race get you questioning. the more diverse the better. I am Persian (Iranian) and there is another one just like me in our chapter, not to mention that we are a diverse group of ladies, and I wouldn't want it any other way!!! :D

p.s. I love nordstrom's!!! Give us more details about that dress that you bought it sounds cute.

Good luck with RUSH!

I thought the same thing when I went through rush my sophomore year, Fall 2001. Don't worry about it, race has nothing to do with anything. Since I have joined we have recruited a lot more people of all colors in my Sorority. it's not about the color it's about the person and what they can bring to the chapter. Don't go through thinking about race at all. Focus on what kind of person you are and what you stand for and be your self. You'l be fine and what ever chapter you end up going to will like you because of you, not your color.

-Rukiya

Dying to see how the girls do with the upcoming rush...

How was open house, justagirl06? We're dying over here!

Diversity is a wonderful thing! We have so much pride in how diverse our chapter is at Akron. Best of luck to you and I can't wait to hear your updates!

good luck from a fellow pmn of a dark skin complexion:p

BlazerCheer is Japanese. If her computer were hooked up, I'm sure she'd be wishing you the best of luck!

Seriously...I actually heard one guy call us the "brown chapter" because we have so many girls from or descended from India, Pakistan, Israel...one of our recently graduated alums is black, another is Persian...

Good luck, and enjoy rush!