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Folks need to stop drinking HATER-ADE ('Bama)
Posted in the Crimson White
Officials question charges By Nick Beadle Student Life Editor September 25, 2003 Gamma Phi Beta sorority's international headquarters could release a statement today addressing allegations its UA chapter rigged the acceptance of a black woman last month, integrating the Capstone's traditionally white Panhellenic Association sororities. Rebecca Beardslee, director of communications for Gamma Phi Beta's international headquarters, said Wednesday morning that the sorority would release a statement on the allegations in the next few days. The Crimson White had not received a statement from the international headquarters at press time. Former Gamma Phi Beta social chairwoman Stephanie McGee, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said in Wednesday's CW that sorority leaders had ulterior motives when they accepted black Tuscaloosa freshman Carla Ferguson. "I think a slot in the Machine was promised," McGee said. "It supposedly would also get us more parties and swaps and that kind of thing." The Machine is a select coalition of traditionally white fraternities and sororities designed to influence campus politics. McGee also said the sorority did not follow normal bid procedure, with only the executives, not the whole sorority, voting on whether to accept Ferguson. Gamma Phi Beta's UA chapter president and adviser deferred comment to the international organization. Efforts to reach McGee for further comment Wednesday were unsuccessful. Repeated attempts to reach Panhellenic President Heather Schacht for comment Wednesday were also unsuccessful. UA President Robert Witt was out of town Wednesday and unavailable for comment. Dean of Students Tom Strong said Gamma Phi Beta's international chapter had contacted his office. He said international representatives told Assistant Dean of Students Todd Borst they planned to release a statement to The CW because of what they called erroneous information in Wednesday's story. Interim UA Vice President for Student Affairs Kathleen Cramer said she was disappointed McGee's allegations were printed. She said she believed Gamma Phi Beta sincerely wanted Ferguson and is proud to have her as a member, but she said she did not believe the sorority went to any illegal lengths to get Ferguson. "I don't think that's possible for most chapters for a select group to select the pledges, so I really must question the credibility of the student's allegations," Cramer said. Strong said he understood Gamma Phi Beta abided by recruitment regulations of the National Panhellenic Conference and its international organization. He also said an international chapter representative was present during Rush. Strong said he was assured Gamma Phi Beta accepted Ferguson legally. "I'm not sure where [McGee] got her information from," he said. "It was my understanding everything was done exactly how it was supposed to be done." Strong said he believes the sisterhood of Gamma Phi Beta's fall pledge class, which he said had been strong, has been tested by the situation. However, he said he believes the pledge class will rally around each other. |
Gotta say a lot of people are handling things with class. But some folx need to get a grip! :mad:
Also in the Crimson White Former members cannot speak for whole sorority September 25, 2003 Any misinformation that may have been conveyed in a story in Wednesday's edition of The Crimson White is regrettable. After checking with the leadership of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, we would like to offer some additional information and background. Any former members of Gamma Phi Beta who want to express their opinion are entitled to do so, but they do not speak for the sorority. They are simply giving their personal view, and information they share may not be accurate with regard to the sorority as a whole. What is important is that the sorority chose Carla Ferguson because of her character and other personal qualities. The sorority has embraced each member of the pledge class, and they are having a wonderful experience. To convey otherwise is a disservice to this outstanding group. Gamma Phi Beta is one of the country's 10 oldest sororities and a founding member of the National Panhellenic Conference. It is committed to seeking cultural, demographic and economic diversity. |
that POOR girl. she just wanted to join a sisterhood, not become a public icon and now the subject of controversy. is it THAT big of a deal to have an african-american in a NPC sorority?! and why, if these allegations are true, would someone really feel the need to make them public? it sounds like someone is just bitter.
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Some people are guzzling the hater-ade !!!!!:eek: :mad:
so, so, so, so glad my school doesn't have these issues. oh, and I'm sure Gamma Phi is really glad the member quoted has left. Their chapter and their national organization is so much better than that. |
I feel terrible for Miss Ferguson. The new member period is supposed to be a fun time for her and now she has to hear how she is supposedly only a "token" member of the sorority.
There's always someone around who wants to turn a good situation into something bad :( |
Was That An Undergrad?
Was/is McGee an undergraduate member? What in the world would possess her to betray her sorority and embarrass them and herself with such a public display? There was an widely publicized incident at Georgia a few years ago where an individual made a very public accusation, and it turned out she just wanted out of her housing contract. She was willing to pull the whole house down to get what she wanted.
Unbelievable! The chapter should shut her out entirely; ban her from all activities and associations from now on. Don't know why this makes me so angry but it really strikes a nerve. |
I have to think that McGee had some rifts with other members in GPhiB and decided that this was a way to seek revenge. I just couldn't see a chapter going to lengths like this to get someone. Things can easily slip out and I don't think a chapter would risk that.
I really really really hope the information McGee provided are false. |
I feel so terrible for Miss Ferguson :( I sincerely hope the allegations are false.
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Even if it was true, what gives any member the right to go to the press because they don't agree with a member's decision? Go to HQ, go to an advisor, but the press?
I don't think this accuser has a leg to stand on and she knows it. It's sad that this much drama occured just because they accepted a woman of color. |
I still think it is ghastly that the young woman's name was even released to the public when she got her bid. If Panhellenic really wanted to support her, they would have respected her privacy.
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did anyone look at the chapter's website to see if the black woman was still a member? after that kind of publicity, most people would break and run.
she probably was voted in the right way some people probably just wanted to be ugly |
Good suggestion. :) I checked their site and the only members' names they list are the officers. They don't have a listing of their pledge class.
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Oooooh, I'm mad now!
Good lord, no WONDER African Americans don't want to "integrate" the NPC sororities!!!! At campuses like this, it isn't worth it.
Who cares WHAT voting procedures Gamma Phi Beta used.....certainly not me, because 1. I'm not a Gamma Phi; and 2. It doesn't affect me HOW they select their new members; and 3. It's THEIR BUSINESS!!!! (And I still don't understand how the whole thing could be "rigged"....did they coordinate who was going to invite her back to parties? How did they predict her choices anyway? Crazy, paranoid, bored people.:rolleyes: ) |
Apparently the girl who made these accusations is an undergrad but an ex-member. Makes me wonder why she is an ex-member.
I think they wanted to respect her privacy but honey, folx were all over this story and you KNOW when someone wants info they are gonna get it anyway they can. I hope she joins GC so I can tell her to BE STRONG DON'T LET THE A$$HOLES GET YOU DOWN! |
Re: Oooooh, I'm mad now!
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Basically the accusation being made is that "the Machine" promised to let Gamma Phi join if they accepted a black woman. The Machine is getting sick of everyone telling them how racist they are, so they decided to de-segregate the sorority system this year. However, none of the "top" chapters wanted to risk their reputations by bidding an African-American, so they wanted one of the not so prestigious sororities to do instead. They promised Gamma Phi entrance into the Machine as a bribe, which would theoretically raise their social standing on campus. Now who knows how much of that is true. But the thing I think is hilarious is that if parts of it are true, and the Machine sororities are so worried about how their reps will suffer as a result of taking a black new member that they make a less prestigious chapter do it -- they're so worried about their reputation on the Bama campus that they are making themselves look like idiots to the rest of the world. Outside of the Bama Greek system, Gamma Phi comes off as the most enlightened and classy sorority of the bunch whereas the other groups come off like racist snots. |
Re: Re: Oooooh, I'm mad now!
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this would be almost all of the school in the dead and beaten "confederacy" |
Re: Re: Re: Oooooh, I'm mad now!
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Between you and me I think we're probably going to get this thread locked. |
I would like to know when the accuser became an ex-member...before, during or after all this happened.
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Carla is still a member of the pledge class. She and her pledge sisters will be initiated on October 16. We are very proud of her and we are thrilled to have her as a member. None...and allow me to repeat this... NONE of Ms. McGee's allegations are correct. She didn't even know how many people are on the executive board (here's a hint: it's not 10). The UA administration and Gamma Phi Beta Internationals are behind the chapter 100%. They are a wonderful group of young women and they should be applauded for their ability to rise above this poor excuse of a story.
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Please cut the South bashing! EVERY part of the country has some azz-backward folks, not just the South. And the South is MY home!
Apparently she was NOT cut heavily from previous stories in the Crimson white interesting comments below the story...thank goodness quite a few are positive http://www.cw.ua.edu/vnews/display.v.../3f711d9f4d3b8 |
Wow. I just saw this thread, and I am going to try my best to behave.
There is no way the chapter at Alabama would have used illegal voting procedures. Gamma Phi Beta is very strict on voting - my chapter is heavily "baby-sat" during membership selection and we don't even have formal recruitment. Alabama is one of our "name" chapters so I am sure they are supervised and follow everything to the letter even more than my chapter does. I'm thrilled to hear from GammaPhiBabe that Carla is still a new member and will be initiated soon - and I'm proud of my sisters at Alabama for looking past race, which hasn't been a criteria for membership in a long long time. I'm not going to even bother to say anymore because I'm sure this thread will get locked because I somehow came off as "disrespectful" to the South. :rolleyes: |
I don't agree with the South bashing (subtly poking fun is more my style ;) ) but you have to admit that there is a reason that this is going on in the South and not in New York, Wisconsin, Washington, wherever. It frustrates me that we're not allowed to discuss that aspect on GC because there are so many Southerners here who get offended even when the "bashing" doesn't take place.
The more we say "Oh, that's just the way it is in the South" the more we tacitly give our approval to it. We all know that there's something very wrong here, so why pretend like there isn't? |
I think earlier in the Fall (or maybe it was in the summer?) there was an article in the Crimson White about sorority rush & integration @ Bama, (the link to the article was posted on GC) & I remember in the comments someone wrote something like "The Machine has decided to integrate sororities and so that will happen this year" (or something to that effect) It definately makes this whole situation more interesting ... :confused:
wow, that was just the longest run-on sentence ever! :p eta: I also agree w/ sugar&spice. No one is bashing anyone, but she does have a point when she said something is going on because that happens in the "South" and not in other places. I don't get it? :confused: |
True dat! We had a great thread in the rush forum about her bid day that was locked because folx got panties in a wad...
I don't want that to happen again. Yes this is coming from a Southerner (who did NOT get her panties in a bunch) Quote:
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racism is much worse in the south than anywhere else
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I'll post the article bec it is interesting. Did she not attend all rounds as is purported?
Sorority integration questioned Former member alleges ulterior motives behind Gamma Phi Beta integration By Megan Nichols Senior Staff Reporter September 24, 2003 Some say freshman Carla Ferguson broke barriers at the University when she accepted a bid to traditionally white sorority Gamma Phi Beta this summer. But a former sorority member said this week that members rigged the integration from the beginning to ensure the sorority a spot in the Machine. Stephanie McGee said Gamma Phi Beta members had ulterior motives behind letting Ferguson into the sorority. "I think a slot in the Machine was promised," McGee said. "They also just wanted to make the sorority look good, they wanted to make a good impression, they thought that they might start a new trend. It supposedly would also get us more parties and swaps and that kind of thing." The Machine is a select coalition of traditionally white fraternities and sororities designed to influence campus politics. After seeing what went on surrounding the admittance of Ferguson to her sorority, McGee said she decided to drop out of Gamma Phi Beta. Contrary to normal procedure, McGee said, not all sorority members were allowed to vote on whether to accept Ferguson. Only the 10 members of the executive board participated in the voting process. "That's the whole reason I quit," McGee said. "It doesn't bother me one bit that she's black. I mean, I'm not prejudiced or anything; it's just the whole manner in which the voting took place. The executive board made the decision, and she was going to be allowed in whether we wanted her or not." McGee said several more sorority members, including an executive board member, left because of the situation. Kara Thompson, who was the sorority's public relations executive, also left Gamma Phi Beta, but she declined to comment on her reasons. McGee said another abnormality concerning the bid extended to Ferguson is that Ferguson did not attend all Rush events. "She wasn't even there on Serious Night," she said. "Usually when a girl doesn't attend a party, you get dropped from the list, so I don't know how she even got a bid from our sorority. That's why I think it was just rigged by the people who wanted her there." McGee said the sorority is seeing some negative effects from the unorthodox manner in which Ferguson was offered a bid. "We even have alumni who knew about it and have decided not to support Gamma Phi Beta any more, and they're going to give their money to Georgia's chapter instead," she said. Membership numbers have been down for Gamma Phi Beta for the past few years, McGee said. The president and adviser of the sorority's UA chapter, citing international chapter rules regarding media, referred all questions to the chapter's international representatives. Efforts to reach representatives of Gamma Phi Beta's international chapter for comment this week were unsuccessful. |
If you look at the comments on the article, some of which are just charming, you will see that she missed rounds with an excuse. Alabama uses SORush or whatever that's called where you get to pick and choose who you go back to. Maybe she regretted with interest and then came back, or maybe she had a previous obligation to attend to. Regardless of what her situation was, she is a Gamma Phi Beta, and I think the Panhellenic community needs to respect that. As for Ms. McGee, I'm glad that attitude is no longer a part of our Epsilon Lambda chapter.
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Personally I think the girl is a bitter attention ho, who needs to stop drinking the Hater-ade! :rolleyes:
As far as Ms. McGee no longer being there I say "good riddance". That type of tude brings orgs down. And if alumni don't want to donate then that is THEIR loss (not the chapter's loss)! |
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Wisconsin is not pure as the driven snow when it comes to race issues. Even your collegiate home town of Madison is 90-odd percent white with only a small percentage of minority folks, all of whom live in one itty bitty little segment of town. It's every bit as segregated as "The South" that you "subtly poke fun at". But since Wisconsin doesn't have the same 19th century history that Alabama does, the press doesn't jump on it. IMHO, it's a bad idea to assume racial divisions aren't "going on" in areas other than the deep south. Some areas are just better at hiding it. Adrienne (who visits Madison often with Mr. Adrienne, who got his masters in Ed Psych/Statistics at UW-Madison and saw the above scenario first-hand) ;) |
The words "I think" are repeated way too much in that article for it to be a credible piece of journalism. This is very unfortunate for the girl involved and Bama Gamma Phi's. This story should never have made it past the CW editor.
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Adriene, I have to disagree with you. While Wisconsin definitely does have segration issues (like the rest of the nation) it is nowhere near as Alabama. I've visited family in Alabama and Georgia and the things I hear and see down there shock me. I grew up in a very snotty suburb of Milwaukee and race was never ever an issue out there - there weren't very many minorities, but that was largely because they couldn't afford to live there - houses that go for 90K in Milwaukee go for 500K in my town. Any minorities that did move to town were welcomed and embraced. Now I live and attend college in a shadier area of Milwaukee with a bunch of rich Chicago kids, and race still isn't an issue like I've observed it being down south.
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I didn't say there weren't differences. I just said that some areas **hide** their racial issues better than others. eg, Wisconsin does a better job of hiding it than Alabama does. Like I said, it's going to end up an "agree to disagree" thing. I know what I saw up there, as did Mr. A. |
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But nothing that would even come close to being on this scale. They're not comparable. Our Greek system became de-segregated almost 40 years ago, and although the NPC/IFC system is still primarily white, minority members are welcome in every group (even sought after). The university does have an interesting situation when it comes to race, which does carry over partly into the Greek system (although I think the Greek system is actually more integrated than the rest of the student body), but I can say without a doubt that you would never, ever witness the kind of open hostility displayed here. I think you will find that that same situation is true for most of the schools outside of the South (and, I'm sure, many in it). Bama-type situations seem to be relatively rare, thankfully. |
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And I see in the editorials, "Miss Thang" got called out! :eek:
http://www.cw.ua.edu/vnews/display.v.../3f726c6721547 Quote:
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I wonder what Nichols' motives were behind writing this piece...
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Is our good friend Ms. Nichols in a sorority?
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I'm not so sure it was appropriate to pos about the girl's financial difficulties....
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