African American going through recruitment at Alabama?
 

Hello! I was looking into recruitment at the a university of Alabama and saw a thread about race. I basically got the idea that an African American female going through npc recruitment at Alabama is a terrible idea and is setting herself up for disaster. Maybe I read too much into it but that's the vibe I got.
Is this still true? I just want a realistic answer. I don't ask this to upset anyone or offend anyone either because I know there are so many other factors that come into play like GPA, resume,etc
Also I wouldn't blame race for being cut. That's just stupid.

The realistic answer is that there isn't enough data to give you an answer. To the best of my knowledge only about 4 AA women have ever gone thru at Alabama. One was actually1/2 AA and she pledged a group. The others either dropped out or were released. Grades and recs are necessary at Alabama so it's possible the remaining 3 were lacking in one or more of those respects - but no one will ever know as membership selection is private.

So, seeing as during those 4 years some 6,000 women total went thru recruitment, it's hard to say why 3 didn't make it to bid day. Too small a sample.

Who cares?
 

Who f'ing cares?
Your blood is just red as their's.
Go for it.
If you don't try, you have already failed. That's my belief.

I am not from the South. But, still. If one goes through, then maybe another will go through and it will build year after year.
Yes, I know that there are cultural issues that I am not aware of down there. Hey, we just got a black president. So if he can become president then surely you can go through recruitment.
What do you have to lose?
Worst case scenario is you don't like it. Well, you don't have to do it again. You could chalk it up as an experience. One that you had instead of wondering what if.

Back in the day, my org was one of the few that had African Americans in our chapter. I was so proud.

Please don't lambaste me for speaking about a culture that I have little knowledge of.

LIFE IS ABOUT EXPERIENCES...

<JUMPING OFF SOAP BOX>

^^^ If there was 1 AA member out of 6000 rushees, then I think it's a legitimate question.

I agree that it is a legitimate question.

However, at some point, I feel that you want to do something, you just have say screw the odds and just do it.

The only way for the odds to increase are to increase the numbers going through. It starts with one. And then goes to another and another.

It's not a question of whether or not I'm allowed to go through recruitment, because I am.
But as knight_shadow mentioned, there having only been 1 AA has led me to ask a legitimate question about how much of a factor race will play into my experience. I'm not stupid enough to assume any one chapter or house is racist, cause that's not the case. But anyone from the south knows the reputation of schools like 'bama and 'Ole Miss.

I just wanna know whether I'd honestly be wasting my time.

But I don't wanna ignorantly base my decision off of a misunderstanding. Like is there a lack of AA rushing because of the reputation? So its just a cycle of no AA's? Or is race a major factor?

That's all. I just wanna be realistic

This is an issue in every region of the country which is why you would be so proud of the African Americans in your chapter. :)

So, someone does care. ;)

Try it and see for yourself.

The Machine.

I take that as a no haha

Since you didn't say anything about your GPA (must be well over a 3.0) nor that you have 2 recs for every house and since your grammar would lead one to believe that your grades are not at the appropriate level ("wanna" used repeatedly), I am assuming that you don't meet the basic requirements anyway....no matter the color of your skin. You've already outed yourself here if anyone wants to figure it out once recruitment begins.

Have a seat.

Um, wow. Jump to conclusions much?

To the OP, if you do decide that you want to pursue NPC recruitment at Alabama, I would definitely give you the advice that I would to all PNMs considering Alabama. Alabama recruitment is ultra competitive; I'd be willing to bet that it's going to be more so this fall since they've just won the national championship (which tends to increase the number of students who want to attend). Grades are super important; multiple recs for each org are too. Keep your online presence in social media super clean. (I don't think you've done anything wrong here by asking a perfectly reasonable question.)

Good luck no matter what you decide.

I'm amused by the username...that came from even before I worked at Taco Bell when I was in high school, so like mid-late 90s. Probably around the time this person was born. :)


This could be one of those self-fulfilling prophecies....very few AAs have rushed, so there's this big question mark, so AAs continue not to rush, which doesn't give NPCs the chance to prove the outcome.

I think this is important point Alpha Frog, and there are additional factors as well.

Very few AAs have rushed at Alabama, which makes them nervous about being the first. AAs (particularly from out of state) may not know many women in chapters already - which we have seen time and again makes things more difficult for OOS women in a competitive recruitment like the SEC. (Its not that they don't like you - its that they already have 100 best friends from high school coming through recruitment.) AA women that would be awesome candidates are actively recruited and encouraged by friends and family in the Divine Nine.

All I can tell you is that some of those big, southern schools now have some great Hispanic and Asian women in their chapters. I am guessing if a young lady with good recs and good grades goes through recruitment, they would find a home.

What would be a waste of time would be tearing your hair out over whether or not it is a waste of time. At the very least, if you did go through and decided not to join, it would be a good way to meet people especially if you are OOS, and you won't have to worry about the "What ifs?"