Machine Article
 

I'm hesitant even to post this here, because I really do not want to spark a debate about the greek system at my alma mater. But I thought you guys might be interested in reading it

http://www.cw.ua.edu/vnews/display.v.../404ecb260be11

It's about "the machine" at Alabama. There are numerous threads about it already on this site, but this article is new.

Wow, interesting to say the least. I don't think my school had quite the political underground like Bama does. So does eveyone know this 'Machine' exists and just goes along with it or is it like a secret coalition that no one discusses? I feel kind of bad for the girl in the article (one of my sisters none the less!). Takes guts to go up against something like that-but she won!? This is intriguing...how did she win?

Interesting.


What I'm curious about is -- assuming most of this article is true -- WHY the Machine continues to operate this way. I mean, to me it seems like they're putting themselves at risk for a lot of trouble (with the death threats and all) for something that is relatively trivial (SGA elections and Homecoming Queens?). Of course it seems fairly clear that unless there's a major slip-up, nobody will get in trouble because it won't be investigated and there's almost no way it will get confirmed.

But still, why would you risk so much for something that silly? It doesn't make sense to me.

I was reading through some of the article feedback (which was quite amusing, by the way) and several people talked about "why doesn't the administration do something to stop this?" What can they do? Of course, vote stealing/fraud/whatever is against the rules and can be consequented, but you can't really stop someone from trying to band together and block vote, can you?

Now that I look back, homecoming queens mean nothing now...but as an undergrad, it was major bragging rights to say your chapter had HC queen, and Miss Campus, and Pledge Queen, stuff like that. Impressionable young freshmen going through recruitment just looking for a place to fit in on a huge campus would probably take that into consideration. Not everyone going thru a huge recruitment like that would really know why they want to go greek.

As for people asking for my ID number, I would be like HELL NO!!! Not only could they vote for me, they could get into all kinds of stuff on my account, which is not cool. Maybe they should have a voting option of "I choose not to vote". That way, those who don't want to vote for a candidate can "vote" for that with their ID and other people couldn't use their ID.

In any case, coming from a small university that didn't have "political parties" when running for SGA (you just had your views on things....), this whole entire thing fascinates me.

PsychTau

Just thought of something.....someone in the feedback said that the threats, etc. got so bad one year that the school actually banned SGA (or something like that) for a few years.

Know what I'd do? If it got nasty, I'd ban Homecoming Queen. That'll get some attention. :D

PsychTau

It sounds like a bad lifetime movie....

Haha! Can you imagine a school like Bama banning the Homecoming Queen?

I had the same "why is SGA such a big deal" question previously...the answer was that oftentimes involvement in SGA at Bama is a prerequisite for involvement in political/public life later on, since many grads stay in the area.

Small side note: Her sister is this year's Auburn Homecoming Queen. Her sister is an Alpha Xi Delta here.

That's what I'm saying! WHY would people put up with this nonsense?? I'm sorry, but is it really THAT serious?

I went to a school with "political slates" for elections (but most people thought it was pretty silly and didn't even vote), and most people didn't care who won Homecoming Queen...and this is a BIG school.

It just sounds like brainwashing or something to me! I don't think I would have wanted to stay in a sorority in which someone came around and told me that I HAD to vote a certain way now or be the "downfall" of my house. Sheesh! These people need to get a life!

You are apparently correct (either that or someone is faking).
Check out the article about the Auburn homecoming queen here , then look at the first feedback left.

Kinda funny....wonder if it speaks of some sibling rivalry???

PsychTau

I read the feedback and the obvious machine members sounded as if they were brainwashed and part of a cult. They kept saying, "You betrayed us" and "It wasn't your turn". I'm glad that I went to a school where I could run for a senate position if I felt like it and didn't have to worry that it "wasn't my turn".

Bama_Alumna, this is a quote from one of the feedbacks...what does it mean?

Just because you had enough friends to pick you for 31 doesn't mean you can get cocky now.

Wow!!! Totally crazy stuff, I tell you. I can understand trying to get greek chapters to rally behind their members (which happens everywhere!!), but all of this brainwashing inside politics stuff seems a little much.

I would hope some chapters leave the group together, a chapter that got caught with voter fraud would certianly be kicked off campus.
-M

The XXXI (31) is a very exclusive honorary reserved for the "top" 31 women on campus.


To answer a few other questions...

Both of our most recent gubernatorial candidates were once SGA presidents at Alabama. Many other prominent politicians from and in the state of Alabama including Senator Richard Shelby (head of homeland security) were in machine-affiliated fraternities.

There was no SGA at Alabama from 1993-1998 (IIRC) due to an alleged incident involving our current governor's daughter who, although she was a member of a machine-affiliated sorority was not permitted to run for SGA president. She mounted a campaign anyway and some not-so-nice things happened to her. Like I said, this is all "alleged" and no one except the girl in question knows what really happened.

UA won't cancel Homecoming due to the alumni $$ that comes in as a result of it. Homecoming is a B I G deal. And the alumni want to see the Homecoming queen & all the surrounding celebration. Tradition is an important thing.

The Machine won't get "in trouble" because 1) it is very secretive, 2) there are too many powerful people who were/are involved with it, 3) there is no real way to prove it exists.

The girl in the article (Emily A) who won the senate seat did so without machine backing. But a Senate seat is not really that difficult to win. It's not like an executive office. There may have been only a few people running against her, and she did have a lot of publicity.