[Nhfulmer]

I've just begun reading this thread and must comment on a couple of things. In the article from Time, it said that Bama had adjusted the dates of rush. Rush at Bama had historically been before classes began. Just a few years ago they began rushing later in the semester. This year they have gone back to rushing before classes because so many parents and students complained that the rush schedule and preparations left little time for study and grades were suffering. It had nothing to do with the subject of the article.

Now, don't blame all of the NPC groups for not having black members. The member of the administration who is responsible for Greek Affairs at Bama explained that to my husband recently. He said that there is even a name for the reason - "crabbing". Have you ever seen a bucket or net of live crabs? When one of them attempts to escape, it is pulled back into the mass by the rest. He says that if a black girl/guy attempst to rush a predominantly white group, it is well known that if she/he doesn't get a bid, she/he will NEVER get a bid from a predominantly black group. Quite a bit of pressure for an 18 year old, wouldn't you say? I don't know for sure, but I would venture to say that there are no white members of the predominantly black groups at Bama. I may be wrong and if I am, please correct me.

My own sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, has black members (as well as many other races) all over the country - but no blacks at Bama. I still stick to my belief that each chapter has the right to choose its members. Who on earth would want to belong to a group where they were not wanted? And what group would want to pledge a person who was not a "fit" with their chapter. We do not discriminate based on race but sometimes that enters into the reason that a girl would not fit into a chapter. It is naive to think otherwise.

By the way, I am a proud alumna of Nu Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha at the University of Alabama.