IFC Rush, Minorities, and "Southern" Universities

[frattyphi322]

I was just wondering about how many minorities go through rush at southern schools, and how many of them actually get a bid.

FYI- Im not trying to make this a racial issue, and im not saying southern schools are racist, im just curious. My chapter is located in Texas, so we're not really considered a "southern" school. I'm basically wondering about SEC schools lol.

[SWTXBelle]

Does IFC keep that kind of data?

[frattyphi322]

doubt it. i just put that because i was talking about guys rush.

[PANTHERTEKE]

Well, coming from a public college in Miami that has about 39,000 students and is 58% Hispanic and 13% African American (FIU), then it is safe to say that our Greek population is pretty much reflective of that. In FIU, the "minorities" are the majority and vise versa.

My fraternity is mostly Hispanic, but every semester we get African American guys that rush and become brothers.. Oh and we also have a few Caucasian guys

I guess its all relative though. If you go to a school where its 90% White and 10% "minority," then I would assume the Greek life at that school would be about the same statistically.

Then again, my school is a relatively young school (founded in 1965) so we don't have deeply founded traditions and we are very diverse; we don't let race or ethnicity dictate who we give out bids to. But it may be different in the more traditional "Southern" schools, I wouldn't know.

[Low C Sharp]

If you go to a school where its 90% White and 10% "minority," then I would assume the Greek life at that school would be about the same statistically.

I don't know why you would assume that.
________
HEAT GUN VAPORIZER

[Kevlar281]

I don’t think you will ever get an exact number because I honestly don’t know of any IFC that has race on their rush registration forms. The only thing that might help you gather that data is to look at the High School listed as attended and then make an educated guess at their race.

[PANTHERTEKE]

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

I don't know why you would assume that.

Because, usually, the sample population (Greek Life) of a greater population (the school) tend to parallel each other.

[Tom Earp]

Also, most if not all Nationals have a non racial regulation.

If a person does not feel they will be comfortable, then, they will not join!

Whether be of something they have heard on campus or what they would feel from meeting those members.

Why do you ask Jug Dish or how ever it was spelled from "Animal House"!

[DSTRen13]

Originally Posted by PANTHERTEKE

Because, usually, the sample population (Greek Life) of a greater population (the school) tend to parallel each other.

The OP specifically asked about SEC schools. The "sample population" does not "tend to parallel the greater population" ...

[breathesgelatin]

I know you asked about SEC schools. I can't speak to that, but only W&L, which I would characterize as a southern Greek school.

At W&L most of the fraternities accepted minorities and international students, but there was a small minority that did not. Some of that, I think, was on the verge of changing when I graduating.

There were exceptions to this rule, for example a guy I knew who was a Latino, from South America, whose father was an alum and trustee, who received a bid to an extremely elite "southern" fraternity (he ultimately did not wish to join this fraternity and joined another where he felt he fit better). Both of this person's sisters were members of the most elite sorority on campus (the sororities tended to be less concerned with race and such).

I guess the point I am making is that there can always be individual exceptions. But that some groups do discriminate on this basis (pathetic though I think it is).

I would add that in many cases I saw fraternities (and sororities) that were more willing to admit people of a particular "country club" or "elite southern" mentality (or whatever) no matter the race, than to admit individuals who were of the traditional race but who perhaps did not dress/act correctly in their opinion.

Again, this may be completely at variance with SEC schools...

[tld221]

Originally Posted by breathesgelatin

I know you asked about SEC schools. I can't speak to that, but only W&L, which I would characterize as a southern Greek school.

At W&L most of the fraternities accepted minorities and international students, but there was a small minority that did not. Some of that, I think, was on the verge of changing when I graduating.

There were exceptions to this rule, for example a guy I knew who was a Latino, from South America, whose father was an alum and trustee, who received a bid to an extremely elite "southern" fraternity (he ultimately did not wish to join this fraternity and joined another where he felt he fit better). Both of this person's sisters were members of the most elite sorority on campus (the sororities tended to be less concerned with race and such).

I guess the point I am making is that there can always be individual exceptions. But that some groups do discriminate on this basis (pathetic though I think it is).

I would add that in many cases I saw fraternities (and sororities) that were more willing to admit people of a particular "country club" or "elite southern" mentality (or whatever) no matter the race, than to admit individuals who were of the traditional race but who perhaps did not dress/act correctly in their opinion.

Again, this may be completely at variance with SEC schools...

umm, that screams "no, really?" to me. he (and his sisters) has a connection so it makes sense that (maybe!) them receiving bids were more about who they were related to and not so much of "race doesnt mean anything!"

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by tld221

umm, that screams "no, really?" to me. he (and his sisters) has a connection so it makes sense that (maybe!) them receiving bids were more about who they were related to and not so much of "race doesnt mean anything!"

Oh, I wasn't suggesting anything otherwise. Indeed I agree that the only thing influencing these "elite" groups to take minorities was if the prospective members had really influential connections. Race certainly did matter--I was just pointing out that in certain instances other considerations could trump race.

Most of the fraternities at my school did regularly bid minorities (just not the "elite" ones). As did all the sororities...