Is Rush really color blind???

[phikappapsiman]

Hello All:

This summer I will be starting my Senior Honors thesis on the Greek System at various colleges and universities, primarily studying how racially diverse chapters are, and why it differs from school to school. For example, my fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi has had African-American, Asian-American, and Hispanics join. But I know that other Phi Psi chapters might not even consider someone who is a minority, although I would hope not. I would really like to hear from fraternity and sorority members from different schools to honestly speak about race- does it differ from private and public universities, does it matter what part of the country the school is located, and really does it still matter in 2002? Thanks in advance, and I hope to hear from some of you.

[Dionysus]

The greek community is like any other community, when it comes to race. Society at whole is not color blind, and race is still an issue in 2002. The greek community is not immune to it, unfortunately.

[EM1843]

I know in my chapter we rush people regardless of race. My Associate member class had an African American, a Muslim, a Hindu from England, and a half white/half african american. We're brothers just the same regardless of color. We were also the first white fraternity at UF to iniate a man of color. Not all fraternities are the same nor are all chapters of the same fraternity the same. Basically it's like all parts of society people tend to congregate with people of their background but that doesn't mean that we discriminate. Too often the media and independants like to look at the Greek community as being Racist or Discriminate but "Typical" black fraternities tend to attract African Americans with the multi cultural fraternities tending to have African Americans and Latinos. Most "white" fraternities are all white because most people of different back grounds would rather be somewhere else. Sorry to go off on a bit of a rant but I get annoyed by people who tell me the Greek community is rascist. Anyway, I have brothers of different colors but I also have friends in the Multi Culturals. We even do socials with Sigma Lambda Beta and are adjacent to the lot for the Q-Dogs, a "Black" fraterntiy. Greeks are just like everyone else, we just like to have a bond that binds us together.

[Optimist Prime]

in our last group of guys only one was white

[phikappapsiman]

Thanks all so far..

This is what I want to hear. I am not trying to portray GLO's as racist, which is why I want to get an honest view of Greek life outside of my chapter. By the way, I am an African-American who joined a predominately white fraternity, and I know that maybe if I went to certain chapters, I might not be as welcome as I could be. My girlfriend, who is an African American as well as a member of a traditionally white sorority, and I have been to other campuses, and have not felt welcomed by our "brothers" or "sisters". That's too bad, but it's true. But we like our chapters, so we do not regret joining, nor do we feel that we "sold out". My particular chapter has always been the leader at my school, as well as nationally, within Phi Kappa Psi in terms of racial diversity, so that is why I want to find out how it differs at other schools. I'm smart enough to know that maybe a lot of big state universities, and a lot of the schools in the south have greek systems that are very much separated by race, and a lot of smaller, private schools are more interracial, and they look at the person as a whole, not just the color of his/her skin. I just would like to find people who have stories that they would like to share either way-even if you think that it is a good thing to not admit someone of a different race. Thanks again...

[josh8o]

at sdsu it does not matter. there are houses that have all mixes of races. our house is very diverse and we bid guys baised on who they are as a person.

[phikappapsiman]

Josh:


That is why thou are truly indeed my brother, and why Phi Kappa Psi is a noble fraternity!

Amici, Usque, Aderas...

Steve...
Phi Kappa Psi
California Beta Chapter

[josh8o]

Originally posted by phikappapsiman
Josh:


That is why thou are truly indeed my brother, and why Phi Kappa Psi is a noble fraternity!

Amici, Usque, Aderas...

Steve...
Phi Kappa Psi
California Beta Chapter

HELL YEAH!!!


High, High, High!!!


It's so cool to have someone from my fraternity on here now!!

[Glitter650]

I think it totally has to do with the area that your school is in.
If your school is in an area that is traditionally diverse/not segregated.. mostly the frats/sorors aren't either... if you're in an area that still tends to be not racially mixed... then most of the sorors and other things tend to be as well. I go to school in an area that is VERY mixed ... (San Francisco) and our sorority is fairly mixed.. I must say majority caucasion... but we have some asian american girls... some latina girls.. and ME ( I am black and white) we have also had other africian american girls in the past.. just none active at the moment (excpet for me) I also think it's not only due to the existing members who in some cases maybe be more than happy to take on different races... but the different races who may perceive that they might not want them.. and not rush. It's a two way street.. I know in my new member book there's a section about where we need to think about silent messages we may be putting out un intentionally that would keep people of different races... or religions.. or people with disabilities form pledging.

I went to a big public school and I would say the greek system is fairly diverse.
I would say that a fairly good amount of the houses have minorities. And not just one either. As a african american in a historically white sorority, I picked mine because when our IHQ was recruiting they were looking at girls of all races, years in school, personality, etc. And thats what they continue to look at. Like someone said it all depends on the area and just how comfortable people are. I am sure some people think about a person's race when they rush after all being Greek doesnt eliminate issues society deals with, and as another person said I might not get the welcome I would like from other chapters in my org. (after everything my org has been through dealing with race I should hope I would get a nice one). If anything plays an issue on my campus in rushing its more likely to be what year in school you are and sometimes unfortunately how much money mommy and daddy have

[dzrose93]

Originally posted by phikappapsiman
I'm smart enough to know that maybe a lot of big state universities, and a lot of the schools in the south have greek systems that are very much separated by race, and a lot of smaller, private schools are more interracial, and they look at the person as a whole, not just the color of his/her skin. I just would like to find people who have stories that they would like to share either way-even if you think that it is a good thing to not admit someone of a different race. Thanks again...

Phikappapsiman,

You're right about big state schools and some schools in the South not having very integrated Greek systems. However, I have found that it isn't necessarily because the organizations don't want to be racially diverse, but more because minorities have shown little interest in rushing.

I live in Georgia and am an advisor to one of my sorority's chapters at a state school here. I can honestly say that our chapter does not discriminate against anyone, regardless of race or religion, and that we do have minority women in many of our chapters throughout the country. However, the chapter I advise is rarely offered the chance to "integrate" minority women into our organization because so few go through the Rush process.
People go where they feel most comfortable. This is true everywhere, not just in the Greek system, so I can certainly understand why some minority women prefer to join Greek organizations that are made up of other minority women with whom they share a common background.

Concerning the chapter I advise: We occasionally have Asian women rush (and do have Asian chapter members), but very few African-American women do so (only one in the past 2 years, if memory serves). I feel that part of the reason for this is because the HBGLO organizations on campus are very well-known in the community, so they draw many of the interested minority women due to their strong reputations. I don't think that this is a "bad" thing at all. After all, we each want quality women in our organizations. If Alpha Kappa Alpha gets a wonderful AA woman to join their group, then it may be a personal loss for Delta Zeta because we didn't get her as a member, but, overall, the Greek system as a whole has been made stronger by her membership. That, to me, is the most important thing.

[Optimist Prime]

I want to say something now. Rush is colorblind for my chapter. In fact we try to get people of all backgrounds and all walks of life. Ethnicly (spelling?) speaking we are the most diverse fraternity on campous. The problem we have with trying to recruit minorinties is that most would rather join a NPHC org. All five NPHC fraternties are here. Another factor that makes it hard for us to rush/recruit non-"white" people is that they're not too many here in the first place. Its like a cracker buffet.
So, even though these numbers seem small, I'm proud of them. Just remember that only like 6% of campous is greek, and minorities don't make up that big of a population here.
We have two Aferican Americans, One half Mexican, One Asian guy, and one guy who I don't know what race he is ( I think he's mixed) but it doesn't matter!! They are all my brothers!

[dgtxalum]

Although it is true that African-Americans are a rarity to go through GLO recruitment in the south, here's an article for you:

http://www.dailytexan.utexas.edu/web...1_s05_Two.html

This article is from recruitment in 2001, and shows how even though things aren't necessarily where they should be (and are for the most part in the rest of the nation), things are on the up-and-up.

I'm proud that my chapter took the initiative to break the racial barriers at University of Texas!

[Eirene_DGP]

Originally posted by Dionysus
The greek community is like any other community, when it comes to race. Society at whole is not color blind, and race is still an issue in 2002. The greek community is not immune to it, unfortunately.

Well said Dionysus

[Dionysus]

Originally posted by Eirene_DGP


Well said Dionysus

Thanks.