U AL Black greek organizations recruit differently (and strangely)

[hoosier]

Black greek organizations recruit differently

Process serious and secretive, they say
By Alexandra Battito
Contributing Writer
October 17, 2005


All greek organizations on (U of AL) campus emphasize basic ideals of brotherhood or sisterhood, leadership and community service.

But fraternities and sororities in the traditionally black greek organizations of the National Pan-Hellenic Council differ greatly in their methods of finding and initiating new members.

Unlike the organizations in the Interfraternity Council and Alabama Panhellenic Association, who typically begin their search for new members as early as spring and summer and officially pledge most prospective members a few weeks into the fall semester, NPHC organizations have an entirely unique, strict and secretive way of rushing and initiating new members.

"We don't just openly go out and advertise," said Will Henry, a senior and head of publicity for Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. "When you go to convocation, you express your interest in becoming greek."

Before joining an individual NPHC chapter, prospective members must first become a member of the national chapter at the greek convocation held at the beginning of each semester, said Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity President Clinton Johnson.

"The girls call theirs 'rushes.' We call ours 'awareness seminars' or 'interest meetings' where you come, learn more about [the fraternity], find out about the application process," Johnson said.

The process begins not by writing letters to incoming college students, or hosting events to encourage new members to join, but simply by word of mouth.

"If we see someone who we think will believe or live up to the aims of the fraternity, then we may try to recruit him - just ask him if he's ever looked into joining the fraternity," Johnson said. "But we don't have gatherings where we try to get 50 or 60 people to come, it's nothing like that."

After convocation, the information meetings and the intake process begin, Henry said. At the end of the semester, NPHC chapters announce which ones, if any, will be accepting new members. Currently, there are no pledges to a NPHC organization, only prospective members who are beginning to attend information meetings.

"A chapter won't necessarily have initiates every semester," said Brian Johnson, a senior majoring in international marketing and Alpha Phi Alpha member. "It all depends on what the chapter feels that they need."

Hiron Stiell, a senior and recording secretary of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, said each chapter votes on whether they will accept initiates at the end of the semester and no one knows who will accept new members and who will not until then.

The process is so secretive that current members cannot disclose any information about it.

"The intake process within our organizations is basically there to build character," said Curtis Helton, a junior and member of Phi Beta Sigma. "That's about as much as I can discuss about our organization's process. It's pretty serious."

Although all greek organizations on campus have an anti-hazing policy, the NPHC has a broader definition of hazing that it strictly enforces.

"We do not condone hazing in any form or fashion - mentally, physically, spiritually. It's a major part of it," Brian Johnson said.

The NPHC definition of hazing differs from that of other greeks, Henry said.

"Like you see at football games in the student section - the guys in suits and the girls in dresses," Henry said. "Those are potential pledges for some fraternity or sorority in IFC [or Panhellenic].

"But if we did that, it would be hazing."

Henry said it is a popular misconception that NPHC organizations only recruit black students.

"NPHC organizations were actually founded for black men and women to better establish themselves in the community as far as voting rights, educational rights, and finances, but as we grew we took on other [ethnicities]," said Henry.

Curtis Helton said he is the only white member of Phi Beta Sigma right now, but he is not the first white member of the chapter.

"It's a personal decision I made," Helton said.