American Indians at UNC want sorority (Northern Colorado)

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From the Greeley Tribune Newspaper (Greeley, CO)

When Aubrey Nitzberg first arrived on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado, she immediately felt out of place. That feeling didn't go away until she joined an American Indian sorority.

"I felt secluded and out of place because I didn't know anyone who understood my culture," said Nitzberg, who is a junior studying telecommunications.

Now Nitzberg is president of the Native Sorority, a group of nine women in the process of joining Alpha Pi Omega, the national American Indian sorority. The women hope to begin the sorority's version of rush next fall.

Should the group gain membership, it will be the first nationally chartered American Indian sorority in Colorado and the fourth chapter for the sorority, which originated at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1994.

Since its inception, Alpha Pi Omega has added chapters at the University of North Carolina-Pembroke, Dartmouth and the University of Arizona.

American Indians make up only 1 percent of UNC's student population. Ninety-eight of the 125 American Indian students at the Greeley campus are female.

Nitzberg, a member of the Southern Ute tribe, said the sorority would be a great comfort to women who come from reservations as well as those who have never lived on a reservation.

The women, most of whom met through UNC's Native American Student Services, are raising money to bring Tabitha Strickland, a representative from the national chapter, to Greeley. Strickland will help the group jump through the complicated web of administrative hurdles on campus before she returns to North Carolina, where she will make a recommendation to the board on behalf of the Greeley women.

The group must have enough money by mid-February in order to get started by fall.

While working for the national charter, the women have weekly meetings and host events, such as movie nights, at least once a week.

"We are trying to get to know each other and build a sisterhood," Nitzberg said.