Alabama recruitment fall-out

[33girl]

Removing the advisory board =/= removing alumnae influence. AT ALL.

And as I said - maybe hq can step in and give people bids. They can't make other people treat them as sisters.

Don't get me wrong, I wish it was as easy as doing these things, but it's not.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Removing the advisory board =/= removing alumnae influence. AT ALL.

And as I said - maybe hq can step in and give people bids. They can't make other people treat them as sisters.

Don't get me wrong, I wish it was as easy as doing these things, but it's not.

I'd be curious, as a business decision, to see how this plays out. How dependent are large chapters on alumni donations when, for example, they need to do serious renovations or repairs?

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I'd be curious, as a business decision, to see how this plays out. How dependent are large chapters on alumni donations when, for example, they need to do serious renovations or repairs?

To assume that the measures KD nationals are taking will have a huge negative impact on alumnae donations may be... unfair (for lack of a better word). This campus has clearly had a huge problem going back many years, but perhaps there have been many members over the years who agree with the collegians and despise what the actively involved alumnae have done (assuming the accusations/reports are true), and they're glad that someone finally had the guts to buck the system. There's a chance that donations will now pour in from all over.

We'll see.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

To assume that the measures KD nationals are taking will have a huge negative impact on alumnae donations may be... unfair (for lack of a better word).

The speculation about alumnae (in any of the UofA chapters) withholding donations is just that - speculation that provides fodder for sensationalized news stories. I know many active alums of many UofA chapters, and as far as I know, this has no basis in truth.

Unfortunately, articles like the one linked use plenty of errors to spin the story, like this one, which is not true:

detailing the case of one African-American student who was rejected, one by one, from all 16 Panhellenic sororities.

Last fall only 3 or 4 AA girls participated in NPC recruitment. It will be interesting to see if more elect to participate this year. If these girls feel they will be the hounded subjects of sensationalized news stories, some may be reluctant to participate.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

To assume that the measures KD nationals are taking will have a huge negative impact on alumnae donations may be... unfair (for lack of a better word). This campus has clearly had a huge problem going back many years, but perhaps there have been many members over the years who agree with the collegians and despise what the actively involved alumnae have done (assuming the accusations/reports are true), and they're glad that someone finally had the guts to buck the system. There's a chance that donations will now pour in from all over.

We'll see.

The thing is, some people don't see it as bucking the system. Some alums see it as this chapter getting away with just probation because of its size and being in a popular Greek system - i.e. if this chapter was at your alma mater or mine, they'd be closed down so fast after that article their head would spin.

And incidentally, my comments are not toward KD specifically. Any other group with a chapter at Alabama would likely do the same exact thing in the situation, and my side eye would also be the same.

[KDCat]

Originally Posted by 33girl

The thing is, some people don't see it as bucking the system. Some alums see it as this chapter getting away with just probation because of its size and being in a popular Greek system - i.e. if this chapter was at your alma mater or mine, they'd be closed down so fast after that article their head would spin.

And incidentally, my comments are not toward KD specifically. Any other group with a chapter at Alabama would likely do the same exact thing in the situation, and my side eye would also be the same.

1. The Alabama problem isn't just one chapter's problem. It's a pattern across multiple NPC groups. Shutting down one chapter isn't going to solve the problem. This isn't about one or two or ten chapters misbehaving, as much as it is about a system is stuck in a historical pattern of institutionalized racism. Other schools have transitioned away from those patterns. This one can, too.

2. Insofar as my sorority historically helped build a system that is neck-deep in institutionalized racism and segregation, I think we should stick around and work on the problem. Walking away is easy. Working on the problem is hard and uncomfortable. KD wasn't mentioned in the first set of articles as a problem child. Now that National KD is working on the issue, National KD is getting flak. It's uncomfortable. It's also the right thing to do.

[lake]

Very classy statement! I like how they stated a couple of times the importance of student-driven decisions and processes.

It'll be interesting to see how Alabama's recruitment goes this year. I feel sorry for the undergrads who, in addition to regular Alabama recruitment stress, now have the added stress of being under a national microscope. I don't think I could handle it!

[lake]

Ugh! Okay I just read the second link. Very depressing!

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by KDCat

1. The Alabama problem isn't just one chapter's problem. It's a pattern across multiple NPC groups. Shutting down one chapter isn't going to solve the problem. This isn't about one or two or ten chapters misbehaving, as much as it is about a system is stuck in a historical pattern of institutionalized racism. Other schools have transitioned away from those patterns. This one can, too.

2. Insofar as my sorority historically helped build a system that is neck-deep in institutionalized racism and segregation, I think we should stick around and work on the problem. Walking away is easy. Working on the problem is hard and uncomfortable. KD wasn't mentioned in the first set of articles as a problem child. Now that National KD is working on the issue, National KD is getting flak. It's uncomfortable. It's also the right thing to do.

So very true.