Problematic Sorority Recruitment Video?

[Nanners52674]

Would it be okay if they used a white football player? I really don't think APhi and Drake gave a second thought to how it would look in terms of "race and diversity", so I'm not sure why the rest of the world is.

If you look at that video and all you take away is a message about race that's your presumption. It's something you are noticing.

Bama is a huge football school so they asked a player to be in the video. He agreed. What's the big deal?

[33girl]

If a guy (regardless of color) is just in there because he's a football player (or student senate president or in a popular fraternity) and has zero connection to the chapter, it kind of looks like they paid him to show up and appear just to look like they know the right people. Chapters are told up and down not to discuss boys during recruitment, I don't understand how this is any different.

[knight_shadow]

Who exactly started the "outrage" about this? I didn't see any source of the outrage; just the thinkpieces/"news" stories saying that there was an outrage.

As a sidebar -- wasn't Bama the school that had the big PR push to show "yay we accept the blacks" a year or two ago?

[Midwest]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Who exactly started the "outrage" about this? I didn't see any source of the outrage; just the thinkpieces/"news" stories saying that there was an outrage.

As a sidebar -- wasn't Bama the school that had the big PR push to show "yay we accept the blacks" a year or two ago?

The media and its enables are trying to play the "Greek life is damaging to America! It's an archaic institution that should be abolished!" and "Not an ounce of diversity shown " cards. Guess what, I was the only minority in my fraternity. Did I say quietly to myself "Where are my people?" No.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by 33girl

If a guy (regardless of color) is just in there because he's a football player (or student senate president or in a popular fraternity) and has zero connection to the chapter, it kind of looks like they paid him to show up and appear just to look like they know the right people. Chapters are told up and down not to discuss boys during recruitment, I don't understand how this is any different.

Agree with the bolded.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by Nanners52674

If you look at that video and all you take away is a message about race that's your presumption. It's something you are noticing.

If you* are able to go through life without noticing race, that's a privilege.

*I mean the general you, not Nanners specifically.

[Sen's Revenge]

Originally Posted by Nanners52674

Would it be okay if they used a white football player? I really don't think APhi and Drake gave a second thought to how it would look in terms of "race and diversity", so I'm not sure why the rest of the world is.

If you look at that video and all you take away is a message about race that's your presumption. It's something you are noticing.

Bama is a huge football school so they asked a player to be in the video. He agreed. What's the big deal?

I already explained why it was problematic to me. I am not going to engage whether it would be okay if they used a white football player because they did not.

Originally Posted by 33girl

If a guy (regardless of color) is just in there because he's a football player (or student senate president or in a popular fraternity) and has zero connection to the chapter, it kind of looks like they paid him to show up and appear just to look like they know the right people. Chapters are told up and down not to discuss boys during recruitment, I don't understand how this is any different.

I agree with that, too. But I don't want to ignore that they chose to use a black man as an accessory (1) and that there are no black women in the video (2).

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

If you* are able to go through life without noticing race, that's a privilege.

*I mean the general you, not Nanners specifically.

But Nanners specifically also.

[jolene]

When I read "Diary of a Sorority House Mom" by Ann Hyman, she mentions that another chapter on their campus (Berkeley) would have some sisters go blonde before recruitment.

Just a rant (not geared toward anyone here but in comments I've seen elsewhere)... Why does everyone assume these women have extensions? I've been accused of having them when the hair on my head is all my own. No, I didn't come with the color (I'm a brunette who colors it auburn), but the hair is what came out of my scalp.

Back on topic, I don't think guys belong in a sorority recruitment vid unless it's some large shot of Greek week (like another poster here said).

LOLz, I guess the vid is sort of "Legally Blonde" like.

For the sake of comparison, here's Bama AXO's recruitment vid:
https://youtu.be/Zn8gu2ATAIg

[LionTamer]

I was seriously creeped out by the number of old men fervently defending this on Facebook.

Seriously girls, these get out, and your dad's friends watch it over and over. Eww.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by LionTamer

I was seriously creeped out by the number of old men fervently defending this on Facebook.

Seriously girls, these get out, and your dad's friends watch it over and over. Eww.

I heard (and I emphasize "heard" -- not from an official source or published statement) that the creepish internet comments on the girls in the video "raised awareness" regarding the potential for social media stalking upon publication of names, and that this influenced Admin's decision to no longer publish bid lists.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

I heard (and I emphasize "heard" -- not from an official source or published statement) that the creepish internet comments on the girls in the video "raised awareness" regarding the potential for social media stalking upon publication of names, and that this influenced Admin's decision to no longer publish bid lists.

That makes sense. While it used to be a good way to see where local girls went--and, in some cases, the only way I'd find out if any of my Recs actually worked their magic--there's far too much scrutiny at Alabama right now for that to continue. It's not like you can always tell someone's ethnic background from their name, but the less potentially negative attention, the better.

[ohsohappy]

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction and a social media over-reaction.

[KYKAT]

Here is my take. Upfront I will say I am married to a minister. I have always been very conservative. I rolled my eyes at the video, as did my teens. Not because we were offended but because of the silliness-we tend to be more on the serious side. Show me what sisterhood is.

However, I don't think it was something that should have been taken down nor do I see that Alabama had to issue an apology. It was a video like many others, a marketing tool designed to get like minded women to be interested in them. I am quite sure it worked. If I had gone through recruitment, it would have helped me think about the chapter and what it was like.

Was there diversity? No, but that is an issue that is changing at Alabama and in the south, slowly for sure. But to say it was unempowering seems silly. I know plenty of 18-20 year olds, as well as women my age (50) who are girly, feminine, and strong and capable.

Much ado about nothing to me.

[jolene]

How did A Phi do during rush? UA's rush has ended, right?

[KYKAT]

Originally Posted by jolene

How did A Phi do during rush? UA's rush has ended, right?

I was told they did quite well.