African American going through recruitment at Alabama?

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by Oneperson

So YOU, OP, are not African American? I'm sorry, I had the impression that you were because of what you were asking. I apologize.

She is. Her sister is on another campus.

[Yoquierotacobel]

Originally Posted by Oneperson

So YOU, OP, are not African American? I'm sorry, I had the impression that you were because of what you were asking. I apologize.
I am amused by you "not aiming at a particular house." PNMs have the mistaken assumption that they're going to "go for" a particular house/sorority. In formal recruitment, PNMs have less control than they think. But you could be one of those rare PNMs that everyone wants.


I assure you my opinion and info are current as of the 2011 formal recruitment.

It would have to be for the reason you mentioned in the second sentence. But it will probably be an icy day in hell for the top groups will do it. In my crystal ball, it will be one of the smaller groups that does it...like last time. Then another one, but not 10 or 15 years later, a lot quicker. Then another one. Eventually the "old row" sororities will join...after some of the top fraternities begin admitting AAs.

Sorry for the confusion. I am indeed African American and my sister is an active member of one of the "Old Row" sororities, just at a different school, not Alabama. Sorry for the mix up.

[Yoquierotacobel]

Originally Posted by AzTheta

^^^ OP: is U of A ARIZONA?

Oh - probably not, sigh. Whenever I see U of A, I immediately think of Arizona. Someone can correct me on this: I usually see 'Bama and Auburn written, not abbreviations like "UofA" for those schools. On GC I also learned that it's UT, not UTA or UT Austin. Let's see - what else? Oh yes! "Ole Miss" and THE Ohio State University (I still don't quite understand the latter).

Speaking of Auburn, how are the trees doing?

Anyway, at Arizona we don't have any "old row" or "circle"; and we have 11 (soon to be 12 as Alpha Chi Omega is returning in 2013) fine chapters. You can probably connect the rest of the dots.

There is another school 100 miles up the road, with a devil mascot, and they have sororities as well. They have much better shopping than we do in Tucson. But it's PHOENIX, blechh. Not much good to say about that, although I do have some GC friends up there, so it's not entirely hopeless.

Sorry for the confusion. U of A meaning University of Arkansas(razorbacks), UA('bama) & UT Austin(University of Texas)

Sorry for the confusion. I should have been more specific.

[Titchou]

As my father said to me many times, I only know what you say, not what you mean to say.

[HQWest]

OP- I was there when the first AA girl pledged at a chapter i advised - that was 15 years ago. She had friends in the chapter from her high school, and she was welcomed with open arms. She was a great sister too.

Alabama is a tough nut to crack - because there are so many ladies going through. The "top tier" already has a list of favorites and legacies that they have known about since they started high school, and usually they have to work to cut that list down. UAB, Auburn, USM, Ole Miss all have AA members - but there just arent very many AA women that go through at The big "Old South" schools.

A lot of girls will get cut, its not because they dont like you. Its probably they dont know you.

[Yoquierotacobel]

Originally Posted by HQWest

OP- I was there when the first AA girl pledged at a chapter i advised - that was 15 years ago. She had friends in the chapter from her high school, and she was welcomed with open arms. She was a great sister too.

Alabama is a tough nut to crack - because there are so many ladies going through. The "top tier" already has a list of favorites and legacies that they have known about since they started high school, and usually they have to work to cut that list down. UAB, Auburn, USM, Ole Miss all have AA members - but there just arent very many AA women that go through at The big "Old South" schools.

A lot of girls will get cut, its not because they dont like you. Its probably they dont know you.

See, this is where I feel a little behind. I'm not from Alabama, let alone Tuscaloosa, so I have no connections. When I was set on UT, I also thought about how much connections down there matter. Most of the girls have been friends with each other since highschool(even elementary or middle). But that would just mean I have to work a little harder. Which is fine!

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by Titchou

Just so it can't be said that I skulked off in the night, I strongly disagree with this. First of all, I was not judgmental and rude. OP's original post was rather "loose" in language and information - loose enough to wonder if she had the required GPA and recs. Since sororities troll GreekChat to check out PNMs, any post one places here should be carefully considered. You can be outed in a few clicks of a mouse. Many people have been! If you don't want to be "outed", don't post it here. Many people here have figured out who I am. That's fine. And it needs to be fine with PNMs who post here also as it's going to happen to them.

Second, having a "black" in a sorority would not "sully" them in my opinion. I advise now on a campus that has had many - and in my group as well - and they've all been welcomed with open arms. You won't find anyone there saying otherwise. And we're just down the road from Tuscaloosa. Besides, if you knew me, you would know where I personally stand on this issue and the racist side is definitely not it!

1. Regarding outing herself: Sure any posted can be outed here on GC. Is it significant considering the fact that she'd likely be the only African American PNM (or one of the only ones) in recruitment? If she participates, she will be discussed. Were this not the case, this thread wouldn't have gone where it did. Moreover, even if she was your run of the mill white PNM, she hasn't posted anything objectionable.

2. Regarding the bold text, I'm now waiting for you to tell us about how many African American friends you have.

Originally Posted by Titchou

As my father said to me many times, I only know what you say, not what you mean to say.

Pardon? I don't know that I'd have said that to defend myself, given what you've posted. What you actually said (especially in consideration of you being an Alabama alum) was pretty foul.

Originally Posted by Titchou

Please see Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition, page 1226, second column, 4th from bottom:

thru var of THROUGH

Irregardless is in the dictionary, too. That doesn't mean it's preferred usage.

You don't want to do battle regarding grammar, diction, and style with me, but I'm glad you have a dictionary, even if it is almost 20 years out of date. Here's some of the words that have been added to the 11th ed: def and phat. Let's make sure the OP knows those words are acceptable and their usage would not indicate that she had poor grades.

Originally Posted by Titchou

And I meant to be judgmental - we all are here. Being truthful by calling attention to what she said is not being rude - unless, of course, what she said was rude to begin with.

Keep digging. I'd be embarrassed, too.

[AnchorAlumna]

"Irregardless"?
Tsk. Tsk.

[DrPhil]

All of this because the OP used "wanna" three times in her second post?

[knight_shadow]

Are y'all fucking kidding me?

[ellebud]

A comment on the assumption that the OP had a less than stellar gpa: At least out here the only kids with college acceptances at athletes, Early Decision or Early Action. The qualify for the last two, you've got to have a great resume and gpa.

So...the OP had to very good to outstanding credentials.

[mom3boys]

I knew no one would let that usage error get a pass. Here are the usage notes, if anyone is interested:

Usage note
Irregardless is considered nonstandard because of the two negative elements ir- and -less. It was probably formed on the analogy of such words as irrespective, irrelevant, and irreparable. Those who use it, including on occasion educated speakers, may do so from a desire to add emphasis.

[fascination]

Back to the original poster, I wish you the best of success wherever you choose to attend college. I hope you will post a recruitment story and let us know how things turn out for you. You've been respectful to your elders who've posted responses, and you've behaved like a lady.

[Yoquierotacobel]

Originally Posted by fascination

Back to the original poster, I wish you the best of success wherever you choose to attend college. I hope you will post a recruitment story and let us know how things turn out for you. You've been respectful to your elders who've posted responses, and you've behaved like a lady.

Thank you.

[ellebud]

ENOUGH!!!!!!! I think that we are more comfortable picking up a tangent than addressing an uncomfortable issue. I personally don't care if there is a dangling or an incomplete......I care about answering the question of a seventeen girl old girl.



To the OP: After you select the school (or even during your college selection process) look at the Panhellenic/Greek Life sites. You may be happily surprised. Or you may be disappointed in what you see in the photographs. I'm from the west coast. I can't answer your question about an SEC school. But look into Greek life at all your schools.

Then you have a choice. Only you can make that choice.

I know that when I rushed Jewish girls could only pledge one house, the Jewish house. I know that my daughter had an open field when she went through recruitment. In between there were trailblazers. You may be the trailblazer. You may be very disappointed. But you will never know until you sign up.