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My collegiate Greek system went through this in the late 1990's. One year we had a PNM go through recruitment who wrote that she was a NPHC legacy on her application. During recruitment we learned that she was a white PNM who's step-mother was African-American. Before we learned that though, it started dialogue. The interesting thing I found was that we, the active sisters, were open so long as she was a good fit with the chapter. Her race didn't matter. It was the alumnae who made their opinion known. My chapter was less than 20 years old at the time so these were younger alumnae. I was really surprised and quite honestly still think of those alumnae differently. They lost my respect by their comments.
A couple years later, an African American PNM did go through recruitment. Our chapter LOVED this PNM and wanted to give her a bid, but she wasn't anywhere near our grade requirement and we had to release her. Sisters were in tears. She went through recruitment successfully and received a bid to another chapter were she was a pretty incredible sister. I will say this also, my chapter was the low one on the totem pole back then and had she had grades, they would have accepted her regardless of her race. My chapter is no longer on the bottom of the totem pole and they have a number of African-American women in their chapter.
Don't be afraid of change on your campus, embrace it. If the women are smart, good quality women and the gel with your chapter, then offer them sisterhood.
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