Lack of Ethnic Diversity in Bama's sororities worry future rushee

[ComradesTrue]

DISCLAIMER: The following is only anecdotal. In no way would I ever imply or conclude that this one experience should be represented as "How It Is."

I attend college in the early 90s. My school had about 6000 undergraduates, of which >90% were classified as white/caucasian. Of those undergraduates, about 55% were female, and of those 55% approx 40% joined NPC groups. There were 2 visible NPHC groups, but I believe that the members were part of a city-chapter and not one through the university. Please forgive me if I am mixing up terminology with that. There were about 3-5 members in each.

When I was a freshmen, we did have an African American senior in my chapter, and she served on the exec board, lived in the house, and gave 100% to the chapter even through that senior year. According to her, she was the only African American who participated in NPC rush her entire 4 years. For the following 3 years that I was a member, no other African American participated in NPC rush.

Sadly, I suppose we qualify for that "sprinkle" title, but for (at least) 7 years she was the only one. While we weren't out proclaiming any false-sense of "diversity" it also couldn't help but be noticed by everyone. We were proud that she was in our chapter- not because she was black, but because she was just sheer awesome.

Since she was quite a few years older, and our chapters were 140ish members, I did not know her well enough to stay in touch after her graduation. However, since I recently saw her name on a LOST list, I guess that I can conclude she isn't overly involved as an alumna.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Blondie93

DISCLAIMER: The following is only anecdotal. In no way would I ever imply or conclude that this one experience should be represented as "How It Is."

I attend college in the early 90s. My school had about 6000 undergraduates, of which >90% were classified as white/caucasian. Of those undergraduates, about 55% were female, and of those 55% approx 40% joined NPC groups. There were 2 visible NPHC groups, but I believe that the members were part of a city-chapter and not one through the university. Please forgive me if I am mixing up terminology with that. There were about 3-5 members in each.

When I was a freshmen, we did have an African American senior in my chapter, and she served on the exec board, lived in the house, and gave 100% to the chapter even through that senior year. According to her, she was the only African American who participated in NPC rush her entire 4 years. For the following 3 years that I was a member, no other African American participated in NPC rush.

Sadly, I suppose we qualify for that "sprinkle" title, but for (at least) 7 years she was the only one. While we weren't out proclaiming any false-sense of "diversity" it also couldn't help but be noticed by everyone. We were proud that she was in our chapter- not because she was black, but because she was just sheer awesome.

Since she was quite a few years older, and our chapters were 140ish members, I did not know her well enough to stay in touch after her graduation. However, since I recently saw her name on a LOST list, I guess that I can conclude she isn't overly involved as an alumna.

This post is cool beans.

"Diversity" is such a catch word that many people and groups use it to mean "sprinkle." It's essentially a way of saying "we have a couple of you people so SHUT UP ABOUT IT ALREADY." LOL.

I'm not saying there HAS to be diversity for GLOs and other groups with this type of membership criteria. I am saying two things: (1) the minorities who choose to pursue membership in such groups should know that it may or may not be a positive experience; and (2) GLOs that are majority white should stop acting as though it is mere coincidence that they remain predominantly white. Afterall, GLOs that are majority nonwhite don't have the privilege of ignoring history, programs, and group dynamics that keep us majority nonwhite even if it is intentional. Whiteness isn't neutral and void of race and ethnicity meanwhile nonwhiteness is filled with subjective nonwhitesnessnessness.