African American going through recruitment at Alabama?

[HQWest]

Originally Posted by 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.

I'm with you, Ellebud.

To the OP:
I am in the south and I think this might be the way to explain how Alabama works. Somewhere out there in Prattville is a cheerleader. She has worn Bama cheerleader outfits with sorority ribbons in her hair since before she could walk. Her mom and all her moms friends are all in that sorority. Shes gone to Founders Day since she was twelve and had a ribbon with their colors on the gown she wore for the Junior Miss pageant (for luck.) She goes to church with girls in that sorority. She went to camp with them. She goes to BAMA games and hangs out with her friends now at BAMA. She has a 3.8 GPA and once a year she goes with her family on mission trips to Haiti. Thats what you are up against. There are 100 more like her and only 60 can get a bid to that group. Some of the others will transfer to UNA and go through recruitment a second time.There are at least a dozen groups that arent like that. They want to bring in new great girls but it makes for a tough week of rush.

[Yoquierotacobel]

Originally Posted by HQWest

I'm with you, Ellebud.

To the OP:
I am in the south and I think this might be the way to explain how Alabama works. Somewhere out there in Prattville is a cheerleader. She has worn Bama cheerleader outfits with sorority ribbons in her hair since before she could walk. Her mom and all her moms friends are all in that sorority. Shes gone to Founders Day since she was twelve and had a ribbon with their colors on the gown she wore for the Junior Miss pageant (for luck.) She goes to church with girls in that sorority. She went to camp with them. She goes to BAMA games and hangs out with her friends now at BAMA. She has a 3.8 GPA and once a year she goes with her family on mission trips to Haiti. Thats what you are up against. There are 100 more like her and only 60 can get a bid to that group. Some of the others will transfer to UNA and go through recruitment a second time.There are at least a dozen groups that arent like that. They want to bring in new great girls but it makes for a tough week of rush.

Thank you for your input!
Can you give me any insight or input on recruitment at the University of Arkansas or Southern Methodist University or Texas Christian University? To my understanding both are quite competitive, but any or all insight is helpful.

Thanks!

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by 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..

You are right. I don't know why I would think you were somehow referencing anyone other than yourself.

If you have read very many threads on GC and think that it always follows a question, answer format . . . well, I think that speaks for itself.

Here's a hint - you can hide the responses of those you don't wish to read.

[SWTXBelle]

You are not the boss of me and shouldn't try to speak for me or other posters. To the best of my knowledge, you aren't psychic.

If I chose not to address what you regard as an "uncomfortable issue" that doesn't mean I find it to be so or am avoiding it. It may be that I feel it has been addressed, or that the op is a troll, or that I have nothing to add to that part of the discussion.

Tangents are often the best part of the thread.

[Titchou]

Jeez, Louise!

[ellebud]

Forgive me, but I thought the format is: Question and then answers. Answers may vary but sniping at each other, on what is a VERY peripheral part of this thread (and not particularly helpful unless one has an AP English test tomorrow), frankly looks childish and petty.

Actually I am speaking for me. I read this thread because I find the OP's question interesting and a valid concern in that every pnm wonders whether they will be accepted. Whether they are concerned with weight, recs, oos, or hair color 17 year old kids want to know , "will I be ok?"

I am not suggesting that there is one answer. But the OP wants information on recruitment and not a clinic on writing technique.

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by ellebud

Forgive me, but I thought the format is: Question and then answers. Answers may vary but sniping at each other, on what is a VERY peripheral part of this thread (and not particularly helpful unless one has an AP English test tomorrow), frankly looks childish and petty.

Actually I am speaking for me. I read this thread because I find the OP's question interesting and a valid concern in that every pnm wonders whether they will be accepted. Whether they are concerned with weight, recs, oos, or hair color 17 year old kids want to know , "will I be ok?"

I am not suggesting that there is one answer. But the OP wants information on recruitment and not a clinic on writing technique.

You're absolutely correct.

However, if Titchou, who is well placed to give advice about Alabama, hadn't made a gross assumption about the OP's grades by nastily pointing out her use of "wanna" while at the same time Titchou was making her own poor writing choices in her posts, then grammar would never have been brought up.

I honestly wish we were at a point in time where an African American who was interested in pursuing NPC membership at any school was no longer noteworthy, and that there would be no mention of it at all other than to give her the same congratulations as would be offered to any woman on joining a sorority.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by 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.

Originally Posted by ellebud

Forgive me, but I thought the format is: Question and then answers. Answers may vary but sniping at each other, on what is a VERY peripheral part of this thread (and not particularly helpful unless one has an AP English test tomorrow), frankly looks childish and petty.

. . . . I am not suggesting that there is one answer. But the OP wants information on recruitment and not a clinic on writing technique.

Actually, I agree that is what the OP wants and that's what people should be trying to give the OP. I think it's pretty clear that the "tangent" about grammar and word usage isn't really about grammar or word usage, nor is it about avoidance of an uncomfortable issue. It isn't even that much of a tangent at all -- it's about a number of GCers calling out one poster who, rather than offering the kind of advice you and I agree the OP asked for and should be getting (and that she was in a better position than just about anyone else to give), made baseless assumptions and was unnecessarily rude and judgmental toward the OP. And it's about that poster, rather than just owning up to it, trying to justify her own criticisms and her rudeness.

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.

Totally agree.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by ellebud

Forgive me, but I thought the format is: Question and then answers.

The OP was answered on page 1.

Just as the OP found Greekchat, the OP could have probably figured out on her own that she can look at websites for photos of sorority members. Other than that, this thread is still where it started: No one can predict the future; receiving a bid or not receiving a bid are not automatically a result of race and ethnicity; and good luck to the OP.

[AZTheta]

OP, do you really have your heart set on Alabama? Because from what you've written, I think you'd LOVE the OTHER UofA (not the other Universities of A, like the U of Alabama, the U of Arkansas, and there's the U of Alaska, and I don't know... I'm tired).

I think you might be quite happy in any one of our 11 chapters (soon to be 12!). I realize this isn't the topic of your thread, but I'm just nudging, gently. Sometimes the path leads in an unexpected direction. And yours just might have saguaros in it. Besides, we don't have humidity.

ETA: there are GC members who've attended TCU and SMU and Arkansas, so perhaps you'll get some info from them.

[Yoquierotacobel]

Originally Posted by AzTheta

OP, do you really have your heart set on Alabama? Because from what you've written, I think you'd LOVE the OTHER UofA (not the other Universities of A, like the U of Alabama, the U of Arkansas, and there's the U of Alaska, and I don't know... I'm tired).

I think you might be quite happy in any one of our 11 chapters (soon to be 12!). I realize this isn't the topic of your thread, but I'm just nudging, gently. Sometimes the path leads in an unexpected direction. And yours just might have saguaros in it. Besides, we don't have humidity.

ETA: there are GC members who've attended TCU and SMU and Arkansas, so perhaps you'll get some info from them.

Hello!
I will not lie, I don't have my heart set on any school lol. The only school I have admittedly crossed out was TCU. I went on a college visit there & it just wasn't for me.

I will also admit, I kind of want to stay within the Texas-Arkansas-Alabama-maybeOklahoma region.

I'm looking into these schools particularly for my intended major and their location.

Thank you for your suggestion!

[sigmagirl2000]

Just throwing this out there... but I'm horrified and sickened that this is even an issue. Welcome to the year 2012. I wish you, the original poster, all the luck in what you decide to do. I am not African American. I cannot imagine what it must be like that you still have to worry about how your skin tone will affect your chances in recruitment. It pains me to think that this intolerance and discrimination still exist. I can only hope that you do choose to go through. If you do, one of two things happen: 1. You will get a bid and your future sisters won't even notice your skin color. They will see you as an intelligent, well-spoken young lady with all you have to offer the sisterhood. or 2. You go through and get to meet all the houses. You may get cut, but you'll go on to do great things and be a positive influence on your future campus. The women you met will be kicking themselves for passing up on such a fabulous young woman.

(Or you could come north and check out snow and such. : )

Good luck and let us know how things go. I'm rooting for you / your happiness!

[Yoquierotacobel]

Originally Posted by sigmagirl2000

Just throwing this out there... but I'm horrified and sickened that this is even an issue. Welcome to the year 2012. I wish you, the original poster, all the luck in what you decide to do. I am not African American. I cannot imagine what it must be like that you still have to worry about how your skin tone will affect your chances in recruitment. It pains me to think that this intolerance and discrimination still exist. I can only hope that you do choose to go through. If you do, one of two things happen: 1. You will get a bid and your future sisters won't even notice your skin color. They will see you as an intelligent, well-spoken young lady with all you have to offer the sisterhood. or 2. You go through and get to meet all the houses. You may get cut, but you'll go on to do great things and be a positive influence on your future campus. The women you met will be kicking themselves for passing up on such a fabulous young woman.

(Or you could come north and check out snow and such. : )

Good luck and let us know how things go. I'm rooting for you / your happiness!

Thank you. I appreciate your well-wishing(excuse me if this is incorrect!).

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by sigmagirl2000

1. You will get a bid and your future sisters won't even notice your skin color. They will see you as an intelligent, well-spoken young lady with all you have to offer the sisterhood.

True sisterhood is when they notice your "skin color," in addition to the other awesome things, but simply do not discriminate on the basis of "skin color."**

Discrimination is not combatted through pretending to be colorblind. Colorblindness has been adopted by whites, in general, as a dishonest and exaggerated response to race and ethnic relations.

** In this context, intelligent and well-spoken sound more like surprising observations than compliments. College educated women should be accustomed to being around intelligent and well-spoken peers. Complimenting a woman, specifically a Black woman, for being intelligent and well-spoken sounds more fitting for 1912 than 2012.

[sigmagirl2000]

[QUOTE=DrPhil;2118105]True sisterhood is when they notice your "skin color," in addition to the other awesome things, but simply do not discriminate on the basis of "skin color."**

** In this context, intelligent and well-spoken sound more like surprising observations than compliments.



I think the breakdown is that I am a math person, and my strength isn't with words. I (clearly, at least in my head) didn't mean to insult anyone. I apologize if my words didn't work the way I intended.