Diversity in the SEC

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by 28StGreek

This is anecdotal as it has been quite a few years since it occured. When I was on our campus' Greek Diversity Encouragement Council. I remember none of the NPHC groups wanted to take part in it. It was as if they preferred being themselves racially segregated yet at the same time point out about the 'white' dominance of IFC and NPC glos. I also remember how we made a point that the traditionally NPC/IFC Songfest philanthropy event was open to NPHC groups (as well as other groups like Dorm/Residential Orgs) but I think only Alpha Phi Alpha took up the offer, and it only happened once. And on top of that I remember various Greek town hall-stye meetings where NPHC members were invited, as well as the other greek councils, their participation was minimal.

As I stated in another recent thread about NPHC participation, understand that the priorities for NPHC orgs are not the same for NPC/IFC orgs.

NPHC orgs are first and foremost community-service based. So social events like songfests are just not top priority.

Undergradute NPHC chapters are under direct supervision from their sponsoring graduate / alumnae chapter. For example, I am a member of the Gamma Sigma graduate chapter. My graduate chapter advises three undergrad chapters: 1) TAMU, 2) Sam Houston State, and 3) UH Central Campus.

Each undergraduate chapter is expected to attend certain events as outlined by the sponsoring grad chapter. Thus, each undergrad member is expected to attend those events, meetings, and conferences of the organization.

I will use my org as an example. For this academic year, we expect the members of our undergraduate chapters to attend an Area meeting, our fall fundraiser in November, our fundraiser in Feb / March, and the Regional meeting next Spring semester. And, if it is a Boule' year, they also have to attend Boule'.

So, NPHC undergraduate chapters adhere to the policies of their sponsoring grad chapter, and national organization first. Any other events on campus that are not in direct alignment with the NPHC org's policies are not high on the campus chapter's list of things to do.

[28StGreek]

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

NPHC orgs are first and foremost community-service based. So social events like songfests are just not top priority.

"Songfest is one of the oldest and largest collegiate musical traditions in the country. It was started in the mid 1950s by two USC sophomores to help unify a diverse post WWII student body. Various student groups create a five-minute musical skit that encompasses the year’s theme, using original music or re-writing lyrics to popular songs.

Songfest involves more than 600 USC students and is attended by over 1,500 students, parents, and friends. It brings together residence halls, fraternities and sororities, the USC Marching Band, the USC Song Leaders, the Trojan Dance Force and various other campus organizations.

All the money raised from Songfest goes to benefit Troy Camp."

"Songfest is USC’s largest philanthropic event put on by students, as well as one of the oldest and largest collegiate musical traditions in the country. The musical show features numerous student organizations that compete against each other. The competition consists of creating and performing an extensive musical skit which encompasses the overall Songfest theme.

In addition to the themed skits, the show includes performances by some of USC’s finest dance groups and a cappella troupes."

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

It sounds as though the Greek Diversity Encouragement Council was something that came into being without NPHC involvement.

This is true; this describes the DEC's inception:

"The 24-year-old junior founded the program in fall, 1989, in an attempt to raise racial consciousness on Fraternity Row; the university officially adopted his program last year. Each fraternity and sorority at USC has been asked to appoint a race-relations chairperson to look out for minority pledges, a talk on race relations is given at each house every semester and if racial incidents occur at any of the houses, Diversity Encouragement sends speakers to sort things out.

Said Ferguson: "The reason I targeted the Greek system is because they are a captive audience. They meet in their houses every Monday night. (The university) deals with racism through (the Office of) Student Conduct, but even that was on an individual level and is after the fact. . . . They're not dealing with preventive work."

And from a time contemporary to my involvement:

"The Diversity Encouragement Council, founded in 1990, meets every week,
[discussing] diversity issues ranging from homophobia to the
treatment of people of color at parties...

The program has been a model used by other universities in Southern
California...

Although racial diversity still leaves much to be desired, the organizations are thriving in other areas, such as religious diversity and economic diversity."

And for anyone interested; in 2004:

"The 18 fraternities and 10 sororities that are represented the Panhellenic and Interfraternity councils have become more diverse over the past 10 years, as the percentage of white students has decreased from 88 percent to 76.3 percent"

Was it something that they asked for or suggested was needed? If not, it's not so strange that they didn't want to spend their limited time on it

Not being involved with the foundation of an organization shouldn't be a barrier to future involvement for the organization to evolve/develop.

Sounds like it was...designed for the benefit of NPC/NIC organizations.

Yes that is its main purpose, to benefit NPC/NIC organization but if the issue of diversity in the general population should involve everyone across all interests, why should it be different within a campus greek community?

Your post implies that NPHC orgs should have to dedicate their own time to improving other people's organizations in order to earn the right to point out that they are white-dominated.

I did not mean to imply that NPHC (or for that matter AGC, MGC or PFC organizations) should dedicate their own time. However, if the NPC/NIC organizations on our campus want to learn how to reach out/engage/have dialogue with various communities of the student body, surely we should be speaking to student leaders within those communities.

Lack of diversity in the NPC/NIC is not NPHC's problem to fix. If they were interested in helping out, I would think that was great, but I don't see why they should be expected to.

This is a fair point. My personal opinion is that I see the NPHC as not diverse (and in just terms or race/ethnicity) either. While I don't expect the NPHC to fix the NPC/NIC diversity problem, I would hope they would be interested in the value of helping within the greater context of diversity education in the general student population.

Based on this post I would hope at least DrPhil would agree with this opinion

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I'm discussing the larger point of race and ethnicity that can tie into GLOs. You cannot purport ANY kind of diversity (race, religion, sexual orientation, culture, etc) if there is no backdrop to the different groups represented. The different racial and ethnic groups represented have to assimilate into your GLO identity and offer their own insights

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 28StGreek

This is a fair point. My personal opinion is that I see the NPHC as not diverse (and in just terms or race/ethnicity) either. While I don't expect the NPHC to fix the NPC/NIC diversity problem, I would hope they would be interested in the value of helping within the greater context of diversity education in the general student population.

Nor does the NPHC (in general) typically claim diversity or to be seeking diversity. That is the difference between the NPHC (in general) as compared to some NPC and some NIC. Some NPC and some NIC claim they have no idea how their membership became majority white and they are now seeking diversity without first acknowledging how it became non-diverse in the first place.

I do not think the NPHC should assist NPC and NIC with diversity. NPC-NIC boasts plenty of resources and have plenty of fish jumping in your boats. You can probably handle this without needing an official seal of approval from the NPHC. I do, however, recall back when I was in college and some of the Black students (NPHC members and non-members) frequented some NPC-NIC events. We also invited NPC-NIC to our events. Other than our few white friends showing up, NPC-NIC members never showed up. That is absolutely fine because, as has been said on GC many times, none of us are obligated to show up. None of us are obligated to even care.

The problem is when people suddenly pretend they are never invited or that they are perplexed as to how outreach across races, ethnicities, and cultures should happen. It is also a problem when certain groups of people who have been ignoring minorities for years (under the guise of "we don't see race") claim they now need diversity training and an official seal of approval from racial and ethnic minorities. Some racial and ethnic minorities prefer when such outreach is sincere as opposed to being contacted only when we are "needed" to accomplish some task for the white people. I see NPC-NIC racial and ethnic diversity as another task that can be accomplished if the NPC-NIC really care and are willing to put forth the hard work. You all pay such attention to details and accomplish so many tasks on any given day. Therefore, there is no need to pretend you are suddenly clueless, baffled, and void of resources (when some people tell you "no" you have always been able to find some people who will tell you "yes").

Originally Posted by 28StGreek

Based on this post I would hope at least DrPhil would agree with this opinion

You omitted the last sentences of that post. The last sentences are why I do not agree with that opinion.

[28StGreek]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Nor does the NPHC (in general) typically claim diversity or to be seeking diversity.

Is that just your personal opinion or is that actually a widely held view by NPHC members? Regardless, I find that kind of attitude to be disturbing if you at the same time criticise the lack of diversity of other groups.

I have never once felt that the colour of my skin or my race had negatively impacted my Greek experience at USC. As someone who grew up outside of America, I always found it so perplexing that there were communities who would make a storm about race relation issues, toleration and acceptance; yet at the same time cling on so tightly to their minority identity.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 28StGreek

Is that just your personal opinion or is that actually a widely held view by NPHC members?

I typed about this pages ago. If you understand the general purposes behind the NPHC sororities and fraternities, you will understand why we nationally do not tout racial diversity and particularly non-minorities. Even the more racially and ethnically diverse NPHC sorority and fraternity are still majority people of the African diaspora (across ethnicities, languages, cultures, and continents). This is not by accident.

Individual chapters do whatever they do based on their campus and city environments but that is their choice. Even these chapters know that diversity does not mean ignoring different racial and ethnic histories and identities. It also doesn't mean that white aspirants (using white as an example) can become members without any understanding of the racial and ethnic identities and history of the majority of the membership. Some of us see it comparable to knowing the history and present day significance (and subjectivity) of notions of gender, womanhood, and feminism if you want to join a sorority.

Originally Posted by 28StGreek

Regardless, I find that kind of attitude to be disturbing if you at the same time criticise the lack of diversity of other groups.

Show me where I criticize the lack of diversity of other groups.

Originally Posted by 28StGreek

I have never once felt that the colour of my skin or my race had negatively impacted my Greek experience at USC. As someone who grew up outside of America, I always found it so perplexing that there were communities who would make a storm about race relation issues, toleration and acceptance; yet at the same time cling on so tightly to their minority identity.

People who type what you typed cannot be the least bit concerned with diversity. You first need to understand the "why" and "how"--and stop pretending that racial and ethnic identities are a bad thing--before you claim to want diversity. That is what some of us have been saying for pages. I would have never been attracted to a GLO in which the majority of members say what you said in the bolded part of your post. I also would have never been attracted to a GLO in which the majority of members say "we don't see race, ethnicity, and culture...we are just sistersssssssssss...."

[28StGreek]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

stop pretending that racial and ethnic identities are a bad thing

Maybe I have incorrectly understood the context of this sentence but when I read this all I can think of is Bosnia. Heck elsewhere in the Balkans and all the Yugoslav wars. I could continue with Chechnya, Kashmir, Rwanda, Israel-Palestine.

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by 28StGreek

Maybe I have incorrectly understood the context of this sentence but when I read this all I can think of is Bosnia. Heck elsewhere in the Balkans and all the Yugoslav wars. I could continue with Chechnya, Kashmir, Rwanda, Israel-Palestine.

I think there's a big difference between recognizing racial and ethnic identities and going to war or committing genocide because of them.

[PersistentDST]

Originally Posted by 28StGreek

Is that just your personal opinion or is that actually a widely held view by NPHC members?

I'll have to agree with my Soror. I try my best not to speak for any whole group of people. I'll speak for myself and say that I've never seen an emphasis placed on diversifying. We were certainly taught that there were woman of many races, ethnicities, cultures, religions, sexual orientations, etc. within Delta. We were also taught that no matter what, they are our sisters and we are working towards the same goals. So we do accept and respect diversity, I don't think we necessarily seek it out.

One of the first people who followed me on my social networks after I crossed was a White Soror. I found out she had crossed a few days before me and we chatted. My assumption is that she knew what she was getting into when she became a Delta interest. While we do serve many communities, much of our emphasis is in the Black community, so as long as an interest (who may not be like the majority) is down for our causes, then I'm not going to worry about her race, just how much work she does for the org.

[Sen's Revenge]

Originally Posted by 28StGreek

Is that just your personal opinion or is that actually a widely held view by NPHC members? Regardless, I find that kind of attitude to be disturbing if you at the same time criticise the lack of diversity of other groups.

It depends on the organization.

From Zeta Phi Beta:

Founder Viola Tyler was oft quoted to say "[In the ideal collegiate situation] there is a Zeta in a girl regardless of race, creed, or color, who has high standards and principles, a good scholarly average and an active interest in all things that she undertakes to accomplish."

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by Sen's Revenge

It depends on the organization.

From Zeta Phi Beta:

Founder Viola Tyler was oft quoted to say "[In the ideal collegiate situation] there is a Zeta in a girl regardless of race, creed, or color, who has high standards and principles, a good scholarly average and an active interest in all things that she undertakes to accomplish."

How beautifully stated!