Southern Mississippi: Diversity in NPC Sororities

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 33girl

As far as the ZPhiB sister being a Rho Chi, that's as odd to me as...hmmm...a Pi Phi planning AKA's next rush event would be.

It is strange. An NPHCer being a Rho Chi only makes sense in the rare instances where NPHC orgs participate in recruitment.

I think they got the Zeta to be a Rho Chi because she is Black and the school wanted to use an additional Black Rho Chi to attract racial and ethnic minority PNMs.

[carnation]

I've heard of schools that use older alums (mother types) for Rho Chis, as well as local alums of sororities not present on campus. There are many stories out there about Rho Chis who laughingly admit that yes, they did influence PNMs' choices or sneak off and call their chapters about certain girls so CPC was probably thrilled to have a great non-NPC woman as a Rho Chi.

[Mevara]

After reading so many threads about the topic of NPC orgs being predominantly white got me thinking.

At my campus, which is what I consider diverse, our NPC orgs I believe closely reflect the overall student population. It is not a sprinkle here or sprinkle there but truly diverse. Maybe it is me just being naive but I assumed more (if not most) campuses were like that, is that not true?

[Pingyang]

http://www.suresister.com/sororityre...f-two-campuses

The discussion here reminded me of this page, specifically Campus B. I have no idea if it is accurate or not.

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by Mevara

After reading so many threads about the topic of NPC orgs being predominantly white got me thinking.

At my campus, which is what I consider diverse, our NPC orgs I believe closely reflect the overall student population. It is not a sprinkle here or sprinkle there but truly diverse. Maybe it is me just being naive but I assumed more (if not most) campuses were like that, is that not true?

Oh, honey, unfortunately not. The South still has a lot of work to do.

Google some chapter websites at Southern universities. You're not going to find many non-white faces in NPC organizations. It's a shame.

[Mevara]

Originally Posted by carnation

I've heard of schools that use older alums (mother types) for Rho Chis, as well as local alums of sororities not present on campus. There are many stories out there about Rho Chis who laughingly admit that yes, they did influence PNMs' choices or sneak off and call their chapters about certain girls so CPC was probably thrilled to have a great non-NPC woman as a Rho Chi.

Originally Posted by Pingyang

http://www.suresister.com/sororityre...f-two-campuses

The discussion here reminded me of this page, specifically Campus B. I have no idea if it is accurate or not.

Thinking about the non-NPCer helping with Formal Recruitment is odd. Although I really like the idea. If done well it could really bring the Greek community closer. Not only would they be impartial but they could also help counsel those PNMs who are torn between NPC and NPHC/MGC.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Mevara

...but they could also help counsel those PNMs who are torn between NPC and NPHC/MGC.

That seems to reduce the whole point behind being an impartial Rho Chi. There is definitely nothing impartial about counseling PNMs who are torn between councils or conferences. If all the Rho Chi would say is "research and follow your heart" then that is not counseling. And if I were an NPHCer dealing with PNMs, I would not want to discuss anything pertaining to NPHC orgs. Let them research and figure it out on their own. If they can't do that, they need to not be in recruitment. The campuses that I am familiar with would label such a person as desperate to belong to something...anything...and they better hope they get a bid because the NPHC orgs will not want the person.

And if people are in favor or an NPHC participating in NPC recruitment, let the record show that I hope an NPCer will not be participating in any NPHC aspirant programs in that manner.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by carnation

I've heard of schools that use older alums (mother types) for Rho Chis, as well as local alums of sororities not present on campus. There are many stories out there about Rho Chis who laughingly admit that yes, they did influence PNMs' choices or sneak off and call their chapters about certain girls so CPC was probably thrilled to have a great non-NPC woman as a Rho Chi.

I'm not doubting that she's awesome. I'm saying that going outside your own conference is a very dicey and possibly inappropriate thing. This is kind of along the lines of Alpha Phi Omega members serving on/being officers of their campus IFC. It's nothing personal against the person, it's a matter of staying in your lane.

Originally Posted by Mevara

Thinking about the non-NPCer helping with Formal Recruitment is odd. Although I really like the idea. If done well it could really bring the Greek community closer. Not only would they be impartial but they could also help counsel those PNMs who are torn between NPC and NPHC/MGC.

That's something that is a great idea, but it should be its own program/workshop - not a part of rush. If the school is so in favor of women looking at NPC/NPHC/MGC groups on an even footing, the first thing to do is to get rid of first semester rush for NPC. DrPhil is right, if a woman goes through NPC rush, doesn't make it, and THEN tries to go NPHC, she isn't getting far. And that needs to be said, not glossed over.

Originally Posted by Pingyang

http://www.suresister.com/sororityre...f-two-campuses

The discussion here reminded me of this page, specifically Campus B. I have no idea if it is accurate or not.

Campus B is a lovely charming idea, but I think she's either describing Happy Pony Rainbow Land, or else a campus where everyone has LOTS of money and LOTS of time.

She's also being ridiculous (nothing new LOL) in saying that women apply to "escape chapter recruitment responsibilities" and make it sound like that's the prevailing factor. As I've said, I suck at rush. I'm great at chatting up women at parties, class etc, but I suck hard at formal rush. I wanted to be a Rho Chi not to avoid putting up decorations or practicing skits, but to help my chapter!

I'll also wager that some of the women who do become Rho Chis for the "wrong" reasons end up being the most panhellenically minded and devoted women out there - just like some of the people who join only to party end up being supersister and exec board for 3 years. Greek unity isn't something you can fake or confine to a certain group. If EVERYONE isn't on board, it doesn't make a shit of difference how wonderful your Rho Chis are.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 33girl

That's something that is a great idea, but it should be its own program/workshop - not a part of rush.

No, we don't counsel students on which organization to choose.

Originally Posted by 33girl

If the school is so in favor of women looking at NPC/NPHC/MGC groups on an even footing, the first thing to do is to get rid of first semester rush for NPC.

A lot has to change before that happens.

I honestly do not want the average woman to equally consider NPHC and NPC. I wanted to be a Delta, and in an NPHC org in general, for a number of reasons including the beauty of women of the African Diaspora coming together. For starters, in general, most NPC GLOs still pretend to have no racial, ethnic, and cultural foundation.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

No, we don't counsel students on which organization to choose.

I'm not thinking counseling so much as I am a program where women can hear about the different types of groups and ask questions without feeling they're committing one way or the other. Very bare bones basics, not "how many Deltas do I have to talk to to get into Delta?" or other silliness like that.

If even that would cause NPHC chapters to turn thumbs down on someone, though, well then, forget it.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I'm not thinking counseling so much as I am a program where women can hear about the different types of groups and ask questions without feeling they're committing one way or the other. Very bare bones basics, not "how many Deltas do I have to talk to to get into Delta?" or other silliness like that.

Some schools already have "meet the Greeks" programs. My chapter hosted a Greek panel with NPHC chapters and non-NPHC chapters.

Originally Posted by 33girl

If even that would cause NPHC chapters to turn thumbs down on someone, though, well then, forget it.

It depends on the campus and the students.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Being a Rho Chi DEFINITELY does NOT = being "a leader in the CPC community." Many times, Rho Chis get encouraged to do it by their sorority because they suck at rush or are not that cute.

Bwah ha ha.... although the truth does hurt, I do appreciate you telling it like it is (or how it can be).

[AnchorAlumna]

Wow.
We already complain about how many Rho Chis are poorly trained and give bad or incorrect info to PNMs.
How would somebody from a totally different type of system do better?

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

Wow.
We already complain about how many Rho Chis are poorly trained and give bad or incorrect info to PNMs.
How would somebody from a totally different type of system do better?

The point is the impartiality. In my experience, very, very few rho chis were not in contact with their chapters during FR.

Besides, I prefer a rho chi who says "I don't know the answer to that; Iet me pull out my rulebook" over one who gives wrong answers.

[Low C Sharp]

Oh, honey, unfortunately not. The South still has a lot of work to do.

So do some northern campuses. The campuses I'm aware of with the most thoroughly diverse NPC chapters are private schools in the North...but there are also northern and western campuses where the NPC chapters are virtually all white, or all white and Asian on a campus with lots of unaffiliated black and Hispanic women.

The South is also not the only region where you'll find systems where "lower-tier" chapters are making all the diversity progress, while the "elite" chapters remain very white. The same is often true when it comes to diversity of body type, disability, and economic background.