Alabama's search for diversity sorority continues

[Sistermadly]

Sometimes I think far too much is made out of the whole geographic distinctions and race argument. One of my closest friends became a Delta Sigma Theta at a historically black college. She's mentioned to me that if she'd gone to one of the other schools in that city that she might have chosen to join a different sorority.

The fact that I joined Alpha Phi has something to do with the strength of the International organization to be sure, but it speaks more to the caliber of women I met locally. If I lived in Birmingham, Alabama I might not have become an Alpha Phi - not because they wouldn't have extended me a bid becuase of my race, but because I might not have gotten along with them period. By the same token, I might not have become a Sigma Gamma Rho, for example, because we might not have been a good match for each other.

What I'm trying to say is sharing ethnic heritage is no guarantee that you'll automatically be accepted by the group of your choice. Does it increase the likelihood that you'll become a member? Yes. Should it? In my opinion, absolutely not.

And I hate to be the stickler over semantics, but if six black women stated interest in NPC recruitment, it's not exactly correct to say that there was no interest whatsoever. Furthermore, the fact that there are black women looking into joining/founding a multicultural greek organization says (to me, anyway) that there are women from a variety of ethnic backgrounds who are looking for an alternative.

Just this Phi's opinion!

[DeltaSigStan]

All of this aside, in the case of Melody, I would lean towards the notion that she's rude, or hard to get along with. It's like she's looked into every possible GLO available to her, even the upstart MCGLO, and she doesn't think she'd fit well or what not. Seems the only GLO she could ever feel comfortable with, MC, HB, HW or not, is the one she starts herself!

[Bama_Alumna]

And I hate to be the stickler over semantics, but if six black women stated interest in NPC recruitment, it's not exactly correct to say that there was no interest whatsoever.

I agree with you. But let me explain just a little bit, so that the facts aren't taken out of context.

NPC sent out rush information to every new freshman woman (and most first-year transfer students) enrolled at the University. Out of thousands of women, only 6 who responded were African-American. Less than half of the women who received this mailing responded to it, and even fewer actually went through NPC rush. I spoke to one of the African-American women who attended the Panhellenic weekend (only 2 of the 6 came to this event). She was disappointed because she thought that the NPHC sororities were going to be a part of that weekend (both the NPHC & NPC sororities often have their letters/pictures printed in the same rush materials).

I'm not trying to be "defensive" here, I just wanted to clarify how things were done.

[Sistermadly]

Originally posted by Bama_Alumna
I'm not trying to be "defensive" here, I just wanted to clarify how things were done.

Point taken. Thanks for the clarification!

[cash78mere]

here's my problem with this story:

i went into rush KNOWING which groups would drop me based solely on my appearance. out of the 7 NPC groups on my campus at the time, 5 were the "elite" sororities. their members were all stick thin, pretty, and a majority had money. i remember walking around campus and seeing girls in their letters and thinking, "i wish i were skinnier/prettier/etc so that i won't get cut by them".

and guess what happened. i was cut by those 5 the first night. now, i am white. i can't cry racism. but i know what it was---i didn't fit the "look". yes, i was upset...somehow i thought MAYBE they will ask me back just once, but i knew what would happen.

and every other girl who didn't fit their "profile" was cut that first night as well. girls with no personality but a size 4 were "automatically" asked back. and no, i wasn't paranoid or imagining things, other people felt the same way.

is it right that i got cut based on my looks? no. but i, and the other rushees, accepted it. that is sorority rush. some get cut and some fall through the cracks. and i wouldn't have felt comfortable there anyway. i would have had to lose 40 pounds, dress completely differently and gone out to places and parties that i never would have touched in college. so, should i sue? or make a national case out of this? please...my ass would be laughed back to ny.

everyone doesn't get asked back everywhere. i don't think melody was a victim of racism, i think her personality stunk or she didn't fit the profile of that chapter. not necessarily based on her skin color, but i remember looking at a picture of her and didn't think she was all that, which is what those sororities probably think they are.

if i ever said i was a victim of discrimination because of the competitive process of rush, i would be laughed at.

and i KNOW that if i went to another, especially southern, school, i probably wouldn't have been looked at by the AXO chapters. they fit a different profile, and i accept that.

[sigmadiva]

Originally posted by cash78mere
here's my problem with this story:

i went into rush KNOWING which groups would drop me based solely on my appearance. out of the 7 NPC groups on my campus at the time, 5 were the "elite" sororities. their members were all stick thin, pretty, and a majority had money. i remember walking around campus and seeing girls in their letters and thinking, "i wish i were skinnier/prettier/etc so that i won't get cut by them".

and guess what happened. i was cut by those 5 the first night. now, i am white. i can't cry racism. but i know what it was---i didn't fit the "look". yes, i was upset...somehow i thought MAYBE they will ask me back just once, but i knew what would happen.

and every other girl who didn't fit their "profile" was cut that first night as well. girls with no personality but a size 4 were "automatically" asked back. and no, i wasn't paranoid or imagining things, other people felt the same way.

is it right that i got cut based on my looks? no. but i, and the other rushees, accepted it. that is sorority rush. some get cut and some fall through the cracks. and i wouldn't have felt comfortable there anyway. i would have had to lose 40 pounds, dress completely differently and gone out to places and parties that i never would have touched in college. so, should i sue? or make a national case out of this? please...my ass would be laughed back to ny.

everyone doesn't get asked back everywhere. i don't think melody was a victim of racism, i think her personality stunk or she didn't fit the profile of that chapter. not necessarily based on her skin color, but i remember looking at a picture of her and didn't think she was all that, which is what those sororities probably think they are.

if i ever said i was a victim of discrimination because of the competitive process of rush, i would be laughed at.

and i KNOW that if i went to another, especially southern, school, i probably wouldn't have been looked at by the AXO chapters. they fit a different profile, and i accept that.

I understand what you mean. I went onto The U of Alabama web site to see what some of these groups (NPC sororities) look like and they seem to fit the profile you described.