Asian-American greeks

[gammita]

I'm Asian-American (Thai).

[ladyj39]

A year before I joined Alpha Phi, one of my friends was starting an Asian American Sorority and asked me to be a Founding Mother. I seriously considered it, but I knew that I wanted to be in a diverse sisterhood, and the benefits of being in an International sisterhood intrigued me more. I politely declined. I stayed great friends with her and the girls in the local. They are doing great at SFSU and have a great sisterhood.

When I joined Alpha Phi, all the National Sororities had a lot of Asian members. It was never an issue being Asian-American (or any minority for that matter) in an NPC sorority at SFSU.

[zchi2]

I know people would never dream of saying anything negative about their organization, but I find somethings weird when topics such as this are brought up. Everyone always says that they NEVER had any issues in their fraternity or sorority because they are in the minority. I'm not saying there is racism in every NPC/IFC chapter, but I know there has to be racism somewhere. Someone has to know at least one person in another group that had a hard time or do we just not pay attention to things like that? No one ever said or did anything that was offensive? If it is ignored how can it be corrected? I am just waiting for a story of someone talking about how their sisters/brothers made stupid remarks or had a wrong stereotype about a their group and they had to educate them. I don't know, maybe sisterly and brotherly love just removes all ignorance???

[astroAPhi]

Originally posted by zchi2
I know people would never dream of saying anything negative about their organization, but I find somethings weird when topics such as this are brought up. Everyone always says that they NEVER had any issues in their fraternity or sorority because they are in the minority. I'm not saying there is racism in every NPC/IFC chapter, but I know there has to be racism somewhere. Someone has to know at least one person in another group that had a hard time or do we just not pay attention to things like that? No one ever said or did anything that was offensive? If it is ignored how can it be corrected? I am just waiting for a story of someone talking about how their sisters/brothers made stupid remarks or had a wrong stereotype about a their group and they had to educate them. I don't know, maybe sisterly and brotherly love just removes all ignorance???

I'm coming to the conclusion that most of us here are more intelligent than the average bear. Most of us aren't ignorant racists who live under a rock and sit around and complain that all the blacks, Asians, etc. are ruining the world. Most of us here on GreekChat aren't what people consider to be the stereotypical Greek. We know how to have a good time, but most of us are anti-hazing, big on risk management, and most of all, big on brotherhood and sisterhood.

I will admit, in a perfect world, there wouldn't be a need for black/white/multicultural/asian fraternities and sororities because we all SHOULD be multicultural. But some morons way back when decided their skin color was better than others, and we've been fighting the consequences ever since. I know the world's not perfect, and it's our job to fix it. I'm not trying to blow sunshine up people's asses and be all inspirational... I'm saying what I truly believe and what I truly wish things could be like.

In my chapter, we have a nice mix of girls from different backgrounds, but I will admit that we are predominantly white. We've had only one problem with being supposedly racist, and it wasn't anything we actually did. When I went through rush, there was one African-American girl and two girls from the Caribbean going through with me. I know one of them for sure was actually really high on our bid list, but she and the other two went XYZ. They are great women, and they all lived on my floor. The next semester, another African-American girl joined XYZ. Well, the next year at Formal Recruitment, someone told all the girls that Alpha Phi was racist and didn't take anyone but white girls. We found this out after the fact, and boy were we pissed. We didn't know why another girl from the Caribbean was so hostile towards us, but it made sense once we figured things out. I'm still really pissed about it, to be honest, because I don't know how we would have ever given that impression. Also, we have girls from other different ethnicities, so why would we single out African American or Caribbean girls?

I'm hoping this year we proved our point, because we teamed up with the Caribbean Students Association girls for flag-football and everyone had a blast. Those girls are awesome, and I would love for them to be sisters, but CSA is like a fraternity/sorority in itself, so they probably wouldn't join because they're busy enough.

[MoxieGrrl]

We have a Japanese sister in my chapter. She is absolutely fantastic, and her race has never been an issue with anyone. My campus was wonderfully accepting of minority and international students. It just was never an issue.

There also was a Japanese Alpha Xi when I was in school. A lot of the Asian students did not pledge because of $$ issues. A couple friends told me, "I would rather fly home over break than join a Greek house. Do you know how expensive flights are to Japan?"

[daoine]

Originally posted by carnation
God willing, the Greek world will have a new Japanese member at Valdosta State this fall and a new Filipina member at Auburn, West Georgia, or Jax State next fall!

carnation,

I can't wait for the latest installation of the Carnation's Crew Rush Chronicles. (It's almost like waiting for the next Harry Potter Book!) I wish the summer would hurry up!

[Sistermadly]

Originally posted by zchi2
Someone has to know at least one person in another group that had a hard time or do we just not pay attention to things like that? No one ever said or did anything that was offensive?

In the thread about women of color in NPC, I wrote:

I wish I could say that my experiences as an undergraduate were as positive, but they weren't. Still, I managed to find a home where I truly fit in ...

Is that more along the lines of what you're looking for?

And really, what does pointing out racist incidents really prove? That some people are racists? DUH! Where does this get us in the long run? How many times does it need to be said that yes, there are some racist people in the world -- before we decide thatwe can either hide under a rock living in fear that we might run into a racist brother or sister, or that we forge ahead and be the best (insert Fraternity name here) we can be -- despite the odds?

For me, I chose the latter.

[astroAPhi]

Sistermadly, that is why I love you so much!

[ladyj39]

SFSU is a very liberal and tolerant campus. I have never personaly experienced racism within my chapter or the entire Greek community for that matter. I'm sure prejudices exist, but I haven't seen it. I can only speak for myself and it has never been an issue for me.

And I second astroAPhi when I say I love you too Sistermadly!

[Tom Earp]

What is Great about GC, is that no one knows anything about color unless you tell them or act out your thoughts.


We have the rainbow of colors, well most here! Aint it Great!!!!!

You all help me keep my sanity for what little is left!!!

[Sistermadly]

astroAPhi and ladyj39 - I love you too! Thanks for being such great sisters!

[MTSUGURL]

After going through rush last year, my roommate told me IN HER OPINION that the NPC groups were not racially diverse. We have 8 of the Divine 9 here, and I think a Latina sorority is expanding here. No one seems to want to mix it up. Everyone is perfectly happy. My campus is very diverse and accepting and tolerant and all those other PC terms, and it's not that the Greek system isn't all these things, but the people I have talked to about this say there's no need to mix it up. Everyone has their own "interest" and there's no need for them to mix. The most diverse sorority last year was the Christian sorority Alpha Theta Omega.

[DeltAlum]

Our chapter at the University of Northern Colorado had an Asian VP last time I was up there. Although a mostly white chapter, they had a few hispanic and black members during the years I was associated with them as well.

Being only a semi-insider, I would have to say that I didn't see any problems.

I can't give statistics, but I would say that the campus in predominately white.

[AOII*Azra-elle]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Our chapter at the University of Northern Colorado had an Asian VP last time I was up there. Although a mostly white chapter, they had a few hispanic and black members during the years I was associated with them as well.

I know who ya are talking about!

Our chapter at U. of Northern Colorado has a few Hawaiians, 1 Nigerian, and 1 from Brazil and these are the most put together and sweetest ladies I have ever met in my entire life! It's not an issue with us on what they look like on the outside but more of what's on the inside.

[SniffDNZ098]

The Lambda CHi Alpha, Delta Nu Zeta Chapter at UC Riverside is the most diverse fraternity on campus. We have everyone in our fraternity from White, African American, Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern. Everyone. Its great because we can all interact with each other and learn about different aspects of culture.