DAYUMN! The papers in Alabama are all over this like white on rice (no pun intended)
Here is an article from Birmingham
Sorority opens door to integration
Gamma Phi Beta sets stage for fraternities
By JON GARGIS
SPECIAL TO THE POST-HERALD
TUSCALOOSA — The integration of the University of Alabama's traditionally white sorority system may positively affect the upcoming fraternity rush, one fraternity official said Monday.
University of Alabama Interfraternity Council President Brad Wilson said the acceptance of a black member into Gamma Phi Beta sorority sets a good example for fraternity rush, which is set for Sept. 3-4.
"The university has been working on it for a long time, and Panhellenic has gone beyond the call of recruitment, and we hope that we can follow in the same way," Wilson said.
"The door's been opened; it's opened for everybody."
On Monday, Carla Ferguson, a freshman from Tuscaloosa, became the first black woman to join a sorority in the traditionally white Panhellenic Association, which governs the school's fraternities and sororities.
Ferguson and the hundreds of women who received bids Monday had to pass three cuts during the weeklong rush period, which opened Aug. 12. Although Panhellenic's acceptance of a black member might help recruitment efforts of the Interfraternity Council, the fraternities should have an easier time with minority recruitment than the sororities, Wilson said.
"It'll be easier now, but we've also done it before with Lambda Sigma Phi," he said.
Lambda Sigma Phi, a Christian fraternity, accepted Calvin Johnson, a black student from Wetumpka, in 2001. The fraternity joined the Interfraternity Council soon thereafter.
Hours after Ferguson received her bid Monday, a press conference was held to report the results of fall sorority rush. Ferguson was not present at the event, which featured only Panhellenic President Heather Schacht and Wilson.
Schacht did not refer to Ferguson by name during the press conference, citing Ferguson's wish to remain private from the news media. However, she had revealed Ferguson's name to The Crimson White, the student newspaper of the university, earlier Monday.
"Everybody in the Greek system is excited about it (and) when she (Ferguson) put on her shirt, she had a smile across her face," Schacht said.
Last week, Schacht gave credit to the Student Government Association for helping recruitment efforts alongside the UA Greek organizations.
"This (the integration) was a step that needed to be taken," SGA President Katie Boyd said Monday. "We helped Heather by seeking young African-American girls, and let them know this opportunity was available to them. This is something we were behind, and we hope to continue to work on this issue for years to come. It doesn't need to stop here."
Schacht said 756 women, or 83 percent of those who fully participated in rush, pledged a sorority. Originally, 972 women had registered for rush, but some women voluntarily dropped out, Schacht said after the press conference.
At the press conference, Schacht said she hoped this year's integration was only the beginning.
"In all things in life, you've got to take a first step," she said. "We've taken that first step today. She's (Ferguson) a brave young woman for taking her first step. (Integration) is something that started today and we hope will continue."
Both Wilson and Schacht said they didn't believe a black member in Gamma Phi Beta would hurt the sorority's popularity on campus or with its fraternity counterparts when it comes to sorority-fraternity "swap" parties.
Most houses already have their party schedules set up, and most houses already have Gamma Phi Beta on their list, Wilson said.
Fraternities set their swap schedules in the spring, but Wilson said he hasn't spoken to every house to know if all fraternities scheduled a swap with Gamma Phi Beta.
Let her enjoy her time with her new sisters.
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