<p>So i'm going to be attending vandy in the fall as a freshman and I'm black. I'm from the Northeast, I went to one of the countries best public school, and I live in an affluent neighborhood. I will most likely join a traditional fraternity (i.e. IFC) however I would just like to know how accepting traditional fraternities are to students of color. I know there are not that many students of color in fraternities, but there has to be some?! Is there any particular house i should avoid? Also I know a decent amount of kids going/already at Vanderbilt, and one of them happens to be the president of his frat. Could a current students or past student elaborate. AND yes i know I should just see when i get there, but i'm anxious to start school and just would like some peace of mind.</p>
<p>OK…I will comment. I have a son at Vandy who is a rising sophomore with a ridiculously busy happy social life and only a little time on Greek Row when invited on dates or whatever…he is not interested in Greek Life at all. But he does have friends from an amazing array of backgrounds, some are fond of their frats, others independent and his friends are quite a huge range…not only in race but in religion and region of the country…all of them hard workers and interesting people with lots of talent. Independent life is really quite excellent at Vandy because of the way the campus is so well integrated with Nashville…there are plenty of places to go besides Greek Row for fun which you can’t say about say…Dartmouth. And Durham where Duke is located also pales compared to Nashville, making Greek life more attractive there…so again, I think independents at Vanderbilt have a pretty great lifestyle.</p>
<p>that said, my son at Duke went Greek and this was a decision that has been very rewarding for him on many levels. He really responds to the whole brotherhood thing, and he had many great supports as he went through academic challenges among his brothers…and got a lot of emotional support and even career support from going Greek. Since no Vandy student has commented yet…and I think it is more because people are away this time of year…I do know that my son’s frat really wanted to be diverse and they were always sad if they were runners up when they hit it off socially with African American prospective brothers who attended their final parties and got bids. My son had three bids at Duke and he was not really a social supernova or anything…he simply was good at introducing himself and getting to know people…and I used to think he was reserved. (!!). It takes a lot of discipline to attend events for more than one group and to focus on getting to know a lot of strangers…but the rewards can be excellent. Of course he had to drop a course after attending that many parties and he came home with mono…but hopefully you will not burn the candles on both ends.</p>
<p>If you are good at introducing yourself, and at getting to know others…and you can manage to stay focused on your studies enough during rush (highly advise not blowing your sleep and study cycles as my son did during rush)…I think you will find yourself with more than one bid at the end and that you will be not only welcomed, you will be sought after, and you will have to disappoint and decline another offer or two from guys who sincerely want you to join their frat. </p>
<p>I hope you will have a wonderful first year at Vanderbilt and highly suspect you will be part of a frat before the year is up where you, too, will find support and friendship on campus. You will find yourself in the decision seat with open doors.</p>
<p>Sigma Nu has the most African American students out of the “traditional” fraternities. I know some of the others have some members, but I can’t comment on the number especially for the newer fraternities.</p>
<p>Yes they have token minorities</p>
<p>There are no Black students in Sigma Nu, there are several Asian students though.</p>
<p>I wonder if you mind me bringing this up? I am a transfer and international in origin i was wondering if its possible for someone like to me to enjoy the greek life?</p>
<p>one of the most random conversations i’ve ever been privy to in an elevator was two fraternity guys, one with a kappa sig sweatshirt on, talking about how they wish they had more black guys in their fraternity.</p>
<p>KA has a black brother, I think. It’s difficult to gauge because I think a lot of the black students on campus enjoy being in the divine nine, so they just rush those instead.</p>
<p>You’re going to be hard pressed to find minorities in IFC fraternities, partly due to some fraternities not being very accepting, partly because most choose NPHC</p>
<p>I’m a junior and I would somewhat agree with 1finite. But it’s a bit more complicated. Fraternities and such will take people who they find similar and enjoy the company of - there’s the saying birds of a feather flock together. If you’re a minority and happen to have a ton in common with these people, great, but it just happens that the very backgrounds of a lot of people who are of a different race may preclude that possibility.</p>