Black women at Alabama joined black sororities. Still do, because that’s where their mothers and grandmothers and sisters were members and that’s the experience they want. More now joint the Panhell houses so they have options. No one seems to be upset that the black sororities are segregated and do not extend bids to white or Hispanic women. There was an 60 Minutes piece a few years ago that included a black woman at Ole Miss who joined a Panhell sorority because she wanted the mainstream experience, and she wanted to be student body president, and needed the Greek support.
if you look at the pictures of current members at houses around the country, you’ll find more diversity than in years past (even recent years past). If you look at schools like RPI, Case, MIT and Yale, often the houses are 50% women of color.
And really, the a Capella groups and the broomball teams are picking their friends or the cutest guys/gals or the siblings of team members, not the most talented broomball players - if there was even a way to know who that was.
No one is upset about that because it is not true.
But beyond that, posing the question is a bit like asking why no one is upset that there are womens colleges when women weren’t historically allowed to attend male colleges.
After the 2013 scandal in Alabama’s sororities, the alumni veto power was abolished, among other things (racist alumni would veto non-white pledges even if the current members of the chapter wanted to invite them). However, current chapter photo albums suggest that there is still very little racial integration there.
Is it that they do not extend bids because of their race, or that non-black women are not interested in joining?
The fact that such a thing is newsworthy suggests that it is rare, at least on some campuses.
I think it is because the black women want to join the sororities of their mothers and sisters. The Panhel rush is first, so they can attend that and decide if they want to join one of those houses or wait until the later rush. I think the numbers show that anyone who wants to get a bid does get one at the southern flagships.
My house has started new chapters at southern schools in the last few years. The pictures show many women of color. Maybe it’s because there is no history and fewer legacies. Maybe they just want to be part of a new group.
I have several friends who are members of Alpha Kappa Alpha. I struck up a conversation with them about sororities, and they all said they don’t want their daughters joining any other sorority. They are very proud of their heritage in the sorority. In many cases, as mentioned above, their mothers and sometimes their grandmothers were in the sorority. All of them are still quite involved in the sorority and had some great photos of their recent Founders Day festivities. Absolutely they self-segregate.
Interesting post in another thread about daughters needing social resumes, professional photos (!!) etc to register for Panhellenic. Huh. I guess those with experience know all this already but I was like…um ok it’s even more blatant than I realized. I didn’t know much about Greek life before (and tbh an obnoxious mom on one of our college tours turned me against it a bit) but this thread has reinforced my understanding. Feel even more sorry for OP now, dealing with son’s rejection due to some unnamed person deciding he wasn’t good enough for them based on some probably totally arbitrary factor
I guess this thread is a bit like politics, each person has their own opinion and not much changes it.
@SJ2727 I’m personally not a fan of rushing - had no interest in Greek life when I was applying for college. D17 had no plans to join a sorority either but after having a tough time making friends her first semester, despite joining a few clubs, and playing an intramural sport, she decided to give it a try. Her school only has spring rush, and Greek life is not a big part of her school. She goes to college in CA and did not have to do any of the things mentioned by that mom in the other thread. A lot of D’s classmates attend SEC schools and joined sororities - the things I heard from their mothers only reinforced what I don’t like about rushing/sororities. D17 has a difficult time with rushing but in the end, joined the sorority that had been consistently last on her list. A year later though, she has made some great friends and in hindsight, is very happy with where she ended up. However, I know that she never would’ve even considered rushing if it required all the things you mention above.
Is it wrong to wish my boys would join a fraternity so that they know how to wear khakis, a jacket and maybe have to interact socially? I do think there are some advantages to being in a sorority or a fraternity even though I was not in one. I have nerdy math gamers who want to wear slicky shorts (athletic shorts) and the free dorm t-shirt at all times. Maybe they are not that bad but you get my drift. I think having to escort a girl to a dinner and learning to handle yourself socially can be a good thing. However, the first two did not join one and number 3 is still in high school. I guess we are somewhat lucky in there are several Christian fraternities and academic groups that encourage networking more than drinking.
@SJ2727 The problem with threads like these and the internet in general is the people that are posting the strongest opinions of opposition have not had personal experience with the Greek system. Or perhaps they had a bad experience and assume everyone else will too or simply harbor resentment. Many opinions I read here are based on hearsay, rumors, and stereotypes. The only real issue is that the OPs son didn’t get into the house he wanted. Should he have been told by mommy not to not try because it might not work out? If one takes that approach in life, they won’t experience much. The people that have had the most experience with them - @twoinanddone and @10s4life - speak about them positively, as did other posters who admitted they went in with apprehension or bias, but it turned out ok.
I don’t have a strong feeling one way or the other about the system, but I wouldn’t be demanding my student join or not join, I have confidence in their decision making. Some kids absolutely love it and have life long friends and their school experience is enriched. Others may feel rejected or not be in the house of their dreams, it’s a risk one takes. Perhaps the best option is to let the student decide for themselves if it is the right thing for them to do by exploring it themselves rather than relying on prejudice from randomly farmed information. Doesn’t hurt to express concerns, but assuming it is all evil and exclusive is inaccurate. But it is the trend these days with everything it seems.
The daughters of AKAs? They don’t have to join if sorority membership is not their bag, but it would be a pretty big deal if they come home Deltas. The Divine Nine does not fool around; they are loyal for life.
As far as I can discern, the Divine Nine have a much bigger post-graduation presence than the historically white frats and sororities. A substantial amount of their inductions happen after graduation. So it’s not just that they’re loyal for life, but that they’re active for life.
Well, all I can say is I would strongly encourage my D to think long and hard about the idea of joining any sort of club that required professional photos as part of how they judge “fit”, which is what so many here say being bid or not is about.
I am kind of (nicely) chuckling at those who are praising frats for teaching their kids social skills and fashion… glad they have some use
@SJ2727 The professional photos sororities “require” is similar to senior pics most people take. It’s just to put a face with a name. Like a job app wouldn’t it make sense to put the best picture one can take in the app? There’s so many people rushing at big state schools that the picture helps members remember who that person was. The chapter will go through hundreds of people during rush.
In terms of social skills it definitely puts you in social situations all the time but in general most people are already pretty social prior to joining. If anything it actually does make you really good at throwing a tie on for chapter meetings in less than 5 min
There are lots of ways college kids can learn adult dressing and adult manners besides a frat. Orchestras require formal wear. A Capella groups have a dress code. Career development offices run seminars on how to eat at a business lunch, what to wear for an interview, what is “business casual” and why the clothes you wear to wash the car are NOT business casual.
A kid doesn’t need a frat to learn how to wear a suit.
@10s4life I posted that before I read the follow up from that poster. Seems stuff required includes parents financial standing and social networks and that kind of stuff. Sheesh. I understand not every sorority is like that but… smh
Maybe they are not that bad but you get my drift. I think having to escort a girl to a dinner and learning to handle yourself socially can be a good thing. However, the first two did not join one and number 3 is still in high school. I guess we are somewhat lucky in there are several Christian fraternities and academic groups that encourage networking more than drinking.
