Fall of the frat house: Students target Greek life amid America’s racial reckoning

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by content.camille

A bit off topic but I'll say it nonetheless. This is my own personal experience and opinion, my mother is African-American and I easily pass for Caucasian but the fact of the matter is that I'm biracial, one would not think I have African-American heritage if one were to meet me. I'm only speaking on my personal experiences.

The accounts on Instagram @stripyourletters and a majority of the abolishgreeklife at (insert school name here) accounts are run by students who are Caucasian, the majority of women who have been dropping their sororities at Northwestern are also Caucasian, I've been thinking about this a lot and I've been speaking about it at length with my fellow Panhellenic friends. There's this movement that's sprung up and are some things valid? Yes, I do believe that the stories of attacks at fraternity parties do need to be told and I believe that if racist behavior is exhibited, it needs to be taken care of, but the majority of these pages are happy to ignore the fact that Greek Life isn't for everyone, those who make an effort to join a chapter and continue making an effort usually thrive and flourish and that those who don't make an effort usually don't reap the benefits of being in PHC/IFC and are the ones who drop and make a fuss. Going Greek is not for all.

I know quite a large number of women who've rushed NPC sororities who are African-American and they've never even considered leaving, I had a daughter and a stepdaughter go through recruitment this autumn who would never think of leaving their new chapters, and I have friends who had daughters go through recruitment this year and years ago who also would never leave the chapters they joined. From what I've seen and what I've heard, it's not the African American women in sororities who are demanding this change and who are demanding that Greek life be abolished, it's the Caucasian women within these chapters who are leading the charge and I think that it's to make themselves look and feel better. I have no qualms with this because I'm sure that they're sure that they're making a difference but the fact of the matter is that they think that they're being progressive and woke but they're really speaking over the women in their chapters who are perfectly happy to be a part of the organization they've chosen to be a part of.

I find it to be quite disheartening that instead of going out and tabling, recruiting, and making their chapters into the image that they desire, they choose to take the easy way out and shut down their chapter against the advice and without the permission of Nationals. I understand that they feel like there's a pressure on them to diversify from various voices on their campus but instead of being the sorority that capitulates, why would they not work to become the chapter they desire? I think it's quite lazy to just close doors instead of working through the issues the chapter faces and it's not like Nationals won't go in and reestablish the chapter after each girl has graduated, it's all for naught in the end.

I'll end with this, I wish it was like the old days when people understood that if they didn't want to be a part of Greek life they could simply drop and go, they didn't need to announce their departure or make movements to try and convince others to leave the chapter, they would just leave their badge on the mantle and get out. There's no need for them to attempt to ruin the experience that other people are having and that they're enjoying.

Thank you for a well-thought post, content.camille. The last paragraph definitely sang to me!

I have quite a few bi-racial cousins of my own. Sadly, none have considered going Greek, although I would gladly sponsor any of them. Maybe the next generation? One is finally expecting a girl next month!

[content.camille]

Thank you Carnation and HoneyChile!

Congratulations on the newest addition to your family, Honeychile!

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by content.camille

Thank you Carnation and HoneyChile!

Congratulations on the newest addition to your family, Honeychile!

It's a cousin, but still exciting! One thing's for sure, she WILL be beautiful and well loved!

[*winter*]

Thank you for sharing your viewpoint. It’s always interesting that these things seem to unfold without any real input from actual African Americans.

FWIW, my friend has a daughter, who is black, who is now in her fourth year of sorority and she loves it. She found it to be a wonderfully supportive, welcoming environment and her chapter is very diverse (for the campus).

[PersistentDST]

Originally Posted by OhSoDetermined

But seriously, this is a general statement that I am making here Many times NPHC is not a consideration when the topic is “Greek Life”. And it can be seen “in poor taste”, gauche, or even aggressive to try and mention it when “obviously we are talking about NPC/IFC”.

When I see people consider referencing the NPHC (NALFO or MCGC), they are generally inept at covering our organizations. Even in decent articles, I’ve seen incorrect information and lingo. Please believe if they don’t know what they are talking about with the NPC/IFC, they REALLY don’t know about us.

[ASTalumna06]

Columbia’s Panhellenic sororities have leveraged progressivism to diffuse critics. Students say members’ responses to protests are no different.

https://www.columbiaspectator.com/ne...-no-different/

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Columbia’s Panhellenic sororities have leveraged progressivism to diffuse critics. Students say members’ responses to protests are no different.

https://www.columbiaspectator.com/ne...-no-different/

What's For Dinner? Leftovers.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by PersistentDST

When I see people consider referencing the NPHC (NALFO or MCGC), they are generally inept at covering our organizations. Even in decent articles, I’ve seen incorrect information and lingo. Please believe if they don’t know what they are talking about with the NPC/IFC, they REALLY don’t know about us.

I've been interacting with NPHC members, reading posts, etc., specifically concerning Greek Life issues now for 20+ years. What I have learned from that interaction is that I know nothing, no one on this forum knows anything, contact the chapter directly if you have questions.

I would also imagine that in cases when publicity is negative the chapter and organization's interaction with the media would be to say "no comment" or issue a generic statement condemning whatever needed to be condemned and would almost definitely not answer a series of questions pertaining to terminology within the organization, nor would they probably be advised to be that open to media inquiry in times of crisis.

When reporters are left to fill in the blanks, they don't always do a great job.

[PersistentDST]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I've been interacting with NPHC members, reading posts, etc., specifically concerning Greek Life issues now for 20+ years. What I have learned from that interaction is that I know nothing, no one on this forum knows anything, contact the chapter directly if you have questions.

I would also imagine that in cases when publicity is negative the chapter and organization's interaction with the media would be to say "no comment" or issue a generic statement condemning whatever needed to be condemned and would almost definitely not answer a series of questions pertaining to terminology within the organization, nor would they probably be advised to be that open to media inquiry in times of crisis.

When reporters are left to fill in the blanks, they don't always do a great job.

When I respond to posters to contact the chapter, it is normally because they are asking a question I can’t answer. I don’t have the information to answer accurately, so the chapter is the best source of contact. While we have guidelines for things like intake, each chapter does things at their discretion. I can’t tell an interest about when a college in Dallas will be doing intake, why a woman wasn’t selected for an alumnae chapter line in Philadelphia or why a Soror in Tallahassee hasn't called an interest back yet. It is also a great way to encourage them to make connections with the specific people who can answer questions, because ultimately, they need their votes, not mine.

I was speaking about articles in which our organizations are referenced. Our websites provide adequate public information, but often, I see a struggle with cultural things that could be adjusted if they just simply asked. An example off the top of my head is when a journalist covering a Kamala Harris campaign event, mentioned hearing screeching (AKA’s call). She could have easily walked over to the group of ladies clearly wearing pink and green and got an explanation. Another example was when a group of Zeta’s were sitting at a meeting about a civil rights issue that happened a few years ago, being referred to as “gang members” by a national journalist, simply because they were Black women wearing matching blue shirts (with their letters, no less ). I’ve even seen news anchors throwing signs and things like that during newscasts, without asking in advance if it is potentially offensive.

As for the media, like any other business, we have specific protocols that we are supposed to follow. If there is negative publicity, specific leadership or designees are responsible to provide responses to the media and those responses may be “generic” depending upon the situation. The only negative articles I can think of are about hazing and that means there may be legal issues and other things to consider. To be fair, that seems to be pretty consistent with NPC or IFC hazing articles.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by PersistentDST

When I respond to posters to contact the chapter, it is normally because they are asking a question I can’t answer. I don’t have the information to answer accurately, so the chapter is the best source of contact. While we have guidelines for things like intake, each chapter does things at their discretion. I can’t tell an interest about when a college in Dallas will be doing intake, why a woman wasn’t selected for an alumnae chapter line in Philadelphia or why a Soror in Tallahassee hasn't called an interest back yet. It is also a great way to encourage them to make connections with the specific people who can answer questions, because ultimately, they need their votes, not mine. EXACTLY

I was speaking about articles in which our organizations are referenced. Our websites provide adequate public information, but often, I see a struggle with cultural things that could be adjusted if they just simply asked. An example off the top of my head is when a journalist covering a Kamala Harris campaign event, mentioned hearing screeching (AKA’s call). She could have easily walked over to the group of ladies clearly wearing pink and green and got an explanation. Another example was when a group of Zeta’s were sitting at a meeting about a civil rights issue that happened a few years ago, being referred to as “gang members” by a national journalist, simply because they were Black women wearing matching blue shirts (with their letters, no less ). I’ve even seen news anchors throwing signs and things like that during newscasts, without asking in advance if it is potentially offensive.

.....

Get out of my head. #ALLOFTHIS

[AnchorAlumna]

From Washington University in St. Louis
https://www.studlife.com/news/2020/1...es-to-disband/

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

From Washington University in St. Louis
https://www.studlife.com/news/2020/1...es-to-disband/

Grand President of Pi Beta Phi’s national organization, Marla Neely Wulf, expressed disappointment over the chapter’s decision to close.

“The decision of Missouri Beta collegiate members to close the chapter is met with great sadness by Grand Council,” Neelly Wulf said. “Walking away from Pi Beta Phi membership means diminishing the collaborative coalition of women who have, for decades, made change together.”

However, former Pi Phi member senior Nina Geers emphasized the widespread belief among Pi Phi members that abolition, not reform, was the only way for the sorority to effectively follow through on its commitment to social justice.

“We finally decided that, as a chapter… the damage that we had done as an institution can’t really be undone by reform,” Geers said. “It could only be done by ceasing to exist.”

So... the national organization is shrugging it's shoulders and allowing this? Was there simply no one left to keep the chapter going, and the Sorority wouldn't or couldn't try and salvage it?

[Cheerio]

We can't work to bring about change. Change is too hard and will NEVER HAPPEN no matter what we do or say.

Tell that to all the 20th century Freedom Riders.

[Yes, I watched that PBS program tonight.]