Segregation in the Greek System

While school desegregation occurred decades ago, there are still some traditionally white institutions that discriminate based on race. Last fall at the University of Alabama, two young African-American women were not given bids to any of the sixteen traditionally white sororities on campus. The girls had high GPAs and came from influential families. Members of some of the sororities were quoted in the Crimson White (The University of Alabama’s student newspaper) as saying that they wanted to give the girl a bid. However, the alumni of many of the sororities threatened to cut funding to the organizations if the girl was allowed to join. The girls from the sororities also went on record and said that there would have been no issue if the girls were white and that there would have been a dogfight between sororities to recruit these girls. The school’s president Judy Bonner had to step in last fall and make a change. Since that occurred, there has been a slight increase in minority members in white Greek organizations.

I understand that there are many Greek organizations at other schools that accept members based on their merit and not because of their race, but Greek organizations have always been predominantly white since their inception. In order to make these types of organizations for black students, the National Pan-Hellenic Council began creating them in the early 1900’s. However, these organizations are still separate from the customary notions of Greek societies.

The articles I read about the discrimination in the Greek system at Alabama raised questions to me about the state of Greek organizations in America. Why are these organizations still so segregated? The separation between white organizations and black organizations reminds me of a separate but equal system. Also, quotes from current members of the sororities made it seem as though they were accepting of the girls and actively wanted them as one of their sisters. The problem arose from their alumni. It is important to consider, however, that there are many schools where this is not an issue. At Rhodes for example, there is definitely diversity in the Greek organizations. I think this issue will change in the future when the alumni that still carry racist ideals are no longer in power and are instead replaced by people that are more accepting. What are your thoughts on this issue?