At the University of Mississippi, approximately 30% of students belong to Greek organizations. Female students have the option of going through one of two recruitment processes: National Panhellenic Council (NPC- mostly Caucasian females) and National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC- mostly African American females).
Many individuals believe that the Ole Miss Greek life promotes segregation. The gigantic Greek houses that can be seen on campus are for the most part filled with white women. Some call these houses evidence of visible segregation. African American sororities are mostly off campus.
African American employees also reside in houses on Sorority Row, working jobs such as cleaning and cooking.
Betty Brown, an African American cook for the Chi Omega sorority, remarked that she has never felt like she is a minority within the house.
Brown said, “I had never felt discriminated against. These girls are my everything, and I appreciate everything they have done for over the years.”
The University of Mississippi has no regulations on whether black females should be allowed to rush NPC, although the practice is generally uncommon. Most African American women choose to rush NPHC, but this was not the case for Kimbrely Dandridge.
Kimbrely Dandridge, an African American sophomore journalism major from Como, Miss., decided to go against all odds when she made the decision to go through NPC recruitment this past fall. (99% of girls who are members of these sororities are white.) Dandridge is currently employed by Ole Miss as a Residential Assistant, and she is also a member of the NPC Greek sorority Phi Mu.
After a long summer of contemplation and encouragement from her Caucasian friends to go through recruitment, Dandridge made the decision to rush NPC in an effort to do something different.
Dandridge remarked that rush was the most stressful, intense week she has ever experienced. Many of her friends who initially encouraged her to go through the process ending up cutting her. When asked if she would do it all over again, she said that she wasn’t sure.
Dandridge’s decision to go through the primarily Caucasian rush was not overlooked by the black community. In fact, many of her friends criticized her for not going through NPHC.
Dandridge said, “People didn’t know why I wasn’t doing NPHC. Several NPHC members stopped talking to me. It was like a slap in the face to them when I didn’t do it. But I didn’t want to do the norm. I wanted to step outside of the rim.”
Dandridge has remarked that Ole Miss’s current Greek system is stuck in the old days.
Dandridge remarked, “It’s institutional segregation. Some houses will cut you just because you’re black. They don’t look at a person for who they are, they just see the fact that they’re black. That mentality is stuck in the old days. People don’t want to move forward.”
Dandridge is also not a fan of the segregated recruitment systems. She believes the two should be combined.
Dandridge remarked, “I want it to be where we don't have a black system and a white system. I want there to be a Greek system where it’s everybody together. I don’t feel like the Greek systems right now are promoting diversity.”
Dandridge has said that being the only black in her sorority has been very trying and that some people still do not accept her even within her own organization. However, Dandridge proceeds forward every day with a positive attitude.
Danridge commented, “Every day that I walk into the [Phi Mu] house, people begin to accept it a little more. Being a Phi Mu is not about color.”
Dandridge daily learns lessons from being the sole minority within her Greek organization.
Dandridge said, “I’ve learned to always have my guard up. You never know what people say behind your back. Never trust anybody. You don’t have any many friends as you think you do. Be who you are. The people who want to see you succeed will always be there for you.”
***
For more information on Ole Miss recruitment, please visit: http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/panhellenic/Ole_Miss_Panhellenic_Council/Welcome.html
Above: Betty Brown pauses cooking lunch for the Chi Omega girls to take a quick photo op.
Above: Sue Weakley rocks out for the 1st Annual Diversity Week at the University of Mississippi.
No comments:
Post a Comment