The University of Mississippi, a landmark in the fight over racial segregation, is increasingly becoming a cultural melting pot. This fact is very evident in the colleges Greek system, where none of the all-white fraternities or sororities have accepted a black student for decades.
Fraternities and sororities that are historically and traditionally comprised of African American students participate in recruitment through the Interfraternity Council (IFC), and Caucasian students participate in recruitment through The National Panhellenic Council (NPC), conventionally.
The University of Mississippi has no principles on black males being allowed to rush through the National Panhellenic Council, although, it is generally considered against the norm. However, the Sigma Chi Fraternity accepted their first black member, sophomore Deandre O’Neal, into their organization in 2010.
“Rush was not awkward at all,” Deandre said. “I never felt different and to be honest I never even thought twice about it. I signed up, went through the process, and completed it.”
O’Neal admitted that rush was a very hard time for him because he had a lot of friends who were rushing through IFC. He felt as if they did not understand where he was coming from and that they didn’t really care.
“Being a member of a black sorority or fraternity is a pride thing,” O’Neal explained. “It means a lot to our community and people look at you differently if you aren’t a member. But I remember coming to the conclusion that I had to do what was in my heart and my life will forever be changed by Sigma Chi.”
“ I feel as if people have their own prerogatives and some things work for them and some things don’t,” O’Neal said. “Hopefully in the future, recruitment will be more integrated, but maybe it wont.”
Toran Dean is a junior at Ole Miss and works for Ole Miss Outdoors. She is African American and non-Greek; however, she says that the majority of her friends are white and in a sorority.
Dean considered going through recruitment through NPC but decided against it. “I have been embraced so much by the IFC system and the Panhellenic system,” Dean said. “I think they are so inclusive to people of different nationalities, different races, and different beliefs.”
Dean explained her opinion about the Ole Miss Greek system as one being built on a ‘foundation of service’ to both the university and surrounding communities and she believes that every student, no matter who they are, should get an equal chance at being a part of that.
“I think it’s so great to have a system that is trying their best to put diversity on the forefront of what their fraternity or sorority stands for,” Dean explained.
Less than one percent of the IFC and NPC are integrated, however, the University is beginning to see a change with this issue. More and more students are showing interest in both systems, not only separately, but also as a whole. Because of the diversity changes sororities and fraternities on campus are making, student’s going through recruitment have the opportunity to look more at the mission of these organizations as opposed to race or color.
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