Difference Between African American and Caucasian Sororities

The University of Mississippi’s Greek life is alive and thriving, with African American and Caucasian students. Ole Miss is known for its Greek life, where while walking around campus one would see people proudly representing their affiliation.

Greek life between African Americans and Caucasians has similarities and differences.

With the Caucasian sororities on campus rush begins in mid October. Rush is a weeklong process where the women attend each house and get to know each sorority a little better each night that they are invited back. It also involves a ranking system, both the sorority and the woman who is rushing have to rank. With this rush there must be a mutual liking from both the sorority and the woman.

For the women going through rush it is a very nerve racking experience. But for the women on the other side of rush, who have already been through the process, they find it to be a fun but tiring experience.

Marie Elise Williams, a sophomore Chi Omega, said, “Rush is so much fun, getting to meet all of the women that you have heard so much about is awesome.”

For the women who are already affiliated with a sorority, rush consists of studying all of the rushees faces, learning their name, hometown, GPA, and also extracurricular activities. The reason for having to learn all of this is so that while in the rush process you will have something to talk about with them and hopefully will help the situation to be less awkward.

For the women going through rush there are certain requirements that they must have to go through the process. They must have at least a 2.5 GPA, the reason sororities have this requirement is because each chapter on campus tries to have the highest GPA.

“There is a huge competition to have the highest GPA on campus, we all try to beat each other,” said Williams. They must also have recommendations from former members of that certain sorority. This way the members of that chapter can learn more personal information about the rushee.

Each sorority is responsible for donating money to their philanthropy. Philanthropy is an organization or charity that the sorority has decided that they would like to help. Most sororities hold some type of gathering where food is served; whether it is a crawfish broil or a spaghetti dinner.

With the African American sororities on the Ole Miss campus things work a little differently. The women are not allowed to rush until their sophomore year of college. Along with when they are allowed to rush the rush process happens a little differently. Instead of it having to be a mutual liking between both the sorority and rushee, the rushee herself has to go after the sorority and let them know that she wants them. She not only has to let them know she wants them she has to prove it to them.

Once the sorority has decided which women they believe truly want to be a part of their sorority they will give the rushee a call and inform her that she must attend the meeting. During this meeting the girls are all interviewed and also hear from that chapters advisors. After this meeting the women must wait for another phone call if they receive this phone call then they are officially a pledge for that sorority.

The pledge process lasts up to a month at the least. Throughout this time period the women are expected to be studying all of the sororities history and information. Once they are called back in they will be tested on this information. They are also expected to prove why they want to be affiliated with this particular sorority. The sorority is looking for someone who genuinely wants to be in the sorority and who likes what they stand for; they want to make sure that they don’t want to join just for the party.

Teresa Jones, a freshman at the university and a residential assistant, said, “I am very nervous, I have a lot of studying to do.”

To raise money for their philanthropy, African American sororities often hold step shows. A step show is a dance that is synchronized by hand and foot movements, along with singing, dancing, and chanting. They practice these dances for months. When they finally perform their dances the money they receive from the show goes to their philanthropy.

Once in the sorority they are expected to be in for life, after college they are still expected to uphold their sorority’s ideals and standards. Where as in Caucasian sororities normally after college they still stand for their sorority but they aren’t as affiliated with it anymore. Generally they only donate money, unless they are an advisor or housemother.

No matter if the way they go about rush is different, or how they raise money for their philanthropy, all the women love being a part of their sorority. They love having that sense of family while they are off at school. No matter what skin tone, all of the women would agree that their sisters tend to be their best friends for the rest of their lives. One has their real biological family but then one has their sorority family. The women that know everything about their sisters, the things that make her angry and the things that make her cry. Sorority sisters are sisters for life.

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http://www.chiomega.com/

http://www.aka1908.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXVl5WY5aWI

Recruitment Integration

The African American students at the University of Mississippi are gradually being accepted into the Greek system that formally involved only white students.

Greek life on campus at Ole Miss is predominately white males and females. The African American students have co-ed groups that act similarly to white sororities and fraternities.

In recent years African American students have desired to integrate these two Greek systems. When the black students first entered the white recruitment process a few years ago, most white people were outraged.

Laura Barrier, a Chi Omega, has opposing views on the integration of the Greek systems.

“It’s been a little uncomfortable for both sides, but it is getting more and more culturally accepted. The nature of integration allows room for improvement over the years and I think it will become much more widely accepted,” she says.

Kimbrely Dandridge, an African American sophomore, is an excellent example of this integration process.

Dandridge is the first ever African American Phi Mu at Ole Miss. She pledged Phi Mu in the fall of 2010, and is now the talk of the town.

Negative comments and hurtful words follow her every day, but Dandridge keeps a smile on her face to show everyone how she is not afraid of integration.

“Recently, a girl who condemned me for betraying my people came up to me and told me how proud she was of me. She said sorry and actually thought I was helping to improve the racial barriers,” she says.

African Americans in the white recruitment process still receive harsh words from just about everyone. Not many of them receive bids to sororities like Dandridge, but they still continue to strive to end segregation.

White parents and alumni of Ole Miss are hesitant to accept the fact of integration between the Greek systems, but the students seem to be more acceptant of it.

As recruitment continues year after year, only time will tell if the Greek integration process is a success.

http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/panhellenic/Ole_Miss_Panhellenic_Council/Welcome.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXdrRo_jaRM

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Diversity Important Among the Student-Athletes

The diversity among the student-athletes at the University of Mississippi has played an important role in the lives of many athletes and in the athletic program as a whole.

Having athletes from different states, countries, and backgrounds has created an atmosphere where the students have a better understanding for people different from themselves.

“You have to have diversity, especially in athletic atmospheres because it's gonna push you as an athlete and as a student to do better,” Sara Grantham, who works at the student-athlete academic support center, said.

Being a student-athlete at Ole Miss gives you an opportunity to talk to people you normally wouldn't have talked to and to learn about cultures that you might not have otherwise, Grantham said.

On the track team, there are athletes from the United States, Sweden, Panama, and Kenya.

According to Alejandro Quintana, a distance runner on the track team, the diversity is good because getting to know foreign people makes you learn about lives and cultures different from your own. He emphasized how interesting it is to listen to the stories from the Kenyans on the team.

“It is just cool to get a different perspective on other people’s lives,” Quintana said.

“On the football team there is a whole lot of diversity,” D.T. Shackelford, who plays football for Ole Miss, said. Most of the over 100 players come from different states and home environments.

“It's actually a uniqueness of our team because everyone is not the same, and we all work together to achieve one goal and that is to win. You have to come together,” Shackelford said. “Everybody learns from each other, so diversity is very important.”

More information about the athletic program can be found at www.olemisssports.com.

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Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw2iI8B8iXU&feature=related

Change Needed in Greek System

Fraternities and sororities that are historically made up of African American students are known as National Pan-Hellenic Council. Fraternities and sororities that participate in Recruitment belong to the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council at the University of Mississippi.

It is said to believe that many people view these two separate greek organizations as a form of segregation embedded in Oxford, Mississippi many years ago.

Although few African Americans have gone through Panhellenic Council the majority of NPHC is African American and Panhellenic is Caucasian. These greek organizations are different many other ways. NPHC doesn't have houses on sorority or fraternity row and Recruitment is said to be more intense for the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council.

Shelby Garrison, 22, from Richmond ,Virginia said " The University of Mississippi is not a very diverse school and the greek system is not diverse as well."

Diversity was born on this campus on October 1, 1962. James Meredith , the first black student at Ole Miss exemplifying the importance of unity and change needed in this world.

Megan Wright, a memeber of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, said " I believe James Meredith would be proud to see both greek organizations combine into one. It would bring our school closer."

A diverse environment can open up one's mind and provide awareness of other's out in the real world.

Cory Daniels , 20, an Ole Miss student said "I never see many integrated groups of people here. Although many people say Ole Miss is very racist ,I don't that. I believe we haven't take the necessary action to bring Sorority and Fraternity row into a more diverse environment.

Daniels has attended this University for a few years now and hopes for a more diverse school for the sake of changing history and helping Ole Miss students become better people.

"I believe we can change for a better future."said Garrison.

my video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8b6w8mNNyU&feature=youtu.be

To see more about University of Mississippi Greek Life, click here http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/panhellenic/Ole_Miss_Panhellenic_Council/Welcome.html

Diversity in the Greek System

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.

Hyperlink:http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/panhellenic/Ole_Miss_Panhellenic_Council/Welcome.html

Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7Ao7tB6DHU&feature=player_embedded

Full Interviews:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbQCa8qSzEI&feature=player_embedded

Diversity in The Classroom

Jamie Kline
Journalism 102 Section 4
5/9/11

Diversity in the Dorms

Erin Simpson As finals week on the Ole Miss campus approaches, freshman students and university employees are preparing for the move out of Martin Hall. Looking back on the 2010-2011 school year, Cortney Fritz and Mrs.Jeraldine Harris-Rice have both enjoyed the diversity that dorm life has provided. Cortney Fritz, a freshman resident of the sixth floor of Martin Hall, said that dorm life has widened her perspective on diversity. “When I moved into the dorm, I have to admit it was a little bit intimidating. To go from being an only child, to living on a floor with 49 other girls, it was a transition. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Living here has opened my eyes as far as diversity goes. I’ve met people from different backgrounds, races, and walks of life, and I think that’s what the college experience is about,” Fritz said. Mrs.Jeraldine Harris-Rice, one of the two African-American custodians of the sixth floor of Martin, said she has a similar take on diversity at the dorms. “I think when you get thrown together with fifty girls, from all over the place and from all different backgrounds, you’re forced to widen your perspective of people. You’re forced to become more patient, and hopefully, compassionate towards girls you barely know. I think living here, my girls on this floor are doin’ that,” Harris-Rice remarked. To give an example of the “compassion” she was referring to, Mrs. Harris-Rice went on to say that the residents of the sixth floor had pooled together money from each girl and presented her with a $50 Walmart gift card for Christmas. “This is one of the sweetest groups I’ve ever seen. They don’t know how much that meant to me. It was so unexpected and so kind,” Harris-Rice said. For more information on the dorms of the Ole Miss, visit the university website or the hyperlink below.