Greek life is a historically white organization. However, many multicultural Greek organizations on campus seek to challenge this stereotype.
The University currently offers two fraternities and three sororities that had black or Latina founders and have predominantly racially diverse members. Phi Beta Sigma and Alpha Phi Alpha are both historically black fraternities and Zeta Phi Beta and Alpha Kappa Alpha are mainly black sororities. Sigma Lambda Gamma is historically Latina.
While these organizations were founded in specific cultural roots, many of them are open to members of all racial backgrounds today.
“Students will come up to me saying, ‘can I join if I’m white?’ And I always say, ‘yes,’” Shelby said. “We don’t know what you look like when we’re voting on membership,” said Staci Shelby, President of Alpha Kappa Alpha.
They generally have fewer members and receive less public attention than the sororities and fraternities affiliated with the traditional recruitment process, but they are still making a strong impact on the social climate on campus.
“We may be small, but we have a big presence on campus,” Shelby said.
The sorority currently has only 34 active members as opposed to the hundreds of active members involved in other sororities on campus, but they have a thriving philanthropic program that promotes breast cancer awareness, the arts, financial planning, and environmental initiatives. Alpha Kappa Alpha is not only the largest predominantly black sorority in the nation, but it was also the first collegiate social organization to be founded by a woman. Shelby cited the group’s rich history as one of her reasons for joining.
“Based on my research, I found that members of my sorority were always on the frontier of change,” Shelby said.
Shelby also said she joined the organization to find a group of like-minded individuals since she came from out-of-state.
Mass communication sophomore and president of Sigma Lambda Gamma Kianna Franks had a similar story.
“I’m an out-of-state student. Coming here, I had no one,” Franks said. “But they were so open and relatable, they made me want to join. You’re really able to get to know these people and call them your sisters.”
The group currently has eight active members and mainly focuses on philanthropic efforts rather than social events. Much like Alpha Kappa Alpha, membership consideration is open to anyone interested in joining.
“We believe in our Latina roots, but we do accept and embrace all races and religions,” Franks said.
There are numerous benefits to being a part of a multicultural sorority or fraternity, many of which apply to any Greek organization. These include an emphasis on philanthropic efforts, networking opportunities and an opportunity to bond with those who might have similar life experiences.
The formal recruitment process can be overwhelming for some people, especially those who feel as though they don’t fit into a stereotypical mold, but these other organizations offer a more relaxed recruitment process and encourage those who normally would not participate to give Greek Life a chance.
“[Recruitment is] hard sometimes,” Franks said. “I’ve seen people of all races go through, and it’s different for everyone but some people say it’s hard because they feel like they’re not being accepted.”
Franks said she would not have participated in the formal recruitment process if Sigma Lambda Gamma was not an option. Unfortunately, this sentiment is echoed by many of the University’s minority students. Whether it is truth or a prolonged public perception, there is undoubtedly a particular image that comes to mind when picturing the typical sorority or fraternity member that causes certain students to feel excluded.
Organizations like Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sigma Lambda Gamma and others are creating a new image and providing opportunities to students who otherwise wouldn’t consider going Greek because of their race. With the University becoming more diverse than ever, these groups play a pivotal role in welcoming students from all different backgrounds and making them feel included.
While the recruitment process for many of these organizations already occurred earlier this semester, those interested in membership should contact the organizations or follow them on social media as some groups may distribute bids to potential new members over the course of the school year or participate in spring recruitment.
