As a parent of a University of Alabama student, I touch base occasionally with the paper online. Since it was coach Bryant’s birthday, I looked to see if an article appeared. What I found, however, was appalling.

The lead article was “The Final Barrier,” covering sorority alumnae blocking the recruiting of a black pledge, a pledge who was considered desirable by most sororities on campus, a pledge who appears to meet all Panhellenic standards.

To have grown up in the South and seen the racism that existed, I did my best to teach my daughters to be a better person that I was during that time. It appears painfully obvious from the article that the apparent racism in this situation is being pushed down on the current generation by alumnae who shamefully are using the same tiresome stonewalling used since the days of Jim Crow.

I did not send my daughter to The University of Alabama to witness a continuation of this type of activity. I applaud Melanie Gotz for speaking out, risking her standing with her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta, for what is inexplicably unfair. I hope that her fellow sisters who are also indignant continue to push back and force this issue into the open. I hope my own daughter, a member of a sorority, joins them.

I trust coach Bryant, who fought the color barrier on Southern college football, would be embarrassed.

Gary Funderburk is the father of a current student at The University of Alabama.