The segregation of the predominantly white sororities and fraternities on The University of Alabama’s campus is nothing new to students. Every year, there’s a courageous black girl or two who attempts to “break the barrier” and with one unsuccessful attempt after another. The same response is generated: tumult for a week or two, and then back to business as usual.
You want to know why? Because we, the students, let it stay this way.
Well, let me tell you why this year things are a little different: People are talking. And, might I say, it is about damn time.
If you haven’t read last week’s article, “The Final Barrier: 50 years later, segregation still exists,” go online or pick up an old newspaper and read it now. This article exposed the segregation within the Alabama Panhellenic sororities like never before, and what really warms my heart is the courage of various sorority girls, especially Melanie Gotz, to speak up and acknowledge that something is not right when a highly qualified young lady, who happens to have a darker skin tone, is denied membership into any of the 16 sororities that participate in formal recruitment.
This problem is more than just a story of a girl not accepted into a club. This is a much more deep-rooted issue that has blemished the reputation of the University for decades. If you think for one moment that this is not an important issue or that this is going to be just like the years before and that it will never change, not only are you partially right, but you are also the reason why.
The very idea that “things will never change” or “I can’t make a difference” does nothing for the cause and causes the segregation to stay. I can only ask that you take a minute and do a little soul searching. For one, integration is going to happen whether people are ready for it, like it or not. It may not be today, tomorrow, next month or even next year. But it will happen.
Second of all, Auburn has already integrated its greek system – if it isn’t enough that Auburn has beaten us at something, then I don’t know what is.
Lastly, the change begins with us, the students. It’s time to stop being idle. It’s time to stop sweeping this disgrace on the name of the University under the rug. It’s time to stop being quiet. The first girl has stepped out; now it’s our turn to contribute. Even if your contribution is just keeping this issue within conversations, you have done something.
Things will not change if no one talks about it. We as a student body need to work together to show that it is not OK with letting black students on sports teams but not in sororities or fraternities, that discrimination in any form or fashion is not right. There is a reason there are students from more than 68 different countries attending the University. Let’s remind the world why.
Erynn Williams is a sophomore majoring in dance and international studies. Her column runs biweekly on Wednesdays.
