University of Alabama: The school where the two African-American students were denied membership in the all-white sororities
University
President Judy Bonner said 11 black students and three students from
other minority groups received bids, or invitations, to join a
historically white sorority. Of that group, four black students and
two students from other minority backgrounds have accepted those
invitations, Bonner said. She expected the numbers to rise as the
academic year continues.
"I
am confident that we will achieve our objective of a Greek system
that is inclusive, accessible and welcoming to students of all races
and ethnicities," Bonner said in a video statement. "We
will not tolerate anything less."
Family
ties: Former Alabama Supreme Court Justice, John England Jr, left,
said his step-granddaughter was one of those students who was passed
over. England's son, Democratic state Rep. Chris England, right, is
the student's stepfather
The
university's Greek organizations have been segregated by race since
the first black students enrolled and created social organizations.
One oversight organization has been composed of white sororities and
the other composed of minority sororities. Only a handful of blacks
attempted to join the historically white Greek groups at Alabama,
where there are also historically black fraternities and sororities.
Paul
Bryant Jr., the president pro tem of the board of trustees and the
son of legendary football coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant, said the school
does not support the segregation.
But
that system came under scrutiny when the campus newspaper, The
Crimson White, reported allegations this month that two prospective
black members were passed over by all-white sororities because of
pressure from alumnae, and in one case, an adviser. The coverage
caused a wide-ranging debate, even prompting Alabama Gov. Robert
Bentley, an alumnus, to say that fraternal organizations should
choose members based on their qualifications, not their race.
The
debate came at an embarrassing time for Bonner's university, which is
marking the 50th anniversary of its racial integration. Alabama
admitted its first black students in 1963 after then-Gov. George C.
Wallace infamously stood in a schoolhouse
door to protest their enrollment. Wallace relented under pressure
from President John F. Kennedy's administration.
Several
hundred people marched Wednesday at the university to oppose racial
segregation, and professors at a Faculty Senate meeting denounced
long-standing racial segregation in fraternities and sororities.
Bonner
made changes meant to weaken racial barriers. She required that the
historically white sororities use a recruitment process in which new
members can be added at any time. She also expanded the maximum
allowable size of the groups to 360 people to increase the chances
for prospective members.
"While
some sororities are farther along than others, I am encouraged that
chapter members are proactively reaching out to a diverse group of
young women," she said.
Diane
Bentley, left, who was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority said it
is not the students', but the alumni's fault. The university's
president, Judy Bonner, right, said she was working to remove any
barriers
Though
hand join in
hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the
righteous shall be delivered.
1 Maccabees 1:11 In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them we have had much sorrow.
1:13 Then
certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the
king, who gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the
heathen:
1:15 And
made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant, and
joined themselves to the heathen, and were sold to do mischief.
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