"Panel held to discuss black sorority." The Davidsonian, October 26, 2005.
- Title
- "Panel held to discuss black sorority." The Davidsonian, October 26, 2005.
- Description
- This article describes the open forum held for Davidson students about the establishment of the first African-American sorority at Davidson College. At the event, a panel made up of students supporting the sorority and student life administration spoke and answered questions from students.
- Creator
- Kate Gillespie.
- Date
- October 26, 2005.
- Text
-
Student leaders attempting to establish a historically black sorority on campus led a panel last night in the Sprinkle Room to discuss the issues involved in the initiative. PCC advisor Joy Hamm, Assistant Dean of Student Life Ernest Jefferies, and Assistant Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Khoury Ashoosh also participated to provide an administration perspective.
Panelists stressed the differences between a historically black sorority and white Greek organizations. Historically black sororities tend to focus more on service than on social life.
"These organizations are different from a lot of stereotypes out there about sororities," panelist Ashley Moore '07 said. "They are open and inclusive organizations that sponsor the intellectual, spiritual, all sorts of growth for women." The student leaders believe that having a historically black sorority on campus will increase the participation of minority women on the Court.
"When I was a freshman and I came in and visited the houses on the Court, just because of the small number of minorities on the Court. I felt like my only place was the BSC," panelist Anna Marie Glaize '08 said.
Although the leaders of the initiative want their own organization, they intend to cosponsor service and social events with eating houses. They have already met with eating house presidents and made presentations at house meetings to establish a cooperative relationship.
"They want to be involved in eating houses," Hamm said. "They want to be an active part of the Patterson Court community. They're not going to exist by themselves. My hope is that [a historically black sorority] is going to integrate the Court."
The historically black sorority would be subject to the same rules as the other PCC organizations. Representatives would be required to attend PCC meetings, and the president would also meet with Hamm.
According to supporters of the initiative, a historically black sorority would do more than just increase diversity on the Court.
Jefferies stressed that participation in the organization would help student even after they graduated from Davidson.
"When you look at the role models for students of color, we're not very free flowing on this campus," Jefferies said. "An organization would not only provide instant role modeling. We're talking about a network that can go way beyond Davidson."
Hamm also believes that a historically black sorority would increase leadership opportunities on campus.
"These organizations run almost like a business," Hamm said. "It's [a leadership position] a tremendous asset to have on your resume after you graduate from college."
Ashoosh spoke from an admissions perspective and described the sorority initiative as a "manifestation of what we promote Davidson to be."
"I think that one thing this type of organization might bring to campus is to show in another way how Davidson is changing, how Davidson is opening up," Ashoosh said.
The panel followed a 24-2 vote in support of a historically black sorority by the Patterson Court Council (PCC) on Monday night.
The initiative will next go before the Committee on Campus and Religious Life (CCRL). If it passes through the CCRL, President Bobby Vagt will make the final decision on whether to bring the sorority to campus. If the initiative is approved, the college will follow the process it used to bring the historically black fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha to campus two years ago.
Representatives from the four historically black sororities will be invited to campus to give presentations.
Students will be encouraged to attend these presentations and give feedback on which organization they think fits best at Davidson.
A committee comprised of students, administration, and faculty will then decide which sorority to invite to campus.
There are many challenges in the process, however.
"It's not automatic that you will get approval from national offices to get an organization," Jefferies said. "They scrutinize the campus very heavily."
The small number of minority students on campus, as well as other factors such as grades and interest level among students, may discourage a Greek organization from coming to Davidson.
Leaders of the historically black fraternity initiative went through a 15 year process before Alpha Phi Alpha was finally established on campus.
The students involved in the sorority initiative are optimistic about the future. Although they have experienced some backlash, they have received more support than they expected.
"It's definitely an uphill battle, but we're encouraged by the support on campus," panelist Whitney White '08 said. - Publisher
- Davidson College.
- Language
- English.
- Source
- The Davidsonian.
- Subject
- Sororities.
- Site pages
- Sororities
Part of "Panel held to discuss black sorority." The Davidsonian, October 26, 2005.