Sororities at Gettysburg College During the Haaland Era, 1990-2004

From 1990 to 2004, Gettysburg College’s Greek system dominated student social life and, due to its prominence (and notoriety), attracted the attention of not only students but also faculty and administration during the era of President Gordon A. Haaland. Although fraternities were often the more influential and problematic Greek organizations on campus, Gettysburg’s sororities played a major role in the lives of female students -- offering women a chance to join a community of other women, participate in philanthropy events, and engage in Greek social life. Throughout the Haaland era, Gettysburg’s sororities consisted of a combination of Sigma Kappa, Alpha Xi Delta, Alpha Delta Pi, Chi Omega, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, and Sigma Sigma Sigma. During the 14 years, some of these sororities were added, some disappeared, and all witnessed a reduction in membership by the end of Haaland’s presidency. Some sororities had more problematic reputations than others or hazed new members, but sororities were not often perceived as negatively as fraternities were by college faculty and administration -- primarily due to sororities’ lack of chapter houses. Nevertheless, sororities experienced the same administrative changes to Greek life that their male counterparts did, including three shifts in rush/pledge program timing. Beyond these broad changes, other transformations during the Haaland era were more specific to sororities, including the creation of new chapter rooms and the adoption of No Frills Rush

The Space They Take: Evaluating Historically White Fraternities through Critical Race Theory

Fraternities and sororities are not often thought of as the starting points for social justice education, especially not historically White fraternities and sororities. In this paper, I outline the missions and values of a select group of historically White fraternities to better understand the foundation from which they are starting their organization. I give an overview of Critical Race Theory (CRT) that gives context for how critical race theory can work in higher education. I conclude with recommendations for reworking historically White fraternities with a CRT lens; recommendations are written for national organizations and students, and then for professional staff working with fraternities and sororities, especially historically White fraternities

Intersectional Value? A Pilot Study Exploring Educational Outcomes for African American Women in Historically Black Sororities versus Non-Historically Black Sororities.

The purpose of this pilot study was to initially explore if there is value added in terms of educational outcomes for Black women involved in historically Black sororities by comparing them to Black women involved in non-historically Black sororities, given the racial-gender support historically Black sororities offer. Main findings suggest Black women involved in historically Black sororities were more socially involved than Black women involved in non-historically Black sororities. The article closes with implications for practice and future research

Intersectional Value? A Pilot Study Exploring Educational Outcomes for African American Women in Historically Black Sororities Versus Non-Historically Black Sororities

The purpose of this pilot study was to initially explore if there is value added in terms of educational outcomes for Black women involved in historically Black sororities by comparing them to Black women involved in non-historically Black sororities, given the racial-gender support historically Black sororities offer. Main findings suggest Black women involved in historically Black sororities were more socially involved than Black women involved in non-historically Black sororities. The article closes with implications for practice and future research

Sororities

\u27Judy McHoffey, president of the Panhellenic Council at MSU, presents scholarship trophy to Bobbi Jean Nowel\u27https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/ua-photo-collection/1314/thumbnail.jp

Exploring How Popular Media Affects the Motivations and Hesitations of Women Who Go Through Sorority Recruitment at the University of Southern Mississippi

Fraternity and sorority life is an important part of many college students’ experiences. Sororities provide college women with many opportunities for leadership, service, academics, and growth. Even though sororities have many benefits, they often have negative connotations in popular and social media. Often, these negative stereotypes affect people’s perception of sororities, and many women have hesitations about joining a sorority because of the way sororities are portrayed. Sorority women express concern with the media’s negative representation of Greek life. The negative connotations affect how people see the sororities. Recruitment of new women into the chapters is an important part of sorority life. Exploring how popular media affects the motivations and hesitations of women who go through sorority recruitment at the University of Southern Mississippi will help the sororities grow in the future and work on positively portraying themselves on social media. Current sorority women at USM were interviewed to learn about their hesitations and motivations to go through recruitment. Fifteen women were interviewed. Friendships, opportunities, and involvement were some of their motivations. The hesitations ranged from how people viewed them, whether they would fit in, negative stereotypes associated with them, and more. They also weighed in on how sororities can work towards a positive image on social media. Only one out of the fifteen women suggested that sororities were represented positively in the media, and the other fourteen women thought they were represented negatively. They all wanted sororities to be shown in the positive way that they see them

A Qualitative Exploration of White Women in Historically Black Sororities at Predominately White Institutions in the Midwest

The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify factors that influence White women\u27s participation in historically Black sororities at predominately White universities in the Midwest and secondarily examine their overall sorority experiences. Four White female participants were utilized who were either a) members of international university-recognized sororities governed under the auspices of the NPHC or b) were members of international university-recognized sororities governed by the NPHC during their undergraduate years. Results from this study indicate the quality of sisterhood, existing chapter diversity, positive experiences with members and non-members, a shared value system with the sorority, and an aversion to National Panhellenic Conference member organizations influenced the participant\u27s desire for membership in historically Black sororities. Additionally, two factors were discussed that presented perceived barriers to White women\u27s participation in historically Black sororities: 1) membership questioned from outside the chapter and 2) feeling the need to prove oneself. According to the participants, they were highly involved, dedicated, and dependable members of historically Black sororities which in tum played an important role in their academic, social, and professional lives of the participants

MS-090: Interfraternity Council and Pan-Hellenic Council Records

The collection consists of correspondence, official minutes and other organizational details reviewing the activities of the Interfraternity Council and Pan-Hellenic Council, the two student coordinating bodies for the fraternities and sororities at Gettysburg College, from the 1930s - 1980s.https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/findingaidsall/1082/thumbnail.jp

Book Review: Garcia, C. E. & Duran, A. (2021). Moving Culturally-Based Sororities and Fraternities Forward. Peter Lang.

Historically white sororities and fraternities have had a major influence in the growth and development of [sorority and fraternity life (SFL)] offices, as well as the SFL communities on college camupuses…. SFL offices have traditionally centered around advising historically white NPC sororities and NIC fraternities. As such, many programs such as recruitment, awards and community events…. have been structured to serve and promote historically white sororities and fraternities (Garcia & Duran, 2021, p. 144)

A Qualitative Exploration of White Women in Historically Black Sororities at Predominately White Institutions in the Midwest

The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify factors that influence White women\u27s participation in historically Black sororities at predominately White universities in the Midwest and secondarily examine their overall sorority experiences. Four White female participants were utilized who were either a) members of international university-recognized sororities governed under the auspices of the NPHC or b) were members of international university-recognized sororities governed by the NPHC during their undergraduate years. Results from this study indicate the quality of sisterhood, existing chapter diversity, positive experiences with members and non-members, a shared value system with the sorority, and an aversion to National Panhellenic Conference member organizations influenced the participant\u27s desire for membership in historically Black sororities. Additionally, two factors were discussed that presented perceived barriers to White women\u27s participation in historically Black sororities: 1) membership questioned from outside the chapter and 2) feeling the need to prove oneself. According to the participants, they were highly involved, dedicated, and dependable members of historically Black sororities which in tum played an important role in their academic, social, and professional lives of the participants