University of Alabama students and faculty march to end racial segregation in their Greek system.
The marchers made their way to the university library to the administration building, where the president's office is located, according to the Associated Press. The group held a large banner that read "Last stand in the schoolhouse door", as they rallied in front the of administrative building to end racism against potential pledges in their Greek system.
It began when the school's newspaper, The Crimson White, exposed a sorority for denying a recruit to potentially pledge and become a member of the sorority. According to the University's student publication, it was not the students who did not want her in Alpha Gamma Delta, but certain alumnae who voted against the black student.
On paper the unnamed female recruit had all the credentials sororities would be fighting for: she had a 4.3 GPA in high school, was her class salutatorian, was active in sports, and much more. However, it wasn't enough for some to look past the color of her skin.
"People are too scared of what the repercussions are of maybe taking a black girl," Alpha Gamma Delta member Melanie Gotz told The Crimson White. "That's stupid, but who's going to be the one to make that jump? How much longer is it going to take till we have a black girl in a sorority? It's been years, and it hasn't happened."
The story caught the attention of national headlines, and many students pushed for change, which is why the President Judy Bonner decided it was time for change in a video statement.
"This time it is because our Greek system remains segregated and chapter members admit that during the recruitment process that ended a few weeks ago decisions were made based on race," Bonner said. "While we will not tell any group who they must pledge, the University of Alabama will not tolerate discrimination of any kind."
And Bonner has encouraged the Greek community to add more recruits by increasing the pledge maximum to 360 people.
