University of Alabama

Student life

Greek life

Greek letter organizations first appeared at the University in 1847 when two men visiting from Yale University installed a chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon. When DKE members began holding secret meetings in the old state capitol building that year, the administration strongly voiced its disapproval. Over the next decade, three other fraternies appeared at Alabama: Phi Gamma Delta in 1855, Sigma Alpha Epsilon in 1856, and Kappa Sigma in 1857. Anti-fraternity laws were imposed in that year, but were lifted in 1890s. Eager to have a social organization of their own, women at the University founded the Zeta Chapter of Kappa Delta sorority in 1903. Alpha Delta Pi soon followed.

Related Topics:
Yale University - Delta Kappa Epsilon - Phi Gamma Delta - Sigma Alpha Epsilon - Kappa Sigma - Alpha Delta Pi

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The University today recognizes 48 social Greek letter organizations. Approximately 20 % of the UA undergraduate student population is a member of a social Greek organization. Fraternities and sororities are more than social clubs, however. A healthy spirit of competition among the different fraternities and sororities encourages members to excel in every aspect of college life. Greek individual and group grade point averages are regularly equal to or higher than those of the general student body, though in recent times the average fraternity grade point average has been lower than that of the average independent male. Additionally, Greek groups often engaged in extensive philanthropy and charitable activities. Three governing boards oversee the operations of the Greek organizations: the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the Panhellenic Association, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC).

Related Topics:
Interfraternity Council - Panhellenic Association - National Pan-Hellenic Council

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For the most part, however, Alabama's fraternities and sororities are segregated, with the IFC and Panhellenic Association comprising a so-called "white Greek system" with the NPHC forming the countering "minority Greek system." Whether this segregation is voluntary or forced is a matter of debate. However, integration of the Greek system has recently been slowly occurring. Gamma Phi Beta, a "white sorority," admitted its first black member in fall 2003, although a number of girls in the sorority quit among allegations of improper bidding procedures. The girl, however, did not remain in the sorority beyond that year.

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Greek-independent relations and the SGA

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Alabama is often described as a place where one can experience an "small college" atmosphere with "big university" amenities. And though the Alabama community is a peaceful and cohesive one for the most part, a thorn in the side of the University's pysche is the sometimes-tense relationship between the Greek community and non-Greek "independent" community.

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This divide most often flares up during the school's annual Student Government Association (SGA) elections. Historically, the SGA has been dominated by the so-called "white Greek system." A purported secretive group called the Machine, supposedly the local chapter of the secret society Theta Nu Epsilon, which is similar to the infamous Skull and Bones at Yale University is said to control the SGA elections.

Related Topics:
The Machine - Secret society - Skull and Bones - Yale University

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According to newspaper accounts and a documentary produced by the university shown on public television, the Machine has a long tradition at the University, dating back to the Machine's founding in 1914 by the late U.S. Senator Lister Hill, who also founded the Jasons Men's Senior Honorary and who served as the SGA's first president. Initially, only select fraternities were members; sororities were not offered membership until the 1970s. To this day, not all Greek letter organizations have been offered membership, and it is believed that over the years, some fraternities and sororities that were members have had their memberships revoked. It is believed that 90% of those who are put up for SGA office by the Machine go on to political careers in Alabama, Mississippi, or Louisiana. Alleged members include former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, current U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, former U.S. Senator Lister Hill, former U.S. Sen. John Sparkman, former Lt. Gov. Bill Baxley, and former State Democratic Chairman Bill Blount.

Related Topics:
Senator - The Machine - Alabama - Mississippi - Louisiana - Gov. - Don Siegelman - Richard Shelby

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Furthermore, SGA elections have been marred by violent assaults and death threats in the past, resulting in an FBI investigation, and turnout among independents remains low because of apathy. A Machine candidate is guaranteed several thousand votes, thus ensuring victory. Machine-backed candidates have won all but seven races for the SGA presidency since 1914, including wins against former Alabama Gov. George Wallace (a non-Machine candidate).

Related Topics:
FBI - George Wallace

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Student media

The Media Planning Board, sanctioned by the University, oversees the Office of Student Media which manages student-produced publications. All student publications are editorially independent of the University. The OSM oversees the production of one newspaper, one yearbook, and three scholarly publications.

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• The Crimson White is the student-produced newspaper. Published four times a week during the normal academic term and once-weekly during the summer term, the CW, as the newspaper is known, normally distributes 15,000 copies per publication.
• Corolla is the yearbook produced annually.