Sorority Discrimination During Rush Alleged

Sorority Discrimination During Rush Alleged

Student Stephanie Davis alleges that she was racially discriminated against while trying to rush the Sigma Kappa sorority. A member of Sigma Kappa defended that the "local chapter was not limited by the national on grounds of race, color, or creed" in a discussion regarding the alleged discrimination at the student discussion held in Proctor Lounge. When Davis Contacted the Dean of the College, Dennis O'Brien, he responded that he "felt 'persuaded' from conversations with Dean of Women Elizabeth B. Kelly that there was de facto discrimination in the national. The College would 'encourage' the local to work within the national to change policies, rather than act against the local. However, if no changes are made in the national and if the local chapter decides to remain in the national organization, the College will 'have to act.'"

Volume 63, Number 24

The Campus Editorial Board

The Campus

5/9/1968

Stephanie Davis '71
Dennis O'Brien- Dean of the College
Elizabeth B. Kelly- Dean of Women

"According to Miss Davis' account: The two members said her entrance into the sorority would be forbidden by the sorority's national constitution but were not more specific. They stated that, to their knowledge, there were no Negroes in any Sigma Kappa chapter and that Miss Davis would be the first. The two members also mentioned that many of the sister chapters were in the south and said they felt a responsibility to them... Also, the two women from Sigma Kappa expressed fears that the local chapter might be expelled from the national before the local chapter could explain its decision to admit a Negro."