There is a common misconception that Greek life is only for a specific demographic; that you must look and act a certain way in order to be a sorority sister. Alexandria Richard, ’27, knows how harmful these stereotypes can be first hand, so she is now the Pan-Hellenic Council Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to try to make a difference. Richard hosted the first of what she hopes to be many DEI events at Grounds for Change, Thursday, Oct. 30.
“I do want to change that trajectory of what sorority life is supposed to look like because even with me there aren’t many — there’s not much diversity in sorority life here,” Richard said during in an interview with The Campus following her talk. “I feel like I want to change that idea and that stigma that a sorority is only for a certain demographic of girls, a certain look or a certain race of people, and just let people know that anyone can join no matter your gender, your sexuality, your religion, your race, ethnicity, whatever it may be — that you are welcome to join Greek life and you will be welcomed, included and comfortable in this space.”
During the event, Richard wanted to create a safe space where everyone could come together to learn more about DEI and discuss difficult topics and discuss ways DEI can be applied not only to recruitment and Greek life but also to everyday lives. Richard described DEI as diversity; the presence of different backgrounds, identities and perspectives; equity; providing fair access to those that have barriers and other challenges and giving them fair access to those opportunities; and inclusion, creating spaces where everyone feels valued and supported.
“DEI is really important in any context,” Richard said during her presentation. “It doesn’t have to just be recruitment or anything with sorority life in general; it can be put out into the world just as being a very inclusive, respectful and mature person to other people. In the PanHel context, it’s building a community that values respect and all kinds of different identities and experiences within PanHel, and we want fairness and access in chapter practices and recruitment. We create spaces where every member feels genuine and also belongs in our sisterhood.”
One of the ways Richard encouraged a better understanding of how DEI can be applied to sororities or life in general was through a group activity where members of the crowd could discuss different scenarios and share their ideas and experiences.
“I thought it was very helpful and educational in a good way to dive into harder topics in a way that was a bit easier to palate and swallow,” said Molly Suppo, ’27, a member of Alpha Delta Pi who was in attendance. “This event taught me about some scenarios that I might not have previously thought of that are good things to keep in mind and challenge myself to be able to handle.”
During this open discussion, Richard shared why DEI is so important to her and why these conversations are valuable.
“Being in a white sorority, people are like, ‘Oh, why are you hanging out with white girls? Why are you doing this? Why are you doing that?’” Richard, who is Black, said. “People still have that, like, stuck kind of mindset thinking that it’s only for this certain group and that’s not what it is. It’s supposed to be a diverse group that is made for any and everyone which is why DEI is something that really needs to be implemented into every single space.”
One of the ways Richard plans on encouraging DEI in Greek life is with her “Dive into DEI” plan that she created alongside Alpha Delta Pi Director of Inclusion Reagan White, ’28. With this plan, sorority members are encouraged to attend different cultural and diversity clubs across campus — such as Black Girl Magic, Queer Student Union and Association of Caribbean Students — in order to get points that can result in rewards such as a GFC voucher. “Just going to those kinds of events and showing your support for those kinds of people will let other people know, ‘You know what? It might not just be only for this certain kind of demographic. It might not just be for this person. It might not be for just that person, I could join it too.’ And that’s how we make that change every single day,” Richard said during the event. “Letting other people know sorority life is for everyone, having a community and that sense of comfort and safety with other people that are like you is for you, it can be for anyone. Just letting everyone know that this is a space that anything can join, no matter your age, your gender, your religion or ethnicity, whatever it may be. Just letting those people know that this is your place, this could be your place, letting them have that potential idea that they could be here one day too.”
Alpha Delta Pi member Natalie Anderson, ’28, saw the value of what Richard was encouraging. During an interview following the event, Anderson shared how she plans to continue weaving DEI into her life.
“I think through trying to communicate with others who I don’t normally talk to either in my sorority or outside my sorority, outside of Greek life in general and just kind of, like, interacting with new people and just understanding where they’re coming from and their life experiences and learning from them and helping not only them but me,” Anderson said.
Building a sense of community for everyone is also important to Anderson’s fellow Alpha Delta Pi sister Suppo, as she knows how much a feeling of belonging can matter.
“I believe in making a community where people feel included,” Suppo said. “I have not always felt included prior to college, and joining Greek life, I have felt included, and I want to continue that for people for years to come.”
With the first DEI event under her belt, Richard is ready to continue the conversation and grow a campus-wide understanding of the impact that diversity, equity and inclusion can have on everyone’s lives.
“I feel like this conversation was really needed to help educate those other people and just have them have, like, a listening ear like have them understand if they were thinking about these kinds of situations happening in like their sororities,” Richard said, “That they could say, like, ‘Oh she is making that kind of effort more this forward and make it a better place for everyone.”
