Alpha Phi Sorority at UC Santa Barbara Faces Uprising Over Alleged Racism
Furious members staged walkouts and recruits warned peers to avoid the chapter following allegations of discrimination during recruitment.
A scandal involving allegations of racism has erupted within the Alpha Phi sorority chapter at the University of California, Santa Barbara, leading to walkouts by members and warnings from potential recruits.
The backlash began in late September on the sorority ranking site GreekRank, where the UC Santa Barbara chapter received a wave of one-star reviews. Anonymous commenters cited widespread racism and a hostile environment, advising prospective members, particularly women of color, to avoid the chapter.
One widely upvoted post stated, "We’re literally having walk outs and other major issues because of racism during and before recruitment… NOT a good place for people of color or anyone who cares about them or their treatment." Another echoed, "The racism is crazy. do not recommend if ur a poc. needs to be held accountable. going against everything that greek life stands for here."
The internal conflict intensified during the fall rush period. Active members began to notice that high-scoring diverse candidates were seemingly being excluded from the selection process without explanation. Simultaneously, active sisters of color reported being sidelined and barred from recruitment duties. One Black sorority member, Sky Achola, stated that nearly all women of color in her family group were removed from recruitment responsibilities.
The situation came to a head after an outside volunteer recruitment adviser, working with national Alpha Phi International representatives, was accused of manipulating chapter selections. Following the first round of cuts on September 26, the pool of approximately 1,200 hopefuls was reduced to 250.
Alana Nielsen, President of the UC Santa Barbara Alpha Phi chapter, described the situation as deeply upsetting. When national representatives attempted to conclude rush with a celebratory event, Nielsen insisted on holding a mandatory chapter-wide meeting.
During this meeting, sisters confronted visiting corporate handlers, expressing anger and demanding an explanation for the exclusion of diverse candidates. Recruitment director Emerson Novosel characterized the atmosphere as a "revolution." Nielsen noted that one sister speaking up empowered others to voice their concerns. The volunteer adviser at the center of these allegations reportedly left her post shortly thereafter.
Alpha Phi International's national organization promotes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programming, including modules like "Stand Together" and "Understanding Self and Others," aiming to foster inclusive and anti-racist environments. However, members at the UC Santa Barbara chapter allege that these policies failed to prevent discriminatory practices during recruitment.
A university spokesperson stated that discrimination is not tolerated at UC Santa Barbara and that reports of discrimination are investigated by the university's Office of Discrimination and Harassment Prevention. Nielsen emphasized that for the chapter, moving forward means ensuring accountability, not simply moving on.