UCSB Sorority Members Revolt Over Alleged Exclusion of Women of Color

Members of the Alpha Phi sorority at the University of California, Santa Barbara, have staged a revolt, alleging that an outside recruitment adviser systematically excluded women of color from the fall recruitment process. The accusations sparked outrage among sorority sisters, who claim that both prospective members and existing sisters from diverse backgrounds were unfairly targeted.

The controversy began in late September during the sorority's annual rush period. Approximately 1,200 hopefuls initially participated. After the first round of recruitment on Sept. 26, sorority members were reportedly asked to leave while outside representatives, including a volunteer recruitment adviser, reviewed candidates. When the sisters returned, the pool of prospective members had reportedly dwindled to about 250.

"There was a large and noticeably diverse group of women who were missing from the pool of potential new members that had returned," said chapter president Alana Nielsen, according to the Daily Nexus. Members also expressed confusion given that they had been informed that about 90% of potential recruits wished to return.

Existing sisters of color also reported being sidelined. Sky Achola, a Black member and third-year political science major, stated she was removed from the recruitment schedule on Sept. 27, and that "pretty much all the women of color in my family system, except for my ‘little,’ who was white, were pulled from all the rounds." Achola eventually rejoined one recruitment round after other members raised concerns.

Frustration escalated when Nielsen attempted to schedule a chapter-wide meeting to discuss the issues, but was allegedly told by an outside representative that a discussion was unnecessary and the day should end on a "happy note."

Instead, Nielsen convened an impromptu meeting in the chapter room. "Girls [were] standing up screaming... It [was] like a revolution happening right now. Like standing up, crying, screaming, and I had never felt so empowered," recruitment director Emerson Novosel told the Daily Nexus. Sisters reportedly accused the outside leadership of betraying the chapter's values.

Following the confrontation, chapter leaders met with the remaining international representatives and learned that the volunteer adviser had been solely responsible for deciding which candidates advanced and which sisters participated in recruitment groups. The adviser was subsequently removed from her position.

"It had [become] so disgustingly clear how it was just manipulation, just blatant manipulation to every part of the process with whatever her hidden agenda is," Novosel stated.

The controversy gained traction on social media platforms like Yik Yak. On Oct. 1, members released a collective statement via an anonymous Instagram account, vowing to pursue change from within. "We have chosen to remain in the recruitment process because we believe that our members have the power to create meaningful change from within," the statement read.

Alpha Phi International dispatched representatives from its health, wellness, and accountability department to meet with chapter members, including on Oct. 5. The chapter is now collecting statements and advocating for a reform of recruitment procedures.

"We were extremely hurt by this entire thing. We were discriminated against. We were tokenized. We were used," Achola told the Daily Nexus.

Despite the turmoil, Alpha Phi proceeded with recruitment and met its quota. It remains unclear if women allegedly excluded earlier could still be invited through informal bidding processes. Nielsen indicated that repairing the chapter's relationship with its national leadership would be a long process.