The Student Newspaper of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Volume XVI, Number 27
Charlotte, North Carolina
Thursday, November 10, 1980
Hazing?
Line Walking Precludes Sororities Admission To Panhellenic
By Chip Wilson
Carolina Journal Staff Writer
The rhythmic chanting and three-
steps ahead, two-back cadence of
black women pledging into UNCC
sororities may be an expression of sis
terhood but it garners no respect
Photo by Debbie Miller
■ ledges of one of UNCC’s black sororities express sisterhood but lack support from Panhellenic
Maxwell Loses Bid
By Kevin Lyons
Carolina Journal Stan Writer
Bertha Maxwell, Dir
ector of Afro-American
end African Studies at
UNCC, lost her bid to be
the first black woman
elected to the North
Carolina House of
Representatives in the
November 6 elections.
In a close race, Max-
well finished ninth with
only eight positions
open.
Maxwell has been a
member of the UNCC
faculty for 11 years, and
was responsible for the
development of the Af ¬
from an organization of female Greek
societies.
Initiation and rushing practices of
traditionally Black sororities pre
cludes their admission to the Pan
hellenic Council, a national organiza-
ro-American and Afri
can Studies program.
Maxwell said she deci
ded to run for the office
because “there is a miss
ing dimension in the
structure of the delega
tion.” She cited the fact
(Continued On Page 3)
tion with a chapter at UNCC.
The refusal to accept sororities
practicing “walking in a line” for
pledges provoked heavy questioning
from the Student Legislature when
Panhellenic’s charter was renewed.
Officers answered the queries, saying
that a national policy determined that
the marching was a form of hazing.
The legislature was not
overwhelmingly satisfied. The secon
dary charter was approved with 17
favoring and 14 opposing it.
For Delta Sigma Theta, one sorori
ty excluded, walking in a line is a na
tional tradition according to presi
dent Anita Powell. “They can go to
Barber-Scotia or any college that has
a chapter and find that they have the
same tradition.”
Powell stressed that while the line
march was an expression of unity
among the pledges, “it is their choice
to do it or not to.” After asking if any
pledges who did not march were selec
ted as sisters, she said, “Well, I would
not say that we have any members
that did not (walk in the line.)”
The Delta Sigma Theta believes the
motive for not accepting the groups
Resident Students
Petition PFM Service
By Teresa Skipper
Carolina Journal News Editor
Several students have
banded together trying
to get as many dorm
students as possible to
sign a petition against
Professional Food Man
agement (PFM).
The group plans to get
all dorm students within
two percent to sign the
petition. After the sig
natures are obtained the
petition will be
presented to Chancellor
Fretwell.
that practice walking in a line is that
“they really don’t want Black sorori
ties on Panhellanic.” However, she
said she did not want to term the
policy as “racist.”
Nationally, Delta Sigma Theta is
affiliated with another panhellenic
organization.
The female Greek organizations
comprising the UNCC Panhellenic
Council are Delta Zeta, Zeta Tau
Alpha and Alpha Delta Pi.
Ruth Palmer, a regional advisor for
the Panhellenic Council, explained
why the Black sororities were not al
lowed on the UNCC chapter.
“Our rules clearly state that there
will be no hazing. It is childish and
dangerous. We will not have any part
of it.”
Pressed for a response to charges of
racial prejudice, Palmer said: “I’m
sure that if you talked with the
national presidents of these (black
Greek) organizations, they would tell
you they feel the way we do (concern
ing line march initiation.)
“We have more important things to
do than to have girls making fools out
of themselves in front of everybody.”
The students behind
the petition think PFM
holds a monopoly on
campus. If the new cafe
teria near Phase III and
IV is operated by PFM
it will make the sixth on
campus. There is a rule,
however, against having
more than one food ser
vice on campus. And
PFM has recently
renogotiated their con
tract which will extend
through May of 1984.
(Continued On Page 2)
photo by Bob Henderson
Bucko