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September 9

Twilley walking along sorority row
On this date in 2001, the University of Alabama sorority system remained segregated. Melody Twilley, a junior at the University, was trying to become the first African-American to get accepted by a white sorority.

Twilley’s sorority rush counselor told her “You didn’t get asked back.” The school's top officials, civil rights leaders, and alumnae who dominate the politics and business in the state, had followed her progress through the rush selection process closely. Twilley sings in the school choir and carries a 3.87 grade point average.

The University of Alabama was the last college in the South where no black student has ever been accepted to a traditionally white fraternity or sorority. But in the spring of 2003, Gamma Phi Beta became the first Panhellenic sorority to accept an African-American member at the University. One of the largest and fastest-growing multicultural sororities in the nation, Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority, Inc., founded a chapter at the University. Also in 2003, Alpha Delta Sigma was founded at The University of Alabama. This was the first social sorority ever to be founded at the University, as well as the first sorority to emphasize diversity.

Reference:
The Associated Press
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