On this episode of Ask NBN, Heather Budimulia takes a look at the Multicultural Greek Council – the lesser-known aspect of Greek life on campus. The Panhellenic Association (PHA) and Interfraternity Council (IFC) are the biggest councils for Greek life at Northwestern, but the MGC hosts several sororities and fraternities that are centered on different cultural identities. How does the MGC work with PHA and IFC, which are predominantly white and have been struggling with diversity in recruitment for years?
Thoughtful programming can help create the space for potential meaningful exchange. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s tricky navigating how MGC chapters can be integrated into the wider and more well-known Greek community. Sometimes, it can seem as though the multicultural Greek community is wary of being included to check a diversity box.
"I think that just in general there’s implicit segregation on this campus. The fact that, when will you ever see a white person walking into the Multicultural Center (MCC) or the Black House?" said Yoseline Huerta, a member of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority (LTA). "And I guess that there’s a feeling like, I don't belong in that space."