A racism controversy has sparked an internal revolt at a prominent California sorority, with members walking out and prospective recruits warning others to avoid the chapter.
The turmoil at the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Alpha Phi house has spilled onto social media, where criticism intensified soon after last month’s recruitment season ended.
By late September, Alpha Phi’s page on GreekRank, a popular platform for fraternity and sorority reviews, had been flooded with one-star posts accusing the chapter of fostering widespread racism.
Several anonymous reviewers urged potential recruits to reconsider joining, describing a hostile atmosphere and pointing to walkouts allegedly organized in protest of the treatment of women of color.
One late-September review, which has collected 269 upvotes, cautioned incoming students: “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.”
A second post, receiving 213 upvotes, delivered a similar message: “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 online backlash follows a deeply troubled fall recruitment period at the party-focused university. According to the allegations, active members discovered that many prospective minority candidates had been removed from consideration, while existing members of color were pushed away from key recruitment responsibilities.
The dispute intensified after an outside recruitment adviser working with representatives from Alpha Phi International was accused of taking control of the chapter’s selection process without members’ knowledge.
Following the first round of cuts on September 26, the number of potential recruits fell from approximately 1,200 to 250. Active sisters said they were alarmed to see numerous highly rated candidates from diverse backgrounds disappear from the process without an explanation.
At the same time, several active members of color were reportedly excluded from recruitment events. Sky Achola, a Black Alpha Phi member, said that almost every woman of color in her family group had been removed from recruitment duties.
“Honestly, I felt sick to my stomach,” Alpha Phi President Alana Nielsen said, describing her reaction to the pattern. “I couldn’t imagine letting the day end without giving our members an opportunity to speak.”
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National representatives reportedly suggested ending recruitment on a positive note with a dance party. Nielsen rejected that idea and instead called for a chapter-wide meeting to address the growing anger.
The gathering quickly became a confrontation.
Inside the sorority house, members cried, shouted and challenged visiting officials, demanding answers about why so many diverse candidates had allegedly been eliminated.
Emerson Novosel, the chapter’s recruitment director, said the scene felt “like a revolution happening right now.”
“Once one woman stood up, it empowered others to do the same,” Nielsen said. “That was incredibly powerful to witness.” The outside adviser at the center of the dispute left her position soon afterward.
Although national officials offered emotional support, Nielsen said the chapter would not accept symbolic gestures or a public-relations response in place of meaningful action.
“Moving forward doesn’t mean moving on without accountability,” she said.
The allegations and internal uprising at the UCSB chapter stand in stark contrast to Alpha Phi International’s stated commitments.
The sorority’s national website prominently features its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, including required programs titled “Stand Together” and “Understanding Self and Others.”
According to the national organization, these initiatives are designed to guide advisers and shape recruitment toward an inclusive, anti-racist environment.
However, active members in Santa Barbara say those corporate policies failed on the ground when rush got underway.
UCSB has since condemned discrimination in a statement to The Post.
“Discrimination is not tolerated at the university. Reports of discrimination are investigated by the university’s Office of Discrimination and Harassment Prevention and referred to Student Conduct as appropriate,” a university spokesperson said.
