|
Washington File – June 21, 2006
Muslim sorority opens new doors to
American university women
By Steve Holgate
Washington -- Fraternities and sororities are an important part of student life on most American university campuses. These privately run clubs organized around common interests and activities provide students with leadership experience, social outlets, support groups, community service opportunities and housing options.
They offer a home-away-from-home for the roughly half million students who seek admittance and are selected by current members. Fraternity and sorority members are often active in campus affairs and maintain a lifelong social and professional network with other former members after graduation.
In some people's minds, the "Greek system" - so called because the houses are typically named with some combination of Greek letters - is synonymous with partying, but the system includes a huge variety of organizations, many of which encourage academic excellence and promote community service. A new national sorority founded on the principles of Islam seeks to build itself on that model.
Founded little more than a year ago, the Gamma Gamma Chi sorority has dedicated itself to giving young women the positive aspects of a sorority experience while maintaining Islamic traditions. While the group's core principles are Islamic, it opens its membership to all women, Muslim and non-Muslim, who support its mission….
http://usinfo.state.gov/mena/Archive/2006/Jun/21-260406.html
|
