My Choice, My Fraternity, and My Engagement: Experiences of White Men in Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLO)

This qualitative study grounded in the theoretical framework and research of Alexander Astin’s Student Engagement Theory, with support from Critical Race Theory and Terrell Strayhorn’s work on Sense of Student Belonging, utilizes a methodological case-study approach with multiple units of analysis. In an effort to understand the choice, ownership, and engagement of White men who hold membership in Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLO), this study utilized the counter-narrative tenant presented and supported by Critical Race Theory to examine the racial identity and engagement of fraternity men from a pluralistic experience. Additionally, the researcher hypothesized that there is a special experience of White men who belong to the historical racially segregated fraternal organizations in America. What was learned was the sense of self-awareness participants had of their own racial identity, how it was portrayed as members of their respective fraternity. Additionally, this study highlighted the experiences of each man who from a point of privilege and majority as a White man and how that was translated when they became the minority population in and minority group. For all of the participants there was a sense of ownership and pride by each of their respective fraternity, a connection and commitment to the fraternity’s mission, purpose, values, and commitment to the community and members the fraternity supported.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor

Education

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Gray, Kourtney Prentice

• fraternities
• bglo
• case-study
• narrative
• crt
• qualitative
• white men
• sense of student belonging
• black men
• astin theory of student involvement
• critical race theory
• racial identity

Statement dc:rights

• withheld
• Secure the entire work for patent and/or proprietary purposes for a period of one year. Student has submitted appropriate documentation which states: During this period the copyright owner also agrees not to exercise her/his ownership rights, including public use in works, without prior authorization from LSU. At the end of the one year period, either we or LSU may request an automatic extension for one additional year. At the end of the one year secure period (or its extension, if such is requested), the work will be released for access worldwide.

Identifier

etd-06242015-134353
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/334

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.lsu.edu:gradschool_dissertations-1333