Alpha Phi at UC Santa Barbara slashed its recruitment pool from about 1,200 to 250 after an outside adviser took control, and members say women of color were pushed out.
Story Highlights
- Chapter leaders say an outside Alpha Phi International representative made key cuts without approval.
- Members reported women of color were dropped from rounds or sidelined from duties.
- The chapter removed the adviser and promised reforms after internal pushback.
- A member described almost every woman of color in her group getting cut from recruitment work.
Members Report Disparities And A Sudden, Massive Cut
Daily Nexus reporting says multiple Alpha Phi members noticed women of color being excluded from recruitment activities or placed in fewer rounds than white peers. The concern tied to a sharp cut on September 26, when the pool reportedly fell from roughly 1,200 prospective members to about 250. Members said the smaller pool looked less diverse. These are member accounts, not a public dataset, but they point to a pattern that triggered walkouts and internal dissent.
New York Post coverage named Sky Achola, a Black Alpha Phi member, who said nearly all women of color in her recruitment group were removed from duties. That on-record account added weight to the claims and fueled broader attention. Reports described members releasing a collective statement through an anonymous Instagram account, showing the anger came from within the chapter, not only from outside critics. The claims are serious and specific, and they came as the numbers in the process collapsed.
Chapter Says Outsider Drove Decisions, Adviser Removed
The chapter stated that critical recruitment decisions were made without the knowledge or approval of members or the executive board. Leaders said the person responsible was an outside Alpha Phi International representative who was reported and removed from her position immediately. That admission shows control problems inside sorority governance. It also signals that the chapter is trying to separate itself from the conduct while admitting real harm may have occurred during the cuts.
Chapter president Alana Nielsen said the event exposed a power imbalance between local chapters and national overseers. She said the chapter called a meeting, apologized to any prospective members who may have faced discrimination, and committed to change. She argued members stayed in recruitment to fix the process from within, not to excuse what happened. That stance aims to protect current sisters and future recruits while seeking accountability.
What We Know, What We Do Not, And Why It Matters
The facts show three anchors. First, members inside Alpha Phi raised the alarm, not just critics on social media. Second, a named member went public with details about women of color losing roles. Third, the chapter tied the key decisions to an outside adviser and says she is gone. What we do not have is a public, round-by-round dataset to confirm who was cut and why. That limits outside verification and leaves room for dispute.
UCSB Alpha Phi Members Accuse Recruitment Adviser of Discriminating Against Women of Color https://t.co/lWOnGTeYTA
— Edhat (@Edhat) October 16, 2026
Parents and students deserve fair rules, open records, and equal treatment. This case highlights a common campus problem: unaccountable bureaucrats and third-party handlers making life-changing calls behind closed doors. Transparent criteria and full logs of decisions would protect everyone. The chapter now says it will collect member statements and send them to Alpha Phi International. That next step should include releasing nonprivate records, so truth replaces rumor and trust can be rebuilt.
Sources:
nypost.com, newspress.com, extra.globo.com
