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Sounds Greek to me<\/div>\n

<\/p><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

University students tend to segregate into various social groups soon upon arrival, and one would be hard pressed to think of of two groups farther apart on the social spectrum than Muslims and members of the Greek (fraternity & sorority) system. Some in the two groups have for years cast curious eyes at each other, with some Muslims seeing a benefit in a close-knit support group, and some Greeks seeing Muslims as a way to diversify their houses and clean up their hard-partying reputation. While Muslims have joined<\/a> traditional fraternities and sororities for years, a group of Muslim women have taken the step of creating Gamma Gamma Chi<\/a> \u2013 the first Islamic sorority in the US. \u201cAs a Muslim who dresses modestly and does not drink, I wouldn\u2019t want to set myself apart from the people I was pledging with,\u201d explained<\/a> 34-year old Imani Abdul-Haqq, a business administration major at Guilford College in Greensboro who started the sorority. \u201cI want to feel the unity.\u201d Open to both Muslims and non-Muslims who are ready to reconcile the benefits of sorority life while keeping with Islamic law, the sorority hopes<\/a> to have chapters across the country within the next ten years. Members will have to maintain a minimum GPA, commit themselves to living a non-traditional Greek life (i.e. no hazing, partying, etc.), and commit to the sorority motto (\u201cStriving for the pleasure of Allah through sisterhood, scholarship, leadership and community service\u201d) during their membership. The sorority comes complete with secret handshake and a line of Greek accessories in official green-and-purple color schemes. Some Muslims have complained<\/a> about the new endeavor (\u201cAll these sororities sound very good on paper,\u201d explains<\/a> Jacksonville MSA President Tahir Rajab. \u201cBut partying is what they are known for.\u201d), but the sorority has also received interest from overseas. \u201cI dearly hope the sorority will have a chapter of its own in Pakistan someday,\u201d said<\/a> Karachi freshman Hina Aman. \u201cSororities can, I believe, bring a big change in our society.\u201d Next for the sorority: take part in campus \u201cRush Weeks\u201d to grow membership and apply for membership in national Greek organizations. \u201cPart of our purpose is visibility,\u201d says<\/a> sorority president Althia Collins. \u201cWe want to show Muslim women as they really are. We want to write our own story.\u201d <\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.\n<\/p>\n

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