(CNN) — Two African-American women who accepted offers last week to pledge Greek organizations at the University of Alabama were still receiving congratulations Monday, three days after the university announced that historically white sororities on campus had extended bids to minority students.
The school had been under fire after an article in the campus newspaper claimed that several sororities on campus had denied membership opportunities to black students because of their race. After nearly two weeks of nationwide scrutiny of the recruitment process, the school announced it would offer an ongoing open bidding process, meaning new members can be added at any time during the semester.
On Friday, University of Alabama President Judy Bonner said the university’s historically white sororities offered 72 bids, through which 11 black women and three other minority women were invited to pledge. Bonner said four black women and two women representing other minority groups have accepted. News outlets Friday identified two of them as Halle Lindsay, who joined joined Alpha Gamma Delta, and Cami McCant who joined Kappa Alpha Theta.
Sorority members trumpeted the news on social media sites Friday, with many posting congratulatory messages.
The congratulations continued on Monday. “Such an inspiration and I hope that your sisters make the rest of your college years amazing!” a user tweeted to Lindsay, who thanked her.
“From all of your sisters at @ThetaWFU — Welcome HӨME!” posted another Twitter user to an account appearing to belong to McCant.
In a groundbreaking video message last week, Bonner called the bids the first step toward removing barriers in the sorority system.
“I am confident that we will achieve our objective of a Greek system that is inclusive, accessible and welcoming to students of all races and ethnicities. We will not tolerate anything less,” she said.
Bonner also said the university “will continue to make progress” and “do the right thing, for the right reason, the right way.”
