Greek Rush

And 8212; long before the first Gamma Gamma Chi rush in Maryland was over 8212; a student had politely interrupted to ask if they could break for maghrib, a sunset prayer. The students, draped in dark scarves, knelt to praise Allah in a hallway at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

These women came curious about a new kind of sorority, one that could change stereotypes of Muslim women, one based on Islamic beliefs: no drinking, no socialising with men.

Like Anwar, a freshman at Johns Hopkins University, most had never seriously considered going Greek. They8217;ve heard the stereotypes, such as keg parties with fraternity guys and, well, that8217;s plenty right there.

So they came to this new kind of rush, some covered head to toe in dark abayas, some with scarves pinned carefully around their heads and strappy four-inch heels, some with hair loose and jeans tight. Few of them fit into any easy cultural niche; they8217;ve been blending and balancing all their lives.

And some wondered whether this most American of college traditions might be too tricky to pull off. 8216;8216;I8217;m curious to see how that will be, that balance,8217;8217; Anwar said.

Greek life has changed dramatically from the days when wealthy, young white men drank gin and tonics on the verandahs of fraternity houses. As the mix of students at colleges gets ever more varied, so do their campus groups.

At schools nationwide there are Hispanic, Jewish, Indian and lesbian sororities 8212; and multicultural ones, sometimes formed in reaction to the others.

8216;8216;There are a lot of ways to be Greek,8217;8217; said Ron Binder, president of the Association of Fraternity Advisors, who said he8217;s seen an explosion of culturally based groups in recent years.

There isn8217;t, apparently, any other Islamic sorority or fraternity in the United States.

The idea for Gamma Gamma Chi started with Althia Collins, an educational consultant in suburban Washington, and her daughter Imani Abdul-Haqq, who wanted to pledge a sorority in North Carolina. When Abdul-Haqq walked in with her hijab, Collins said, 8216;8216;everyone looked at her like she had three heads.8217;8217;

Collins and her daughter, who became Muslim several years ago, thought sororities8217; emphasis on volunteering and leadership would make Muslim women more visible and help dispel stereotypes. And Collins, who was in a sorority in college, said she thinks the bonds are stronger and longer lasting than those formed in a club or dorm. So they dreamed up Gamma Gamma Chi, choosing letters, colors and such symbols as a water lily, for its ability to flourish in difficult surroundings.

The first chapter recently started in Atlanta. Applications are coming in from Rutgers in New Jersey. The next chapter could soon be in Maryland, most likely starting as a regional group with members from several schools.

Not everyone likes the idea. Collins has visited some places where she hung the banner, set out plates of grapes and cookies, explained the sorority8212;and no one has asked to join.

The national Muslim Student Association welcomes the effort, but some members of campus chapters disapprove. 8216;8216;Sororities are played out to be very exclusive,8217;8217; said Haleema Yahya, a senior at UMBC, explaining why she thinks Gamma Gamma Chi would be controversial.

Some people are skeptical just because the idea is new, said Misu Tasnim, a junior at Johns Hopkins. Some worry that the sorority sisters would splinter off the main Muslim student group. 8216;8216;And also because 8216;sorority8217; denotes drinking and dating and stuff,8217;8217; Tasnim said, 8216;8216;people are not sure how it will play into the Muslim ideals.8217;8217;

Or traditions. In the Muslim Student Association, 8216;8216;the guys have more say than the girls do, just because that8217;s how it is,8217;8217; said Narmin Anwar, Tasmim8217;s sister, who introduced the sorority idea. 8216;8216;This would be more for the girls, to have more of a leadership role.8217;8217;

Tasmim Anwar came to the meeting, her long, wavy hair uncovered, was hoping to find a middle ground between the stereotypes of Muslims and sorority girls, fearing the group might be too strict.

She had heard stories of sororities at Johns Hopkins. 8216;8216;My friends would go to rush events, stay up all night talking to each other, wear high heels,8217;8217; she said, half wistful, half laughing at herself. 8216;8216;That sounds like so much fun.8217;8217;

But this sounds like fun too. Since then she8217;s been telling her friends how cool Gamma Gamma Chi would be8212;already talking them up, maybe, for next year8217;s rush.

Collins told the students that they wouldn8217;t preach but would support one another in a society that often misunderstands them. She suggested activities such as practicing public speaking and helping one another memorize the 99 names of Allah.

Like most Greek organizations, Gamma Gamma Chi wouldn8217;t turn people away just because they8217;re different8212;it would be open to non-Muslims as well8212;and it would have social events for women.

But no drinking, clubbing or hooking up.

Lujain Said never considered Greek life until friends mentioned Gamma Gamma Chi. 8216;8216;I thought it was a great idea,8217;8217; she said, 8216;8216;to unite more Muslim women and get rid of some Muslim stereotypes.8217;8217; Yahya said, 8216;8216;We should step up into the light.8217;8217;