Uni of Alabama all-white sororities win right to remain racist after rejecting two applicants for being black

27 student senators block bill from reaching public vote, just 5 in favour

Resolution called for 'complete integration of Greek letter fraternities'

Uproar over ruling more than half century after first black student admitted

Racism has been condoned at the University of Alabama as all-white sororities win their fight to ban black students from applying.

A group of 27 student senators blocked a bill to fully integrate fraternities at the establishment from reaching a public vote, with just five in favour, and two abstentions.

It has sparked outrage as critics blast the 'backwards' state of student societies more than half a century after the university first granted black students entry.

Uproar: Student senators at the University of Alabamahave been blasted for voting 27 to five, with two abstentions, against racial integration within fraternities

The conflict emerged after the student newspaper Crimson White published an article last year reporting all-white groups had accepted two black applicants.

The paper reported that Pan-hellenic society members blamed their alumni for 'stepping in' despite their attempts to back the student's application.



Since 1963, only one black student had been permitted entry into the Greek system, so-called because each 'frat' is named after a letter of the Greek alphabet.

Another mixed race student was granted a place, but it is claimed they did not reveal their race until they had been accepted.

Tabling a motion to integrate students in sororities last September, university president Judy Bonner said: 'I am confident that we will achieve our objective