Of that 48%, how many received a bid? And of those (out of state women) that did receive a bid, did they have some sort of tie to the university?

As an example, I have family and high school friends who attend Alabama yet currently live out of state. Their children are in-house legacies to chapters at Alabama. Now I understand that there is no guarantee that they would receive a bid, however, I would venture to guess that they *might* have a leg up over those women who have no tie to the university.

Machine? What machine? There's no Machine at Bama!!!


Sorry gang, it's Friday and I'm feeling punchy.

Actually, a higher percentage of out of state recieved bids than in-state women. It's less than 1/2 a percent difference but still. The closer the state to Alabama the better the girl does. Obviously friends and ties to the university help.

wait. so does this mean that UA Panhellenic has decided they are open for expansion? have they invited anyone for presentations?

isn't it possible that they would want to open two houses at the same time, as they did with GPhiB and SK in the 80's, so as to prevent one house from being the "new kid" on the block? and while Alpha Phi would be an excellent addition to the Alabama greek community, I think UA is looking for somethings a little more traditionally southern

through the rumor mill from my chapter president from our national advisors I've heard that Delta Gamma would not be presenting, at least not until spring '09. though who knows if thats true.

The University's PH invites groups to present. Since Alabama hasn't invited anyone yet, Delta Gamma has no idea whether they will present in Spring 09 or at any other time. You go when you get the call....not the other way around.

But DG certainly could make an internal decision that they are not interested in presenting until then...

Well, a group could decide not to present when invited to do so...but they can't say we'll present in '09 if the university wants someone in '08. Or they could say they'd rather wait until whenever but the decision ultimately rests with the University about when to proceed with expansion, not the GLO.

From what I have heard, they want to bring one on in fall of '08 and one in fall of '09.

IMHO, UA should have done more to help SDT, that way UA would only have to bring one sorority on. I have a sinking feeling that if two are brought on that quickly, one won't survive. So many have come and gone at UA. :(

Do you think the rise in out of state admissions might make a difference?

A difference in a new chapter making it? No. The culture at UA is that tradition is key, and tradition = older. So a new chapter is always fighting an uphill battle. SK and GPhiB were faced with this in 1988, and only GPhiB survived. How GPhiB has thrived to this point? I don't know the exact recipe, but I know having members who are very involved in campus activities, who reach out to other Greeks, and who embrace UA's tradition, along with Internationals firmly backing the chapter, has helped.

That's pretty interesting because only 5 NPCs have never been at Alabama - Sigma Sigma Sigma, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Sigma Tau, Theta Phi Alpha, and Phi Sigma Sigma. Considering the capital investment and the alumnae support needed, I don't know if Bama would be able to convince 2 out of that 5 to colonize.

ASA has a chapter at U of West Alabama and one at Austin Peay in Nashville TN, but that's about it. Our U of Southern Miss chapter closed like 15 years ago.

I've been wrong before, but I'm pretty sure we won't be pursuing this one. We don't have the resources or the Southern connections. SSS is the only one of the 5 that I think could MAYBE do it, and they've got their hands full with Mizzou.

Definitely interesting. There aren't any Theta Phi chapters in Alabama. Even if there were, though, I'd be curious about the financial feasability---it sounds like an absolutely enormous undertaking and our recent extensions have been to much smaller schools with less prohibitive entry costs.

Disclaimer: I'm not a National Officer or anything, just an interested alum who's speculating.

ETA: We do have 3 chapters in Florida.

Alpha Sigma Tau has a chapter [Gamma Gamma] at the University of West Alabama, as well as two chapters in Georgia (AASU and Ogelthorpe U), and three chapters in Tennessee.

I'd be interested to see us try to colonize there. I'd be interested in AST colonizing a lot more than we are overall.

ETA: AFAIK, we only have two colonies out right now [one in Jersey, where my grand-big is taking a national little :) and one in TX).

I think the recipe that GPhiB followed was perfect. Really, any new chapter at any school should follow that and of course at the Southern schools more so than others. I think having members who are involved with other aspects of the University and Community are huge as well. I would also gather having strong chapters at other SEC schools helps out as well. I also think having colony members who are strong already on campus helps out as well. Those upper classmen they pick for the colony who are already in Student Body, Athletics, Cheer, Honor Clubs, etc can really help form a chapter's identity early on.

But that's just what I think!