Pretty sure the university is providing, but I'm not sure where recruitment will take place. We will be participating in all rounds of recruitment, so I'm hoping we'll be in the house...

The way I understand it, The University is building. But it most likely will not be up for recruitment next year. So we will be recruiting outside the house for the initial colonization.

Disclaimer: I am not on the campus, nor was I part of the expansion presentation. So don't take my word as final. :)

I am not on the campus either--but I do have a big familiarity with the campus. My assumption is that the University would be building since it's University policy to own all the houses.

When expansion was attempted in 2005 (when I was a senior), it ultimately failed because at that point the University had not allocated the $$ to build a house. Panhellenic attempted extension without making sure that a house could be built... ultimately none of the groups wanted to expand to W&L without a comparable house on Frank Parsons Way, and there was no point in a group building a house if it would have to be turned over to the school.

So at that point expansion was basically abandoned and Panhellenic worked on getting the school to add an additional house as part of the strategic plan and big financial campaign that's upcoming.

So while I don't know if what you say is 100% correct either it sounds like it would be based on my experience and knowledge. :)

Where will you all hold recruitment if not in a house? At the Commons?

One thing I can confirm is that when the original five houses were built in 2000, they also had a plan drawn up for the 6th house--this has been in the works for a long time. I've seen the drawings for it before and it looked really pretty. :) Also y'all will have the best access to the parking garage! LOL

It's the sixth lot, actually. Verrrrrrrrry interesting. It could possibly be ready for January then maybe? Just maybe? I'll be back in Lexington for a wedding this summer I will have to wait and check it out then. :p

I am so impressed with this university's administration-heck, any university's administration, as they seem to be rather scarce-that realizes the importance of, and supports, Greek life.

My grandfather was Dean of my alma mater for years (retired just before I got to college) and was instrumental in pushing for the local organizations there to become part of national Greek organizations, back in 1968. The fraternities and sororities there are now an integral part of the campus, and they have gone from sorority lodges (provided by the campus) and fraternity houses scattered throughout the town to an impressive Greek row of both sorority and fraternity houses located right by the stadium.

W&L received two substantial alumni donations in '07, the larger being $100 million. That may have facilitated the 6th house being built on spec, so to speak. :)

That's true too. I think the major issue was just getting it on the agenda for the administration. They were going to be supportive but the first time around for whatever reason they weren't aware of the need until long after they should have been notified.

I think they're about to start a big capital campaign--there's already the Lenfest matching campaign going on now, but in the back of my mind I'm convinced that they're still gearing up for another one. Not sure.

if the house wasn't ready in january, do you think that would significantly hurt the new chapter during it's first year?

with a campus that is 80% greek i would imagine that is something that is very important?

though I'm sure they wouldn't have opened the campus for expansion again if they knew it really was important and it wasn't going to be ready for when recruitment began??

Here's my take on it. And this is said having no knowledge of when the new house is to be finished.

The reason that expansion never happened when there were presentations in 2005 was due to not having a house in the works. The groups realized that a suite of rooms in Gaines or even an unoccupied fraternity house would be in no way comparable to the current sorority houses.

I believe that if they did recruitment in January 2009 with assurance that the house would be open by September 2009 there would be no ill effect. The new members would not have a central spot to gather but other than that there wouldn't be a huge difference in the new member experience since freshmen at W&L don't eat or live in the houses. Where the disadvantage would be is if the house were NOT ready by September 2009. Since all upperclassmen eat their meals at the Greek houses, that is a HUGE attraction for new members--to have a place to eat lunch. Also most of the sorority houses are occupied by predominantly freshmen. W&L has a two-year housing requirement, and the sorority houses count as "on-campus," so they're pretty much the best housing a sophomore can get. This is another huge attraction...

that's just my $.02.

Congratulations ladies! W&L is a great Greek school!

About not having a house, I think that as long as PNMs see that a house is being built, they should be fine. At most schools, freshmen/NMs do not live in the house, so it's not like PNMs would be missing out on living in the house.

Besides, suppose the house were ready January 09. That would be one semester where the house would serve as nothing but a meeting place unless ADPi can buy all of the colony members out of their housing contracts.

If ground is being broken now, a year and a half should be enough time to finish the house, in time for September 09, right? The colonizing class would be able to move in for their first formal recruitment.