The downside is the system could accommodate a new chapter right now, but in 5, 10, 15 years, interest drops off and there's suddenly not enough girls to fill the chapter houses. For a new chapter with a $2 or $3 million dollar house in Iowa City and no one who wants to buy it, that would COMPLETELY suck. So you have to balance RIGHT NOW with the long term.

I don't think there is a consistent answer about what happens to the WRC when expansion happens. But I don't think there is a down side to the chapters at Iowa right now. The pledge class sizes are now at right around the size of the houses, and that's not great. You don't want everyone to have to live in, but you want a decent percentage of the chapter living together to make the house worth it. That's my opinion anyway.

Does anyone have updates on how recruitment is going at Iowa this year? I heard they had a record number registered, but haven't confirmed that.

Thank you!

pearlalum,

Hey, a few weeks ago a SK started a Sigma Kappa Recruitment Results thread and I had posted a few updates in it. Now it has disappeared. Do you know who started it and what might have happened to it?? Thought you might know.

Cinder1965 - I'm sorry I do not on both accounts.

As we approach the zero hour, I heard the estimated quota is 70. 70! At Iowa. So yes, there is not a single house on campus where all of the sophomores will be able to live in. Time for expansion! I have one or two I'm rooting for, but they better have a housing plan in place. The houses there are beautiful and converting something didn't work the last time/s expansion happened. A large converted residential home cannot compete with a purpose built sorority house, as all of these were, and many 75 years ago and more. But I think there's room for a tear down or two in the vicinity of the other houses.

I know of a group, I'd like to see at Iowa. :D

You were my first thought. And back before time began Phi Mu was 2 doors down from Alpha Xi. They could never turn that house into a sorority house now, wouldn't be nearly big enough, and couldn't tear it down because the street is on the historic register. But I think there are a few houses that could be made available; should the city decide to play nice that is. There are a BUNCH of rules, in particular parking, that make building a house pretty expensive. But A Chi O did it after their terrible tornado disaster. I was actually kind of surprised that a few chapters didn't rebuild to keep up.