I thought it was going to be a really interesting experiment bringing on two colonies at once. I think we can put that one to bed - not a good idea. But I bet they will have to do MORE expansion before things can start to balance out, not put it off until balance happens. But one at a time from here on out. I don't see a way for a chapter to catch up to those kinds of numbers without looking some kind of desperate or doing some variation on a colony re-expansion. Or without bringing down chapter total over all, which will only happen with expansion.

The problem at Arkansas is the administration's roadblocks to housing. The 2 new groups colonized in Fall 2012 and no progress has been made to house them competitively.. They are still in Walton Hall with no plans in sight.

Additionally, there are 2 recently chartered fraternities (Beta and KA) that are unhoused as well. I think the new chapters are doing well all considered. Expansion was WAY overdue in Fayetteville. I believe it only took the last group (AOPi) 2 years to get their house...but much different with new 4 GLOs competing for housing along with existing chapters.

A couple more random comments

1. Is Arkansas the type of campus where PNMs have the best chance to be successful at recruitment freshman year? Is that why the PPT mentioned that the two newer chapters should have COB to recruit spring transfers?

2. The slide with the benchmark chapters, how did Nebraska get thrown in there randomly?

3. Also mentioned is that chapters need to believe that the campus will help with securing housing yet the only place mentioned is Walton Dorm. Do they think that will suffice in the long run?

I do know the Wesley Foundation property which is at the end of sorority row has been sold to "someone" for a house. It may be a big enough property for 2. but I doubt it.
Property has been found for them closer to the student union which is a win, win.

As for AOII's house only taking 2 years, that is because we had a lot at the time of colonization. The 2 years were spent actually building the house. The situation now is totally different. These groups can't get lots. They can't even start the process of building. It is totally unfair to them but the administration holds all of the cards.

I just got sucked down the Zillow wormhole for about 30 minutes (it's a corollary to the well-known Wikipedia effect). It looks like the Pi Phi and KD houses are surrounded by single-family homes and maybe a couple of apartment complexes. Is there absolutely no willingness to sell among those homeowners?

My grandmother lived a few blocks away from the Pi Phi house, a block off campus. When she died, the university declared eminent domain and knocked down her big old house (ditto for several houses around it as the elderly owners died) and slapped down a parking lot. Never mind that she and my grandfather were longtime UA employees.

The AOII House backs up to it now; an older apartment complex used to be there. I'm surprised that the university hasn't extended its reach down towards the Pi Phi and KD houses and knocked down more houses and apartments.

There are a few buildings on Maple that seemingly could be removed for sorority expansion. At least a few of them are actually affiliated with the university so one would think the space would be made available to house these groups.

Walton Hall has been slated for demolition since before AOII colonized (which was why they were willing to let us use it until our house was built, but then they found black mold so we never used it.). Now that will be an ideal location for fraternity housing. It is on Stadium Drive along with many other fraternities. However, unless their plans have changed (which may very well be the case) that space was not going to be used for new fraternities.

I hope that no one tried to suggest that the sororities build on Stadium, lol. My freshman dorm was there and we could hear fraternity racket day and night. I can just imagine: a sorority would be having initiation or some glamorous party and through the windows they would be hearing rebel yells and Hog calls.

If I am reading correctly, the parking lot on Carnation's grandparent's lot (now University-owned) could be made available (University willing) a building lot?

I don't know. I haven't been back since her death (1989) so I'm not sure if the lot covers the whole property but there was a parking lot next to it already. This used to be a block of large, gracious, beautiful white houses. :(

That is sad. I love older neighborhoods with that character. : (

I do notice from Googlemaps that there are quite a few parking lots that are just as large as the house lots. Seems like some 2-3 story parking structures could be erected in the area and free up some space.

Irishpipes/Carnation - Do either of you know about the old DG house? Did they sell to UA or is UA leasing it?