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Possible Expansion at LSU
This article was in Tiger Weekly, an independent newspaper on LSU's campus. I'm having to retype it so pardon any errors. :)
----------------------------------------------------- New Sorority could colonize in spring By Ashley Heyer Casey With 884 women participating in formal sorority recruitment this year, the Panhellenic Council at LSU is actively pursuing adding another sorority in time for formal recruitment next year. "I thinkn we could defnitely use another chapger, " said Brooke LeBlank, Panhellenic Vice President for recruitment. "Its just getting too big" - it is getting hard to get to know your pledge sisters as well as learn 200 plus girls names as soon as you get in there." "If we get a sorority they should be able to go through recruitment next year," added LeBlanc. Last spring, the Panhellenic Council evaluated new National Panhellenic Council sororities for LSU and have invited two of the 16 presently not on LSU's campus, Alpha Chi Omega and Sigma Sigma Sigma to make formal presentation vists to the University. Whether or not another soroity comes and which one it is will be decided by Pahnellenic. "It is going to be out decision. They go through a process there the panhellenic council looks. They have been narrowed down from five sororities we've already avauated them and decided on two of them," said LeBlanc. "The next big step for them to come and give a big presentation to th Panhellenic Council. Each sorority will be given one vote as to which sorority they would like to come here so it is totally our decision." According to Victor Felts, Director of Greek Affairs, the new sorority is likely to be housed in the former Delta Chi house on sorority row. The Delta Chi fraternity bought the forma Sigma Alpha Epsilon house on fraternity row this summer. Both sorroties will determine what they will need to bring the Delta Chi house, which sleeps 48, up to sorority standards. "Both of the sororities are very well known nationally so we are very excited about that," said LeBlanc. In addition, they have multiple Louisiana roots. Alpha Chi Omega has chapters at Louisiana Tech and Loyola and Tri-Sigma has chapters at Southeastern , University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Northwestern State University and Nichols State University. This is important because of the strong roles sorority alumni advisors play in the operations of the chapters at LSU. To build a new sorority in time for formal recruitment next August, current members of the sorority from other schools will conduct thier own colonization recruitment. "The new sorority will get a list of women who participated in recruitment over the past two years that didn't join a sorority," said Felts. "They will also do their own publicity." "It will be a great opportunity for the women that didn't get into our sorority system this year it will give them a good opportunity to maybe one of the founding members of the new sorority," said LeBlanc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I really hope this does happen. aopirose would know this, but I think that the Delta Chi house actually used to be the AXO house at LSU before the "alpha curse." I kinda wish this would have happened sooner - I'm a Tri-Sigma legacy! :D |
curse?
really hope this does happen. aopirose would know this, but I think that the Delta Chi house actually used to be the AXO house at LSU before the "alpha curse
--- what in the heck is a alpha curse?? Love Ashley |
Its a loooong story, and I don't know the whole thing, but in a nutshell:
In the 70s-80s, all the chapters at LSU that started with "alpha" closed. It started with one, and then it just kinda snowballed as urban legend spread about it. Girls became afraid to plege alpha groups (axo, axd, aopi, adpi, etc) because they thought they would fail. There are currently no NPC groups on campus with Alpha as the first letter. |
That is so weird because 1/3 of the NPC groups start with Alpha!
Do you know what chapters are currently on campus. |
In no particular order:
Phi Mu Delta Gamma Delta Zeta Delta Delta Delta Kappa Delta Zeta Tau Alpha Kappa Alpha Theta Chi Omega Kappa Kappa Gamme Pi Beta Phi |
Wow, I've never heard that story before, how strange.
I hope that both AXO and Tri - Sigma are successful. I'm especially rooting for AXO to break the "LSU Alpha curse". Love to hear about expansion...so glad that Greek Life is growing. Ever heard the expression, "all boats rise," that's the way I feel about it. thanks for the article, violets |
Re: Possible Expansion at LSU
You are correct juniorgrrl. That house was originally built by Alpha Chi Omega. It was/is different from the other houses in that the bedrooms are actually suites with sitting areas and seperate bathrooms. That is the way it was. I don't know if design changes were made when Delta Chi moved in to it. It will be nice to see a flower bed in front of that place.
If Alpha Chi Omega gets selected and they choose to accept, it will be sort of an "Alpha Renaissance". They were the first "Alpha" to leave 30 years ago this year and they would be the first to return. The added bonus would be that they would get their old house back! However, I guess that I am just more excited because JAM could write some awesome recs! Quote:
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I am sooo excited upon hearing about this. I hope we are asked to come, what a great way to re-establish our chapter-with our original house. Please let us know more when you hear anything.
The Alphas will rise! |
aopirose-However, I guess that I am just more excited because JAM could write some awesome recs!
AAAAHHH-If only they would allow that to happen! You KNOW what I've said about our delightful, wonderfully supportive alum serving the community in the name of Greek life! :rolleyes: At Tech, AXO is really strong. At Uof L the chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma is top notch I've heard. I have mixed feelings on this subject that I have shared with a few. It's only been 2 years of all 10 sororities meeting quota. Is that long enough? If they add a house, will they lower quota? Are our Southern Belles ready to consider the "unfamiliar"? SSS is in closer proximity to LSU than AXO. Would this be an important factor? I would be more than HAPPY to write recs, but you have to be able to get your hands on that information. Don't you??????:mad: |
JAM, I completely understand about not having access to a list. You know my story from the spring. :mad:
IMHO, I don’t think that sororities not meeting quota through formal rush is an issue. The sororities in question have always been able to COB to quota, but most importantly they are all at Chapter Total. Quota totally depends on the number of girls going trough recruitment. With the excitement surrounding a new chapter, there maybe an increased number of PNMs. Another possibility is that the number of PNMs who drop out may be reduced because the new sorority is their dream house. It is possible that quota for Fall 2003 could be the same as this year. Even though Tri Sigma has more LA collegiate chapters then Alpha Chi Omega, I don’t think that should matter. What is very important is the commitment of alumnae to the new chapter. Both have alumnae chapters in Baton Rouge and I am sure that more alumnae will pop up when they hear the news. I am not sure about our Southern Belles but I do know one thing…Princess Margaret will never be a Kappa Kappa Gamma. ;) |
You're absolutely right.
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I think that either chapter will make an excellent addition to LSU's campus. Maybe an 11th chapter will make things a little less cutthroat, but still competitive.
AFAIK, there's only been one sorority to not make quota. And I think its not because there aren't enough girls, its because girls aren't wanting to be associated with that house and its ensuing reputation. I don't know what goes on, but its awfully fishy the way people pledge and then drop like flies. I think that a colony will attract some super girls - people who are a little more independent-minded maybe. Or maybe it will get some girls who dropped out this fall who regret it. Overall, I think this will be a good thing. |
.Tigergrrl- I don't know what goes on, but its awfully fishy the way people pledge and then drop like flies.
Did it happen THIS fall? Oh, I hope not. :( I think that a colony will attract some super girls - people who are a little more independent-minded maybe. Or maybe it will get some girls who dropped out this fall who regret it. You know, maybe I haven't put enough weight on this point. Each sorority DOES have a different composit personality which I see as a positive. aopirose, I think a large part of my problem is not being able to see the process. It justs seems like such a DAUNTING task! Also, for NO LOGICAL REASON, I feel it would be better to lower quota ever so slightly. By raising quota from 70 to 74 we placed 40 extra girls. These 40 were distributed throughout the 10 chapters. (I'm seeing it like an upside down pyramid. )This was wonderful for the PNMs AND some but not ALL the sororities benefited BEYOND "making numbers". Yet, IF we can all admit that 100% of PNMs are NOT cut out for sorority life (for WHATEVER reason) then it would seem to me that by the time all the girls are placed, the filtering process would create an even weaker sorority when that sorority is not as desireable to the PNMs as others. Take our upside down pyramid and flip it so it appears normal. Cut quota. Those chapters that have the most successful recruitments will STILL have success. HOWEVER, the PNMs that would bring a chapter strength are allowed to be dispersed in a more beneficial way making all the chapters potentially stronger. I know if AXO were to revisit LSU, I would want to have the best shot possible at some STRONG PNMs. By DECREASING quota by 5 or 6 (X10) you have close to a pledge class! Plus you can still place those wonderful PNMs who were overlooked. |
This is my first post ever
Hello Everyone,
I am happy to hear that there would be more openings for girls at LSU. My daughter went thru recruitment this fall, and she did not end up getting any bids. She was very disappointed. I did not realize how competitive this whole process of recruitment was, as I went to school up north in the 70's when and where sororities were not that popular. I just recently got my id fixed so I can post replys. I had followed justamom and other LSU'ers posta during recruitment. Do you think there will be anything happening for spring recruitment, or would it not be til next year and would they recruit sophmores, and upperclass to fill house. Or just start with freshment. How does that usually work???? Thanks for any info... |
Re: This is my first post ever
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LSUMOM,
Welcome to Greek Chat, so happy you posted. DZRose is correct, new chapters look for balance in their members, with regard to age, majors, extra-curricular activities, all the components that make-up a sisterhood. I would recommend you and your daughter read the posts on the ZTA colonization process at KU, many GC posters are participating. Take a look at the following: http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...threadid=22792 and http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...threadid=22621 I think these will give you an "insiders" view of going through a colonization process. I'm so happy your daughter still is interested in Greek Life at LSU, they have a very strong system, I'm sure she'd enjoy herself. violets |
:D :D HAPPY DAY! ANOTHER LSU MOM!!!:D :D
A colony wil be interested in a variety of ages. There isn't a spring rush at LSU for NPC sororities. If your daughter is going to be a Soph next year, many of the sororities woud not count that as negative. I know in DG-SO IT MUST BE THE SAME FOR OTHERS-lots of girls have made friends with other freshmen and when they go through as Sophomores, they have someone inside pulling for them. It honestly helps so much. I'm not up on the colony. aopirose or one of the actives would know the status more than me. Juniorgrrl also has a lot of insight into the system. If your daugter IS still interested, make sure she keeps her grades up, gets into some visible volunteer activities, and meets as many people as possible in the Greek system. That and a colony would be her best shot. Sometimes, these wonderful girls get so involved in school and meet so many "cool" people outside the Greeks they never look back. Is she on campus? In Miller? Or an older dorm. Mine lived in Acandian last year-LOVED the location. They lost the dorm application but I really was happy after the things I read about LSU. I knew if she had an uneventful rush, she would have been away from the hysteria of Miller. EDITED_ I can't believe I forgot to mention Tigergrrl! She too has great insight. There are others around as well. ThetaLove posts a lot too so there are plenty of brains to pick for different levels of information! |
Thank you all for your insight. My daughter is in Hergert Hall, which is a little smaller than Miller. She is just getting active in campus events, of course, she is already involved in the football game scene. :) I was there this past weekend. She is really making a good transition, she was soooo homesick the first two weeks, and one of those weeks was recruitment.
Justamom- I have really enjoyed your posts these last few weeks. I think she will still be interested. One of her good friends is also at LSU and is pledging, and she has gone out with some of the girls in that sorority on the weekends. Thanks again.... |
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http://130.94.21.174/gcforums/showth...threadid=22181 |
Hello LSUMom and Welcome!!!
The two sororities that are going to make their Presentations before Panhellenic are Alpha Chi Omega and Tri-Sigma, someone may have already posted this, or most of you might already know. |
It's late, so I may just have missed this detail.
When are the sororities scheduled to make their presentations? |
I remember hearing it, but I can't think of when it is. I think it is sometime soon. Someone else may know, but I'll ask our Pan. Rep. and get back to you.
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Let's go Alpha Chi! Whoo hoo! We might recolonize at UCLA this spring so if we recolonized at LSU that's two huge greek systems that we'd be represented on! YAY A-CHI-O!
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*sigh*
I always get so excited when I see an expansion post... and then let down, cos no one ever invites Phi Sigma Sigma to come. Why cant campuses give orgs like Phi Sigma Sigma and Theta Phi Alpha a chance? Get to know us! Were great!
But, anyway, expansion is great, no matter who it is... so GOOD LUCK Tri Sigma and AXO!!!! |
I understand your point.
However, I know that there are other Tri-Sigma chapters in Louisiana, so I guess they were looking for a school that they would have a good alum base. Also, Alpha Chi Omega was at LSU at one time. |
AngelPhiSig,
Phi Sigma Sigma was at LSU! The Omicron Chapter operated from 1927 - 1933. Since it was the only chapter ever chartered in Louisiana, there aren't many alumnae around. :( A few years ago, Theta Phi Alpha considered LSU but the start up costs were too great. I wholeheartedly agree that both organizatiosn have something wonderful to offer! |
Re: *sigh*
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As for LSU (getting back on topic), I really hope they expand, I have a friend who went there and although she was a quadruple legacy to one house, she was also from the north and not the southern belle they were looking for... |
Re: *sigh*
I have to agree with AngelPhiSig on this. While I can understand that some other organizations have a better alumni base, how can alumni base in that area *ever* exist if those chapters aren't given a chance in the area? Just randomness.
TPA and DPhiE both colonized at TAMU-K and they are rebuilding the Greek system, and while there is no alumni base (that I know of) in that area for either groups, I think it opens the doors for future chapters in that area for both GLO's. Expansion is great.. best of luck to the LSU greek system. |
A few years ago...
...when my (real) little sister was attending Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles, she was looking into getting another NPC sorority to come on campus becuase there were too many girls going thru rush and not enough spaces in each of the three houses there. I suggested she contact Theta Phi Alpha because of what I had learned in my own personal research -- I like researching and acquiring Panhel factoids! (I know, I am boring!) -- anyways, LMU is a Catholic University and Theta Phi Alpha was essentially started by a Catholic priest at the University of Michigan just after the turn of the century -- I thought it'd be a natural fit! Plus LMU does not have the expense of houses or even suites...plus from what else I was able to glean, it appeared there may have been a viable Theta Phi Alpha chapter at UCLA at one time -- there seemed at least to be a strong Theta phi Alpha alumna presence in LA.... anyways, LMU allowed Kappa Alpha Theta to colonize and that is what my sister ended up pledging and now I see that Pi Beta Phi is colonizing at LMU (of course I am biased but I think Gamma Phi Beta should be invited to colonize next at LMU given our California strength!)
I agree that the smaller NPC sororities need a chance to grow too - what about Alpha Sigma Alpha and Alpha Sigma Tau -- they seem small as well and could use all of our Panhellenic thoughts and support!! Just my two cents. |
It is sort of a vicious circle. In order to be able to expand successfully you need money. Many chapters that open for expansion have a significant housing requirement (LSU for example). Having more chapters gives the National group a larger monetary base to start from. Colonies rely solely on the support form the National group for everything they do. Not to mention the costs of just submitting a written presentation much less bringing in a whole group of people for the formal presentation round.
Unfortunately it is not just that the smaller groups are not picked by the campus to come on, many times they don’t even submit a written presentation to be considered. |
I wish that smaller NPC's were given the chance to colonize at larger schools.
Delta Phi Epsilon has a ton of chapters in the northeast, but most of them are at small schools. We have maybe 10 chapters at large schools, if that many. I am currently living in the Seattle area and I get so frustrated because no one has ever heard of DPhiE. Everyone I encounter thinks it's a local sorority, and I'm sure they would think the same thing of ASA, AST, TPA, etc. I made a new friend out here and she was a Zeta at Texas and had never heard of DPhiE either, but hopefully our colonization at TAMUK will help us become a little more visible in that state. |
Re LSU, until the "Alpha curse" is broken, I don't think we will even think about it since ASA has twice the Alpha's. :D
It is a vicious circle. You need the $$$ to expand to large campuses, but if you aren't on a lot of large campuses, it is hard to pull in the $$$. I have absolutely nothing against going to small schools, but let's face it - our new chapter at Roanoke College in VA is going to take 20 years to get the same amount of members that the new KKG chapter at UF is going to get in, oh, 3 years. It's going to take us till 2022 to see the same kind of ROI that KKG will see by 2005. If you look at the smaller groups, it's mainly the social/educational sororities that went straight social, or the groups that were created for a specific population (ie sororities for Catholic or Jewish women). The problem with really trying to do anything to remedy the lopsidedness among sororities is that you get into issues of sovereignty and independence. NPC would have to exercise rights that it simply doesn't possess. I don't think every sorority is ever going to be equal, but after 50 years, I would hope the footing would be a little more even than it is. I need to step back from this topic before I use up all the bandwidth... |
Smaller Orgs
A lot of people feel that the smaller orgs need to be given a chance, but let's be realistic, here, this is LSU.
I am part of the largest Panhellenic in the world. If a new group were to be invited (which will not happen any time soon, IMO), the options would be as follows: ASA AST AZD DPhiE SSS TPA ZTA ZTA and DPhiE were both here at one point, so these would both be viable choices. I am not sure if any of the other groups have been here. So those of you who are still thinking this isn't fair, consider this: ASA, AST, and SSS each have at least three chapters at Northern Illinois, Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois, U of I-Chicago, and Southern Illinois. There may be even more in the state, but there are the ones of which I am certain. I would think that any of those groups would have a good chance of success colonizing here. However, I know of at least one group on this campus that is struggling, and it is one of the smaller groups, with very little presence in Illinois and the Midwest. My point is that you can't start at a huge university and expect to do well. You have to first build up a base in the area, starting with some of the smaller schools. |
Its interesting to read all this about expansion because our school is forming a Panhellenic Expansion committee to see about adding another sorority to our campus so its good to read all this to see what its all about. Does anyone know when those presentations will be made to Panhellenic at LSU?
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Illinois
DeltaBetaBaby,
Thanks for putting ASA first on your list, even if you were just being alphabetical. ;) We actually were at Illinois from around 1982 till 1991. In the state currently, we are at Northern, Eastern, Western and 3 schools in Chicago. (DePaul, Loyola, IIT) Believe me, as far as where I'd like us to go back to, U of I is in the top 3. From our keyboards to Panhel's ears....hee hee. |
Speaking for myself and not my entire organization, I do believe that expanding to smaller schools in places where we don't have strong bases is CRUCIAL to allow us to expand to larger universities in the future. As DPhiEAngel has stated, we are colonizing at TAMUK and at Schreiner University in Texas right now...our first chapters in TX in awhile. These groups help establish a base in TX, so if some day UT Austin decides to open its doors, we have a base there to work from. Expansion isn't always about finding the biggest schools and going there. Especially not for the smaller NPC sororities. DPhiE is not KKG, and our resources aren't the same. We don't work from the same mindset as the "big guns" in NPC, but we continue to grow and expand.
Like 33girl said, the smaller sororities were formed from either educational/social sororities or for a group of women who didn't have the same opportunities to join the older, larger NPC groups. D Phi E, while having ALWAYS been non-sectarian, was formed by 5 Jewish ladies who were looking to start a diverse group. Yes, they were all Jewish, but they began a sorority that would provide a home for all women. If in the beginning that included just Jewish women, it would be because they were not welcomed at other NPC sororities. As that is no longer the case in today's university environment, DPhiE has had to come up with newer and better programs and ideas to fuel their expansion, and they are doing an amazing job with that! I can't speak for the other smaller sororities in this vein. But I do know one thing...if you want to succeed, you have to take calculated risks, and DPhiE breaks new ground on that often :) Kudos to them! (OK, I'm a little biased) :D |
best wishes to the TAMUK and Schreiner colonies... hopefully we can get one at UNT here soon & take Texas by storm!!
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Just a quick question...
SBHILL2 -- where are you? What university is conisdering expansion?"
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Clemson Universtiy is considering expanding. They are beginning to form an expansion committee to see if we need another one or not. WE don't even know for sure if we are going to add another sorority or not.
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Hmmm. Our South Carolina Beta chapter was there--maybe we'll get to come back!
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