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!

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.

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
 

LSUMOM, welcome to GreekChat! :D To answer your question about recruitment... Most new colonies try to get a wide mix of women when they are just getting off the ground. So, I would think that upperclassmen would be just as welcome to pledge as freshmen. The colony would most likely be excited to get some older, slightly more mature women in addition to the younger, less experienced ones.