Sigma Kappa @ Mizzou Closes
 

Sorority closes MU chapter
Sigma Kappa cites declining membership.


By ARCENIA HARMON of the Tribune’s staff
Published Wednesday, February 4, 2004
Citing a decline in membership, the Epsilon Mu chapter of Sigma Kappa Sorority at the University of Missouri-Columbia will officially close at the end of the school year on May 17.

The sorority’s president, Erica White, declined to comment.

"I know that compared to other chapters, … Epsilon Mu felt that their numbers were inadequate," said Julie Kozicki, executive assistant at Sigma Kappa Sorority National Headquarters in Indianapolis.

A news release from Kozicki said the chapter voted to close last Wednesday. The chapter is classified dormant until its official closing.

Members will be treated as college graduates and granted alumnae status in the organization, the sorority said.

"This chapter has a proud history at the University of Missouri and has produced great leaders in our organization," Barbara Wilmer, Sigma Kappa’s national vice president for alumnae, said in the news release. "While saddened by the closure, we look forward to welcoming the collegiate members to alumnae membership."

Declining membership has not been a problem for other MU sororities, said Brook Hansen, MU Panhellenic Council adviser.

"Actually our recruitment numbers are going up," she said.

This isn’t the first time the MU chapter of Sigma Kappa has closed since it was organized on campus in 1968. According to the national office, the local chapter closed in 1973 and reopened in 1990. Neither Hansen nor Kozicki knew why the chapter closed in 1973.

The chapter is still deciding what to do with the sorority’s privately owned house at 908 Curtis Ave., Hansen said.

The sorority officially informed the Panhellenic Council of its decision last night.

"They brought a lot of great things, just like every organization brings to campus," Hansen said. "We’re very sad to see them go."



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This makes me sad because I know several girls in this chapter and they are truly amazing people. My heart really goes out to them. Thanks for posting this article.

:( I'm always sad to hear of chapters closing! My best wishes go out to all the SK ladies @ Mizzou

I live right next door to these girls right now. :( I can't even imagine what they must be going through right now, but I wish them all the best and I wish we could have helped out more. I know that the we and the other 12 sororities here tried to help the girls out the best we could, but there is only so much we could do. It's so sad to see them go, but it's probably for the best right now. Good luck in the future girls. :)

Oh, wow.

That's my house! Sigma Kappa bought the Alpha Gam house. I stopped by to see it when I was in Columbia in 1995. They did a wonderful remodeling job.

The newspaper article said the people interviewed did not know what the SK chapter closed in 1973. I do (I was panhellenic president that year). MU Greeks have extremely competitive housing. SK's house from 1968-72 was one of those three story house-houses (y'know the kind: probably single-family ca. 1900 and added onto and subdivided to accommodate students). That did not compete with the grand, white-columned houses in the rest of Greektown. In 1973 SK tried something novel: renting adjacent modern apartments in a complex north of campus (White Gate, for those of you familiar with Columbia). It was an effort to appeal to the idea that members wouldn't have to live in the sorority house. It didn't work.

MU is tough for NPC expansion. Let's see if I can reconstruct (I don't have Baird's handy) :
* Phi Mu closed in the late 30's? (Depression) and recolonized recently (2001?)
* ZTA closed for a few years during/after the Depression, but recolonized successfully (early 50's); new house 1964
* SK was chartered in 1968; closed in 1973; recolonized 1990
* AGD closed in 1975; recolonized in 1981; closed in ca. 1988
* KD colonized in 1975 and is doing well
* AEPhi closed in the late 90's
* AOPi and DPhiE colonized in the 1980's and closed shortly thereafter

These NPC groups haven't been at MU:
ASA, AST, AXiD, DZ, Tri Sig, TPA
.....I guess there's a house available!

Compared to other sororities there, how much lower were their numbers? Did they not want to be reorganized and get some help from their Nationals? This seems sad to me. I wish them all good luck.

I just went online and looked at the sororities at Mizzou and Sigma Kappa looked good to me! They didn't have their numbers listed but two other groups didn't either.

I'm going to MU in the fall but I don't know a whole lot about the different sororities. (I'm a guy)

But I took this info from another thread I found in a search.

Hope that answers your question

oh, that is sad it had to come to that! I hate hearing about chapters in that position. :(

When did I post that? LOL....Sigma Kappa actually did better than they had in recent years for 2003 Recruitment....but on our campus the avg. size is about 180 (wouldn't you say, Kiki?) I think they were in a position that even if they just kicked ass during Rush (which I heard they did a great job)....a house of 40 just can't compete, especially when Mizzou greek life is so competitive in other areas. Every year we team up with a fraternity and do Homecoming and Greek week...these are practically month-long events with tons of service, fundraising, points, etc..... a fraternity won't want to partner with only 40 girls, no matter how much they like them, b/c they need enough manpower to win. And that's really unfortunate. :(

:(

Based on the brief history above, I guess there is something unique about Mizzou that makes it hard for NPC groups to exist?

The # of groups you listed seems very small for a Big XII school.

Anyone know why that is?

Sikes, take it, might be Sikeston!

Look at LXA, We just recolonized there.:cool: But like many, they got stupid!

ktsnake, I dont know why Mizzou is so damn tuff on Greeks there!:confused:

But like some big or small schools, I guress it depends on what the Campi feel about Greeks.

U M is a somewhat Southern School as the East of the State was Northern and The West was Southern during the Civial War. Columbia is about the to this day the dividing line of the State Of Mo!

Well, other than U M being a little different anyway!:)

Hell, when the Heidleburg burned there was a wake and pall all over Missouri!:(

Can anyone tell me What National Greek Organization Has Their Hdq. There? Forgot!

Sometims expections do get a little high for some in the Head Quarters!:rolleyes: :(

Awesome Tom. Are you a LXA at Mizzou? (your location says KC :confused: ) I had the opportunity to go to a "cross campus bash" with LXA Feb 7th... Had a blast, Met a few of them. They seem like very down to earth cool guys. Anyway, I'm glad LXA is back at Mizzou!

Take it easy,
Matt

Yea 180 sounds about right. The numbers are always fluctuating and sometimes houses are losing 70+ members per year, and then in some cases they don't lose any at all. As long as you are over 100 girls though it seems possible for a house to survive here. Sigma Kappa honestly seemed to try everything and they worked so hard, but it just wasn't possible. The best thing for them really now is to shut down and come back once everyone who is currently here has graduated. Why exactly, I don't know but I don't know if there is one specific reason for what happened with them. I wish all the girls the best of luck though!! :)