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PM_Mama00 -
Yes, a number of sororities have closed at MSU. Last year DH and I were in East Lansing so we took a drive around to see who was still there and who wasn't. I know that Alpha Xi Delta, Tri Delta, Alpha Gamma Delta, and Phi Mu have all closed in the last 10 years or so.
(Moderators - If what I'm writing here isn't kosher, let me know.)
I was at MSU from 1985-1990, pledging in 1987. There were 17 sororities and there was definitely three tiers. All of the chapters that have since closed would have been considered bottom tier groups. I don't have experience with other panhellenics, but I would say there was not a strong sense of "we all win when all of the chapters are strong" among the sorority community. It was certainly there among some segments, but it was not a pervasive attitude.
A lot of students work at MSU. When I was there, the vast majority of students held jobs. I think the economic downturns of the 90's probably hurt a lot of the sororities, especially the ones that were already struggling. A lot of women had to work to stay in school, not just work for spending money and sorority expenses. A lot of my sorority sisters worked to pay for their sorority membership.
I think there were other issues involved with the houses that closed. House location and the style/type of the house was a big negative for some chapters (including my own). I also think there were just too many sororities for the campus. AOPi came on campus while I was there and that troubled a lot of the sororities already there who were struggling to make quota. It was not unusual for several of the then 17 sororities to not make quota or even come close. When you have that many chapters not making quota, I don't think it is JUST about those chapters. I think there were too many chapters. A lot of the middle tier and lower tier sororities really felt slapped in the face when extension happened when numerous chapters were already struggling. I guess from the perspective of some it might seem like chapters closing was in the best interest of the Greek system because it "right sized" the sorority community. But for all those sisters and alumnae it is very hard to see happen.
So that's what I know. I haven't heard how many women went through rush or what quota was this year. If anyone knows, I would be interested to hear!
Sallie
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