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Originally Posted by SydneyK
Having never witnessed an expansion, I can't help but be confused by this. If there isn't already a reputation of sorts, how does the campus/do the sororities know which group is demographically the best fit? All the groups have fine ideals - how can the best fit be determined, and who actually determines it? Is it mutual (i.e. the campus says to ZTA, "We'd like you" and ZTA says to the campus, "We're definitely interested.")? Or is it more one-sided (i.e. strictly the campus's decision)? You'd think that simply by participating in the presentation stage the three sororities are definitely interested in the campus... but then again, maybe once they get there and see the other chapters they might change their mind (this was just an example - nothing against any org at Northwestern, of course).
Like I said, I'm completely ignorant about this whole process. But, good luck to all involved! It's a positive thing that there is enough interest at Northwestern to warrant expansion!
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You raise good points. I personally have seen one expansion attempt that took on and off 6 years. It started out mutual, the University putting the word out another group was welcome and then groups saying yes/no. One group who had been there previously, is very strong nationally and had a great amount of alumnae interest and support was working on coming back. They gave a presentation to PNMs during FR (kind of an FYI, most likely a dry run for their anticipated presentations for the upcoming year) and their field staff was quite visable for quite some time on campus. It really felt like the entire NPC population was this big fishbowl the entire time all these GLOs were looking at campus. This group coming back was pretty much a no brainer we all thought, but in a shocking move by their national they all of a sudden halted their plans and left with a "thanks but not at this time". There was a local that had come out of the interest group that had formed over the first semester. Things kept moving very fast for this local despite the NPC group pulling out...the local was named with with GLs and got rec. from the university as a club and had "non-voting" status with our Panhellenic. They wouldn't participate in FR, but had great campus support. Then another national org. expressed interest in this colony and came for presentation...it seemed like a real hit for both groups right away. Their national staff really were well liked by the Panhellenic community--you could feel the "fit". They even pledged those girls in the colony. Long story short, again the national GLO pulled back and said "thanks but no thanks". I believe they let the colony members be initiated if they wished at the neighboring university if they didn't want to depledge to participate in the next FR. It was very sad for those girls, they were very bonded, wearing letters, participating in homecoming, etc. Not one I knew of went through the next FR. Our FR numbers were out of control and Greek Leaders kept a lobby for another NPC group to come to campus. We had huge overflow from GLO housing and it was really difficult for us to connect with NMs...by that time the University (very pro GLO) seemed very burned out with expansion and for a few years we had massive numbers. So things were dormant and it seemed that maybe the GLOs got a feel for the school that wasn't "good". Colonization and expansion felt like you were saying a dirty word for a while and locals went away again--who could blame them for feeling pretty burned out? Then another group came onto the scene and was able to get momentum behind them, establish housing and become chartered rather quickly, followed by yet again by the first group that had started expansion efforts who even built a new chapter house.