[agzg]

I would agree with you ASTalumna06 that the trick with deferred recruitment is generating interest and then keeping it until second semester when they can join. The nice thing, however, is you know you like those girls that stick around the whole time because they're already committed to greek life in general, even if they are hanging out with several chapters (which I would actually prefer anyway).


Also, as far as the not having interest in the greek system there - that's just part of campus culture. Some years you'll have it and some years you won't. Don't bank on the fact that you won't have the interest next year, though. I'd rather have little interest and smaller chapters than chapters that have been fundamentally changed by one or two pledge classes. I'd say, yes, numbers are important, but chapters that are operationally sound and can find ways to keep going will.

ETA: As far as keeping interest - sometimes you generate new interest. I joined when I was a sophomore, and in fact, almost half of the members of my chapter joined in the fall through informal or COB recruitment, as sophomores. The size of our fall classes often rivaled and sometimes eclipsed the size of our spring classes which were brought in through formal recruitment. Most of those girls had no interest in joining a sorority their first year of college.