I am really not sure about this, but I believe total WAS raised after AOII left.
I don't think that the deferred rush set up will be changing any time soon.
The thing about Cornell is, it's not really a "it's better to go Greek anywhere than not at all" type of environment. Honestly, the girls that drop or who never rush are not going to miss out on much (I know it may not seem this way to the girls who dropped). I'm not saying that Greek life isn't a huge factor on campus--I believe it is-- but I think that at some big schools where girls would love to be in any house as opposed to drop, it's easier to expand.
Alpha Xi Delta, which colonized about five years ago, is not yet at total (I believe). Still don't see the justification for bringing another org... It just isn't going to help place more girls b/c the campus culture does not "pressure" them into being Greek; therefore, I think girls will still drop no matter what if they don't get back the orgs. they want.
Clearly McMahon hasn't been on campus long enough to know that the fraternities are significantly smaller than the sororities with her "don't know why they wouldn't see the need" comment.
I wish she'd at least give a better reason than that for a quote in the Sun. Just misses the mark on so many levels.