I am not sure what else the Director or Greek Life, Pan President, or 8 chapter Presidents can actually do to help make it easier for one of the 16 NPC groups not on campus to actually make an application to join. It is my understanding they have been open for expansion in the Fall and Spring, and while exploratory groups came, there was not a formal application to be considered by the Panhellenic.
Are you saying that the individual chapters should pitch in money for a 9th group to come on campus? It is my understanding from GC comments that Alabama is putting up bond money to help build a chapter facility - I am pretty sure that is something above the Director of Greek Life's ability to provide. I think that one thing that has hurt is that in the Panhellenic Constitution and Bylaws (
http://uagreeks.uark.edu/3330.php) states that Expansion can only occur when all chapters are close to or at total (and I would assume this is normal for most campuses). In the past, there have been times when 1 or 2 chapters are no where near total, but the other groups were bursting at the seams. Again - the monster that keeps getting bigger was thus created.
I can only speak for my group when I say that they are very open and willing to add another group on campus. However (and I am only speculating - I have no inside knowledge of this), I could also see where many of the chapters, rich is 2nd and 3rd generation legacies, may actually like the idea of larger pledge classes, because it means that they don't have to drop as many legacies, but also get to bring in new members without ties to their organizations in each pledge class. It keeps alumnae with legacies happy with their legacy in their chapter, but also helps the chapters to have the members that are at the top of their RTP list because of their own accomplishments and what they can bring to the chapter.
I would be interested to know what GC'ers think the Pan community at Arkansas could do to get better, and thus have NPC groups want to come on campus. Any thoughts?