Eclipse: Housing is important, in this case, because everyone has one. It is a place to live, hang out, have dinners, have meetings, etc. and it's only you and your sisters - an "XYZ" haven. It is possible for a potential member to get caught up in the glitz. (It's almost like choosing a sorority because you look good in those colors.) However, it is still the people within the house that are important. Although, something to consider is that some chapters require their members to live in the house for at least a semester or two to keep it full. If everything else is equal in a potential member's choice between two groups (sisterhood, philanthropy, etc…), the potential member could use housing as a deciding factor. They may have a choice between living at "Tara" or "Delta Tau Chi - animal house". If the potential member is a Martha Stewart/Bob Vila type then the DTC house (physical structure) may be very appealing.

BFulton: Alpha Phi Alpha rented a university owned house at LSU for several years. It's the one that KZ rented, but now that Alpha is off of suspension, they will resume their prior lease. Southeastern Louisiana University is building a university-owned Greek Village by the same contractors who built the Village at the University of Alabama - Birmingham. Delta Sigma Theta is the only NPHC that I know of thus far that has signed an agreement to take one of these houses. The houses are scheduled to be ready for the Spring Semester. Good for them!

AlphaChiGirl: The residence hall situation as you described would definitely make it easier for a colonizing group. It would take some finagling but residential life could block off whatever was needed for the group. Every group would have the same kind of housing and financial aid could be used to cover housing expenses since its university owned.

LSU: LSU is a hard campus to attract another NPC group. (The NICs that have been colonizing recently are actually re-colonizations and they are using their same houses.) Prospective Rushee is right in that 21 of the current 26 NPC groups have or have had chapters at LSU. Only 10 of the 21 remain today. Most of the 11 others have had such bad experiences that they will not return to campus. When KZ came along seeking affiliation, Panhellenic sent out the expansion notice to all NPC groups. The only ones with any serious interest were the smaller NPC groups that have never had chapters there. (Smaller in the number of chapters - less than 100.) After the invited groups visited the campus, did their presentations, and put pen to paper, it was just not feasible. They couldn't afford this single investment when they could do several colonizations for the price of one. Housing is a serious issue and there really isn't a place to put a new one. The Alumni Center took up 4 lots and the recreation center behind Sorority Row took up about 10.