I'm not sure what you mean by saying that many women were cut after the first round... by all thirteen sororities?? Technically, yes... many women are cut from
some houses after the first day. But I was in a group with 60-70 PNMs and no one was cut completely after 16 Party Day. And, in the defense of the rare situation that a PNM was not invited back AT ALL, many women don't consider that chapters know exactly who you are and if they're interested in you before you walk through their door on day one... in my opinion, if someone is cut from ALL chapters, the issue is more likely a problem with the individual's grades or high school activities than with the Greek system being too small. Also, there were quite a few chapters who did not make quota this year... leading me to believe that, if 200 women did in fact drop out of recruitment (assuming that we're considering being cut and dropping out as two different things), they could have potentially received a bid had they chosen to stay.
WITH ALL THAT SAID!!
There is currently a vacant house at MU due to the closing of Sig Kap in 2004. (A rumor or two has flown about fraternities trying to get the house, but nothing official. Plus, I would hate to see a beautiful house that's been home to two sororities get run into the ground by a bunch of boys!!
) Personally, I feel that MU's Greek system is very strong... and I would love to see our campus open to expansion.
Finally... I find it interesting that DZ was was one of the sororities chosen to present in 2001. (This is only because of what was talked about in the thread about PHC History at Texas-Austin.) Someone theorized that if that campus was open to expansion, the groups most likely to present would be those who have previously had chapters at the school that eventually became inactive. And, as you said, DZ has never had a chapter at Mizzou. Still it's a wonderful sorority that's VERY well known in the state... so it seems like a great decision! Now if only they would decide to bring another group in!!