Theta Mu chapter

FuzzieAlum · #1 02-06-2002, 02:22 PM

I just found out that AXD is closing my chapter, the Theta Mu chapter at Case Western Reserve University. I assume it's for numbers. They have 15 girls now and only 7 are coming back in the fall.

I don't know what else to say.

FuzzieAlum · #2 02-06-2002, 02:58 PM

I just found out that I didn't get the entire story. Yes, they are closing our chapter, but they will be recolonizing it next spring. While this is a blow for the current members, I feel a little better knowing that my chapter will continue to exist.

Melliebea · #3 02-10-2002, 08:52 PM

I know that colonizing is hard, I myself am a new colony memember at UofKentucky, and we have still quite a few alums on campus. they have been great to us and we alwyas know that if we need their help they are always there!
but on the same not it is always sad when a chapter closes

FuzzieAlum · #4 02-11-2002, 12:56 PM

Ooh! If I can ask, how is the UofK colony going?

Melliebea · #5 02-11-2002, 03:25 PM

it is going amazingly well!!! we have about 55 to 60 women (on a good day) we just finished our officer selection process and all the women are very excited! it is a wonderful experience!!!!
Our ELC's are awesome!!! Now we are just waiting to get initiated!!! no one knows when that will be.. we have been new members now for almost 7 months now!!!!
fingers crossed!
Melanie

FuzzieAlum · #6 02-11-2002, 04:46 PM

Sounds like it's about time, then! Usually chapters are initiated their second semester.

Glad to hear everything is going well!!!

SoProud2BeAnAlphaXi · #7 02-12-2002, 03:54 PM

I'm hoping for a great result with the recolonization at Case Western this fall. We've got fabulous colonization PR materials that should really appeal to the women at CWRU, and we have been able to use them to attract truly quality women in large numbers at the recolonizations at Kentucky (right, Melliebea?!) and Purdue. Although this is undoubtedly a difficult time for the existing chapter members and alums like you, FuzzieAlum, I think it's a great opportunity to turn the Alpha Xi Delta experience at CWRU into one that is positive and successful on all fronts.

AXOLiz · #8 03-27-2002, 02:35 PM

Hi ladies,

Sorry to come busting into your forum, but I'm currently at CWRU and the entire greek system was in shock when your chapter closed here. I don't know what I'd do if it happened to our house, and I know it's hard for the women who suddenly became alums, especially since they can't indicate their affiliation in any way. They are amazing women and a constant reminder of what sisterhood really means, and while I can only really speak for my chapter, we're behind them 100%. Best of luck with the recolonization, our campus misses you!

Liz

FuzzieAlum · #9 03-27-2002, 02:50 PM

Liz, I know you're on campus and I'm not, but it's not true that the girls can't indicate their affiliiation. They're still allowed to wear their Quills, etc.

While I was saddened by the closing, most of us alums weren't shocked. When I was in school, we were expecting DU to fold at any moment from lack of numbers, but DU is "protected" as one of the original seven chapters of their fraternity. I'm watching Sammy suffer from low numbers now, and crossing my fingers for them.

As for us alums, we've been expecting to hear something like this from Nationals for a while, frankly. We were initially surprised, yes, when we heard they were closing the chapter (the bearers of the news didn't mention the recolonization), but once we heard that Nationals was eager to recolonize next spring, we were relieved. It's sad to see "our" chapter end, but if recolonizing means more women will be introduced to the great things AXD has to offer, then I'm all for it.

Don't think that if Zeta Upsilon ever gets that small, A Chi O won't do the same to you. I sure hope it doesn't, because CWRU's sorority system is small as it is, and it can't afford to lose any chapters. But national sororities won't keep a chapter active that can't compete with the others on campus in terms of numbers. Whether we like it or not, that's the way the system works.

volgirl2376 · #10 03-27-2002, 02:58 PM

Before my initiation I was talking to the New Member VP (or chair?) and she was so excited about the chapter at the University of Tennessee because although the Gamma Lambda chapter had to recolonize in 96 - according to her, the number of girls has tripled in the past year and a half. Kathy is this correct? I can only imagine how hard it must be to have your chapter close ...does this mean current members go to alum status?

AXOLiz · #11 03-27-2002, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FuzzieAlum
Liz, I know you're on campus and I'm not, but it's not true that the girls can't indicate their affiliiation. They're still allowed to wear their Quills, etc.

While I was saddened by the closing, most of us alums weren't shocked. When I was in school, we were expecting DU to fold at any moment from lack of numbers, but DU is "protected" as one of the original seven chapters of their fraternity. I'm watching Sammy suffer from low numbers now, and crossing my fingers for them.

As for us alums, we've been expecting to hear something like this from Nationals for a while, frankly. We were initially surprised, yes, when we heard they were closing the chapter (the bearers of the news didn't mention the recolonization), but once we heard that Nationals was eager to recolonize next spring, we were relieved. It's sad to see "our" chapter end, but if recolonizing means more women will be introduced to the great things AXD has to offer, then I'm all for it.

Don't think that if Zeta Upsilon ever gets that small, A Chi O won't do the same to you. I sure hope it doesn't, because CWRU's sorority system is small as it is, and it can't afford to lose any chapters. But national sororities won't keep a chapter active that can't compete with the others on campus in terms of numbers. Whether we like it or not, that's the way the system works.

I might be wrong, but from what I was told by one of the now-alums, they were asked not to wear their letters, etc. around campus. I was assuming that was the case since she told me directly, and their sisters were always visible on campus until they went alum, so I took it to be true considering it was such a drastic change. If I was wrong, I apologize.

As for our surprise, the campus was surprised at the timing considering they had just initiated new girls. I've lurked around GreekChat long enough to know this has happened before, and it happened at our chapter at UC this year. The only difference is they aren't recolonizing right away as far as I know, but I was the first to explain to my sisters that this happens all the time.

Sammy will also be recolonizing, however according to the brothers I know, they can still remain active in the process, so it sounds like their nationals will just be stepping in and running rush for them, although I could be mistaken. That's just what they told me.

Anyhow, sorry to have intruded on your forum, I just wanted to indicate that we're all in support of the new alums and all the future new members of your organization, but if I shouldn't have done so, I apologize again.

Liz

FuzzieAlum · #12 03-27-2002, 05:00 PM

Oh, hun, no need to apologize! We like having new people on here and you are as welcome as anyone (and a lot more welcome than some of the jerks that come on here!).

She didn't tell you wrong, no: It is true that the new alums are _discouraged_ from wearing letters on campus, but they are not forbidden to. They are _encouraged_ to wear their Quills. (Now, I didn't make these rules up, so I'm not sure what Nationals sees as the distinction.) I think the idea is that once the chapter recolonizes (next spring), they want AXD to be known by the new members and not the old ones. It's a weird rule but pretty standard.

The new girls were actually initiated after the chapter closed (not before) by their own choice. They had the option of being released from their pledge obligations, but chose to pursue initiation instead, which speaks well of their experience with AXD. And any member of the former chapter, if I understand correctly, can petition to be active in the new chapter.

Anyway, welcome to Greek Chat!

P.S. So Sammy is recolonizing? I'm kind of out of the fraternity gossip loop these days, but when I was a freshman, I knew a lot of cool Sammies! I hope it works for them.

RockChalk · #13 03-27-2002, 05:25 PM

I'm glad to hear the chapter is going to be recolonized soon. Those girls must be relieved.

I am curious as to how nationals decided when to recolonize. My school had an AZD chapter that closed three years ago (Chi chapter) and they still haven't returned.

87azdalum · #14 03-28-2002, 08:41 AM

Like Sarah said, the Gamma Lambda chapter at the University of Tennessee has had some difficult times, but after recolonization they are doing excellently. Their numbers are getting better each semester (and they probably are up three times)! They've got a great bunch of ladies! So, while this is a temporary setback for your chapter, keep the faith. Keep a positive attitude, and hopefully you will find that the chapter will be back bigger and better than ever.