Long Term Expansions

BetteDavisEyes · #1 01-04-2007, 07:45 PM

http://www.csulb.edu/divisions/stude..._Life/News.htm

According to the CSULB website, they are looking to increase the number of fraternities through the year 2010. I'm surprised somewhat by this just b/c I honestly didn't realize that some campuses as well as orgs actually look ahead to the long-term future regarding what greek orgs they will have on campus.

As of now, CSULB currently has these fraternities present on campus.
Delta Chi
Phi Kappa Tau
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Sigma Pi
Theta Chi

Colonies:
Kappa Sigma
Pi Kappa Phi

Joining them will be:
Spring 2007: Pi Kappa Alpha
Fall 2007: Zeta Beta Tau
Fall 2008: Phi Kappa Psi
Fall 2009: Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji)
Fall 2010: Sigma Chi

SigKapSweetie · #2 01-04-2007, 07:52 PM

Does that seem kind of massive to anyone else? They're adding five fraternities in four years, and nearly doubling the number of total groups. Is there really that much interest in fraternity life? (I don't know anything about the campus; I'm just surprised by the sheer number of groups being added.)

BetteDavisEyes · #3 01-04-2007, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SigKapSweetie

Does that seem kind of massive to anyone else? They're adding five fraternities in four years, and nearly doubling the number of total groups. Is there really that much interest in fraternity life?

Hard to say for me really since I graduated a few years ago but I can easily find out through mutual friends. It does seem rather excessive though especially considering that Panhellenic recruitment draws bigger numbers but there are only 7 NPC glo's with no sight to expand there. It's just frankly strange to me.

texas*princess · #4 01-04-2007, 08:37 PM

I don't know anything about this campus, and I know IFC is way different than NPC expansions, but if it doesn't seem like the campus can sustain all the new colonies through the next 3-4 years will the groups that are later on the list to colonize go for it anyway?

33girl · #5 01-05-2007, 11:13 AM

I'm betting that if any of those fraternities looks at the campus when it becomes their "turn" and decides it's no longer a viable opportunity, they can pull out.

LPIDelta · #6 01-05-2007, 11:24 AM

I think for the university this is a way to control fraternity expansion.

AOII_LB93 · #7 01-05-2007, 11:40 AM

WhenI joined my chapter at CSULB, in 1993 there were 11 or 12 fraternities, some of whom reorganized with no problems (SAE, Phi Kappa Tau being the ones who were most successful), and others of whom closed (Sigma Chi, Pike, Fiji, Kappa Sig, and more recently Sig Ep, TKE, and Sigma Pi) and still only 7 NPCs. I think the campus can definitely do with a few more NIC fraternities. For as long as I can remember though, ZBT has been trying to colonize and have not been successful.

Kevin · #8 01-05-2007, 11:46 AM

My alma mater added 3 fraternities in 4 years. No one suffered to my knowledge. If someone does suffer, it's a survival of the fittest thing.

BetteDavisEyes · #9 01-05-2007, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AOII_LB93

WhenI joined my chapter at CSULB, in 1993 there were 11 or 12 fraternities, some of whom reorganized with no problems (SAE, Phi Kappa Tau being the ones who were most successful), and others of whom closed (Sigma Chi, Pike, Fiji, Kappa Sig, and more recently Sig Ep, TKE, and Sigma Pi) and still only 7 NPCs. I think the campus can definitely do with a few more NIC fraternities. For as long as I can remember though, ZBT has been trying to colonize and have not been successful.

I would like to see them open up for NPC expansion but I can understand why it would be difficult since I know not all the chapters are at total and there have been some problems with recruitment. Still, perhaps one day there will be a nice turn around and an 8th NPC Glo will be added.

ETA: I believe that ZTA used to have a chapter at Long Beach but when the other chapters came back to campus in the 80's, they decided to remain dormant.

PeppyGPhiB · #10 01-05-2007, 02:07 PM

I was under the impression that Long Beach State was not very supportive of the greek system, so this surprises me. But, are those dates for when colonies will arrive on campus? Don't a great deal of NIC colonies fail to make it to installation? For fraternities installation does not seem to be as much of a "sure thing" as in NPC.

Tom Earp · #11 01-05-2007, 03:27 PM

Maybe, a lot has to do with the male population on campus, but it does seem very excessive from a man power stand point.

I wonder if the school is trying to expand the Greek system for more exposure in and for college recruitment?

It seems strange with the Greek feelings in and at some California schools.

I just wish them all of the luck in the world.

TSteven · #12 01-05-2007, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AOII_LB93

WhenI joined my chapter at CSULB, in 1993 there were 11 or 12 fraternities, some of whom reorganized with no problems (SAE, Phi Kappa Tau being the ones who were most successful), and others of whom closed (Sigma Chi, Pike, Fiji, Kappa Sig, and more recently Sig Ep, TKE, and Sigma Pi) and still only 7 NPCs. I think the campus can definitely do with a few more NIC fraternities. For as long as I can remember though, ZBT has been trying to colonize and have not been successful.

If I read this correctly, then five of the chapters (Kappa Sigma current colonization, Pi Kappa Alpha in Spring of 2007, Zeta Beta Tau in Fall of 2007, Phi Gamma Delta in Fall of 2009, and Sigma Chi in Fall of 2010) would be re-colonizations. As such, there should be campus alumni in the area who can help with each chapter's re-colonization. And given that it is the Los Angles area, I'm sure there are quite a lot of alumni for each of these fraternities in the area. Which can translate to possible legacies to the chapters. Throw in support from HQ and it seems quite doable.

AOII_LB93 · #13 01-05-2007, 05:31 PM

TSteven,
You are correct, and I think though ZBT closed long before I was on campus they used to be there as well. So there is the potential for the fraternities to do well.

Long Beach's last president who just retired was very supportive of the greek system as a whole and worked a lot with the fraternities and sororities on campus. He even had dinner at our chapter house with our chapter. I don't know that the campus isn't supporting greek life, it's gotten much better over the years. I still see a big problem with the NPC chapters in general though. There is not a very panhellenic atmosphere among them, and there really hasn't been for as long as I can remember, so adding another may not be a good thing until there is more of a panhellenic attitude adopted by the organizations.

Glitter650 · #14 01-05-2007, 06:27 PM

I think maybe they are just thinking like this because the number of students in general has increased so much, not only at CSULB... but all CSU schools....in the past few years and most likely that trend will continue.

phisigduchesscv · #15 01-09-2007, 01:20 AM

In my opinion I think CSULB is trying to increase it's student life overall since it does have over 35,000 students and is definitely growing. CSULB was the largest campus student wise for the last couple years and has lost that title to CSU Fullerton this year. I know CSULB would love to take that title back and one way to encourage students to attend is to build up it's student life.

Not being on CSULB I can't say for sure if it can handle more fraternities or not but I think it probably could. As Glitter said the current trend within the CSU (and even the UCs) is that the number of students attending 4 years schools in California is on the upswing. Now is the time to start preparing to deal with them, not only academic planning but student life planning as well.

Carolyn