What happened at Iowa?

[DubaiSis]

I heard 511 girls started recruitment and 1/3 of the girls dropped out, mostly at days 2 and 3. That seems like a huge meltdown, but I can't seem to get any analysis of what happened. What's going on with the Greek system at Iowa? Admittedly things have changed in 20 years, but there are beautiful houses in Iowa City that hold in the range of 50 girls in house, so quotas of the low 20's are going to become a burden on the whole system. Or at least it would seem so to me. Anyone? Bueller?

[kellyelizabeth7]

I have no answers for you, but I concur on the beautiful houses. Tri Delta's residence in Iowa City is huge and stunning!

[KSUViolet06]

I don't go to Iowa, but anytime there's a large number of women dropping out, it's usually because:

*Chapters are making heavier cuts early on, in turn causing many PNMs to be cut heavily early on. They get their invites back, get upset over being cut by so many houses, and withdraw.

*Girls don't get invited back to their faves and withdraw.

*Girls who signed up realize they didn't know what they were getting themselves into and decide that recruitment is not for them, so they withdraw.

There are some other possible reasons but these are some that I could think of off the top of my head.

[grassisgreener]

My friends little sister just went pi phi at Iowa, and I know that she got cut hard after the second round, but was happy with what she had.

[westcoastzta]

Wondering if the economy may be one reason girls are dropping out? They may feel Mom and Dad are strapped as it is without adding on the expense of membership in a sorority. Just a thought? Anyone from Iowa who dropped want to let us in on the buzz?

[ISUKappa]

I'm no longer an adviser at Iowa, but there has been a general downward trend on campus of numbers in the Greek Community. They lowered total from 120 to 110 three years ago and I wouldn't be surprised to hear if they lowered it again soon.

The university as a whole has not been favorable towards Greeks since the mid 90s. Fraternities are struggling, in part because chapter houses are dry and also because they aren't needed as a social outlet. Bars are 19 in Iowa City (still have to be 21 to drink, but it's really not that hard if you're underage) so most people just go to the bars.

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

*Chapters are making heavier cuts early on, in turn causing many PNMs to be cut heavily early on. They get their invites back, get upset over being cut by so many houses, and withdraw.

*Girls don't get invited back to their faves and withdraw.

I can easily see these two scenarios as big factors in the lower numbers at Iowa. Retaining members was difficult as well. There seems to be a prevalent mindset of "oh, I just don't want to do this anymore/it's too hard/I don't want to have to attend mandatory events, so I'll quit." Or "I want to be able to have [insert freedom 'not allowed' in the chapter house] so I'm going to drop out and move into an apartment instead." That leads to huge issues with keeping chapter facilities at capacity.

Also, the Greek Life Office didn't do a very good job at marketing the Greek Community to incoming freshman/transfer students/returning students. Part of that could be issues with the university (not allowing the GL office to insert brochures into new student mailings, etc...) and part could just be poor management on the GL office. Greek life is becoming more of an afterthought at Iowa and not something to be involved in. It's very unfortunate as the university has wonderful chapters with great history within their respective GLOs.

[oldu]

While the University of Iowa has been bad for sororities (Alpha Gamma Delta, Sigma Delta Tau & Sigma Kappa all closed during the past decade), it has been an absolute disaster for fraternities. Twelve fraternities have closed chapters during the past decade. At least half were among the oldest and strongest groups on campus. Beta, Phi Delt & Phi Gam have managed to revive as colonies but even they are much weaker today than a decade ago. But Iowa is not the only Big Ten school with this problem. Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State have very similar circumstances. I asked on another thread some time ago why Indiana and Purdue have such healthy systems compared to these schools. Is it because of the University's policy alone, or are other things driving it? Seems to me the make-up of students in Indiana is not much different than the schools with weak systems. Any thoughts?

[ForeverRoses]

Originally Posted by oldu

While the University of Iowa has been bad for sororities (Alpha Gamma Delta, Sigma Delta Tau & Sigma Kappa all closed during the past decade), it has been an absolute disaster for fraternities. Twelve fraternities have closed chapters during the past decade. At least half were among the oldest and strongest groups on campus. Beta, Phi Delt & Phi Gam have managed to revive as colonies but even they are much weaker today than a decade ago. But Iowa is not the only Big Ten school with this problem. Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State have very similar circumstances. I asked on another thread some time ago why Indiana and Purdue have such healthy systems compared to these schools. Is it because of the University's policy alone, or are other things driving it? Seems to me the make-up of students in Indiana is not much different than the schools with weak systems. Any thoughts?

I'm not sure what is going on at Iowa, however having grown up in Ohio and now living in Indiana, I can at least compare Ohio State and IU/Purdue. One thing is location. OSU is in a large city with lots to do. Ohio State students may work or even live pretty far from campus. It is also easy to go home of the weekends. The bars are no longer close to campus, so students going out mix with the general population of Columbusites.

IU and Purdue are both in college towns with most things within walking/shuttle bus distance. The bars are basically college bars- they are filled with students. It's not uncommon to stay at school for the entire semester. So sororities/fraternities (and CoOps at Purdue) fill that role of giving kids a place to belong. It also helps that Indianapolis is equidistant from Purdue and IU and we have many of the HQs here- so help is close at hand to keep interest up. Just my 2 cents.

[DubaiSis]

I went to Iowa in the 80's and things were much different, but I was kind of wondering about the Greek Life office. Then, it was run by this fantastic woman, sorry I can't remember her name, who gave lectures all over the country. I wondered how big her role was in the success of the system.

They changed the way they do cuts last year. My sorority is small on campus and this new trend should have helped but appears to have backfired. Either the girls drop out or go all the way through preference, but don't pledge the small house. It's too bad there's no way to explain that if you pledge, it won't be a small house any more! With shrinking numbers, one solid new member class would get them right back in contention pretty quickly. It sounds like the analysis given above sort of matches my thinking. Thanks for the info.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

I'm not sure what is going on at Iowa, however having grown up in Ohio and now living in Indiana, I can at least compare Ohio State and IU/Purdue. One thing is location. OSU is in a large city with lots to do. Ohio State students may work or even live pretty far from campus. It is also easy to go home of the weekends. The bars are no longer close to campus, so students going out mix with the general population of Columbusites.

Correct. My niece is a senior at The OSU and she has absolutely no time for Greek Life. I had dinner with her a few days ago and she admitted that she would have liked to have been in a chapter, but knew she couldn't fulfill the commitments along with all of the others that she has.

When I was at OSU (and I'm sure when OldU was too), the bars were at the end of 15th and everyone could get in. They have cleaned up High Street (giving many alumni panic attacks), and there are not too many places where the Greeks now congregate together. And I agree, it's too easy to go home on the weekend -- heck, sometimes I went home on weeknights just so I could stay on campus over the weekend.

Ohio State would be more akin to University of Michigan than Indiana.

[ISUKappa]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

I went to Iowa in the 80's and things were much different, but I was kind of wondering about the Greek Life office. Then, it was run by this fantastic woman, sorry I can't remember her name, who gave lectures all over the country. I wondered how big her role was in the success of the system.

They changed the way they do cuts last year. My sorority is small on campus and this new trend should have helped but appears to have backfired. Either the girls drop out or go all the way through preference, but don't pledge the small house. It's too bad there's no way to explain that if you pledge, it won't be a small house any more! With shrinking numbers, one solid new member class would get them right back in contention pretty quickly. It sounds like the analysis given above sort of matches my thinking. Thanks for the info.

The OSL Director is a wonderful man (if it's still the same as was a few years ago when I advised) who is full of energy and love for the university and the Greek Community. However, the GL Director (who is under the OSL Director) maybe wasn't the best fit for that job at Iowa - at least from an Adviser's perspective. He was unclear or unknowledgeable of NPC rules (I had to correct him on at least one regarding the the year-long wait after a PNM accepted a bid) and just not the dynamic person needed to lead through some rough times. If he's still there, perhaps he's gained some insight through experience.

Iowa did switch to the new RFM last year. I think it takes a few years to work the kinks out, so hopefully next year we'll continue to see improvements in the numbers each chapter pledges.

[sceniczip]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Correct. My niece is a senior at The OSU and she has absolutely no time for Greek Life. I had dinner with her a few days ago and she admitted that she would have liked to have been in a chapter, but knew she couldn't fulfill the commitments along with all of the others that she has.

When I was at OSU (and I'm sure when OldU was too), the bars were at the end of 15th and everyone could get in. They have cleaned up High Street (giving many alumni panic attacks), and there are not too many places where the Greeks now congregate together. And I agree, it's too easy to go home on the weekend -- heck, sometimes I went home on weeknights just so I could stay on campus over the weekend.

Ohio State would be more akin to University of Michigan than Indiana.

BF said there is one bar that it's mainly just greeks at. He pointed it out when we were passing but I can't for the life of me remember what it was.

I always thought Greek Life was small at OSU for the number of undergrads so it's always good to hear if what I perceive is true/why it might be. It's so different from Akron lol. We only have five sororities to begin with!

[southbymidwest]

sceniczip-the bar that you are talking about is probably, at least in its current incarnation, The O.

Benzgirl- I agree- High Street is much different than when I was there, oh, 30 years ago... no more Papa Joes, Agora or South and North Bergs... or 3.2 beer for that matter!

Greeks do have it a bit more diffficult at OSU, in a big town, perhaps as compared to some universities/colleges in small college towns in rural settings, or in areas where decent student housing is at a premium. I think the huge number or academic, philanthropic, sports and special interest clubs at OSU, academic pressures, the economic climate, the diversity of the student population, and more kids having cars these days have an impact on the Greek system. In addition, campus and off-campus housing in relatively safe neighborhoods right by OSU are available if you get your act together early enough. That being said, there are a number of wonderful sororities that will accept and encourage involvement outside of the Greek system there.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by southbymidwest

Benzgirl- I agree- High Street is much different than when I was there, oh, 30 years ago... no more Papa Joes, Agora or South and North Bergs... or 3.2 beer for that matter!

.

If you are on Facebook, there is a Papa Joes Alumni Club group, a Crazy Mama's group and a I Remember Mean Mr. Mustards group. Lots of pictures. Lots of Memories. Lots of nightmares of 3.2 beer.

[southbymidwest]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

If you are on Facebook, there is a Papa Joes Alumni Club group, a Crazy Mama's group and a I Remember Mean Mr. Mustards group. Lots of pictures. Lots of Memories. Lots of nightmares of 3.2 beer.

Thanks! I will definitely look them up!