Chi Omega at Cornell: from 108 to 33 to 0

hoosier · #1 08-26-2003, 04:09 PM

(This is amazing: from 88 members, 20 pledges in '99 to 33 members in '03)

The Greek ltrs. come out CW in the posting:

Chi Omega national closes chapter after 'disappointing' declines in membership
By Justin Silverman
Media Credit: Justin Silverman for Hermes
The entrance to Sisson Place is still marked with the sorority´s name.Despite the recent effort of several CW national representatives to boost membership at Cornell University, the campus' chapter is now officially closed.

"Given the amount of teams going in there and the efforts to teach recruitment strategy," said Anne Emmerth, CW's executive director, "it just really came down to the numbers."

Effective last May 4, CW is inactive, victim to low membership and overburdened sisters, Emmerth said.

With the Cornell Panhellenic Council establishing a member maximum of 110 per chapter, CW's membership numbers steadily declined from 84 members and 20 new members in spring 1999 to 67 members and 25 new members in spring 2001, according to the sorority's national office. In 2001, only 33 sisters and six new members remained.

"The challenge of meeting the financial obligations of a house has increased over the years as the numbers have decreased," said Emmerth, echoing the words written to all sisters and alumni last spring. "Without available additional alumnae support in the area, the advisors and the house corporation found it impossible to continue to give the chapter the assistance needed."

CW established at Cornell in 1917 and remained active until 1963 when, along with many fraternal organizations at the time, students lost interest and it closed. It recolonized in 1987 and again occupied its university-owned 10 Sisson Place residence.

But like all greek organizations at some point, Emmerth said, Cornell's CW slowly began to lose members.

"The chapter was working very, very hard to meet its numbers," she said. "Obviously they were disappointed. But these women are CWs for life and they can continue to enjoy a great sisterhood."

Each sister had good standing with the national office when it decided to close the chapter. All had the opportunity to accept alumna status.

"While we are all sad that their collegiate experience of CW has ended, the Governing Council hopes that the women will be able now to concentrate on themselves as a group of CW alumnae, enjoying their friendships without the pressure of fulfilling chapter responsibilities and financial burdens," Emmerth wrote last spring.

The national office is planning to eventually reopen a chapter at Cornell, given any interest present on campus, Emmerth said. Ultimately, the decision is up to the campus Panhellenic Council.

In preparation for a possible return, national representatives are visiting Cornell to ensure that the 10 Sisson Place house will be available for a future chapter. Panhel also expressed interest in having CW recolonize, according to the sorority's national office.

"Closing a chapter is never an easy thing to do," Emmerth said. But "it's always our intention to get back on campus if we can."

greeklawgirl · #2 08-26-2003, 04:14 PM

Hoosier, why must you always title your threads in such an inflammatory manner?

I'm sure this is painful news for Chi Omegas everywhere. Its painful for all greeks that want to see successful chapters. Have a little compassion.

I hope Chi Omega will be able to return to Cornell soon.

cash78mere · #3 08-26-2003, 04:43 PM

that is very sad.

best of luck to all the new alums

33girl · #4 08-26-2003, 04:52 PM

"amazing"????

you are one callous black-hearted #$%@&.

Incidentally, this happened last May - the paper just didn't get to report on it till this latest issue. It has already been discussed on Greek Chat.

My (belated) sympathy to all the Chi Omega actives and alumnae from Cornell.

KappaKittyCat · #5 08-26-2003, 06:53 PM

A few years ago, I was almost in the same position as these sisters. My heart goes out to all the members of CW, especially those who are alumnae of the chapter at Cornell.

PS: Well said, 33girl!

DeltAlum · #6 08-26-2003, 11:45 PM

Not sure there's a Risk Management issue here, however, I do find it amazing that chapters (not just this one in particular) can fold so quickly. One year, top of the world, two or three years later, bottom of the stack.

That's why we really need to never become complacent about academics, recruiting, philanthrophy, finances, risk managment and the myriad (is that how it's spelled?) of other things needed to keep a top chapter running.

Maybe this should move to Greek Life.

decadence · #7 08-27-2003, 06:30 PM

Huh?
How is it NOT "amazing" that a chapter THAT strong can go from over 100 interested parties (88 members, 20 pledges) to 60% or so less in only 2 years or less? Without any clear reasons/factors like big scandals/terrible hazing etc - WHICH THERE WERE NOT.

I don't mean amazing in an "ooh let's sing zip-a-dee-do-dah" this is great sorta way, or an "hey guys! amazing news! let's get the champagne!!" etc way

just the fact it's amazing/astounding/surprising/pause-for-thought-giving/tragic, that a strong cohesive chapter even with a spotlight on it and hard work by those within XO to control the attrition rate and train in recruitment methods can still, despite best efforts, fade away.

-------
P.S DeltAlum: Yes that is how it's spelled.

.

damasa · #8 08-27-2003, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by decadence

I don't mean amazing in an "ooh let's sing zip-a-dee-do-dah" this is great sorta way, or an "hey guys! amazing news! let's get the champagne!!" etc way just the fact it's amazing/astounding/surprising/pause-for-thought-giving/tragic, that a strong cohesive chapter even with a spotlight on it and hard work by those within XO to control the attrition rate and train in recruitment methods can still, despite best efforts, fade away.

Not to put bad light on this chapter but how can you say that this chapter put in hard work and gave their best efforts? Maybe they did and maybe they didn't. I"m sure they did but we don't know for sure.

And to answer your question about it not being amazing; it happens a lot more than some people know. Sometimes there are just some people in a chapter that don't put the effort in and it goes from something great to nothing in just a few short years. I know personally, it happened to the local we once were.

ZTAMich · #9 08-27-2003, 06:46 PM

Cornell lost another chapter there this past year as well...something isn't going so well there, to say the least.

madmax · #10 08-27-2003, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZTAMich
Cornell lost another chapter there this past year as well...something isn't going so well there, to say the least.

I think there is a thread about Delta Chi closing there because of low numbers.

33girl · #11 08-27-2003, 07:12 PM

"Amazing" is usually used for positive things, like the Grand Canyon, Disney World, or in the case of the song, Linda McCartney.

"Tragic" is a better (and far less mean) word to describe this situation. As far as why didn't the efforts work, well, I haven't a clue. It would have been nice to hear from some of the actual sisters at Cornell rather than just their national spin doctor.

decadence · #12 08-27-2003, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Not to put bad light on this chapter but how can you say that this chapter put in hard work and gave their best efforts? Maybe they did and maybe they didn't. I"m sure they did but we don't know for sure.

Damasa: True, we won't/can't. Anyway to answer your question as to what I meant in saying they put in hard work I was more commenting on the fact that a lot of people/parties were apparently directing efforts into the failing chapter - i.e. "...the amount of teams going in there and the efforts to teach recruitment strategy" article statement. When I said "hard work by those within XO" I meant the Cornell chapter but additionally their IHQ (and possibly others such as chapter alumni/Cornell greek affairs) who had also, according to the article, put in a lot of work to try to arrest the decline (as opposed to any "seen this happen before, chapter is failing and that's that, let's not throw good money after bad" type of approach!).

[size=1.5]N.B: Re "seen this happen..." comment, I'm not saying anyone goes and says that I just used that wording, in responding to a question I was asked, to illustrate I meant one thing as opposed to that approach. [/size]

33Girl: I see your point, not to be mean (this is not a flame post) but it "amazed" me that a chapter can be strong, large, fine and 2 years later (which considering an average undergrad duration is 4 yrs ain't long!!) be gone, and I thought that that was "tragic". Re the sister/IHQ sentiment, yeah I agree.

DeltAlum · #13 08-27-2003, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by decadence
33Girl: I see your point, not to be mean (this is not a flame post) but it "amazed" me that a chapter can be strong, large, fine and 2 years later (which considering an average undergrad duration is 4 yrs ain't long!!) be gone, and I thought that that was "tragic". Re the sister/IHQ sentiment, yeah I agree.

Agree.

I said that, too. You can be amazed positively or negatively.

MoxieGrrl · #14 08-27-2003, 11:15 PM

Those poor girls...I'm so sorry to hear this news. My heart goes out to the Cornell Chi O's and their sisters everywhere.

AOcutiePi2002 · #15 08-31-2003, 11:49 PM

Let's see if I can set some things straight here:

As a Cornell greek myself, I can tell you that Chi Omega was NOT shut down due to any risk management issues....it was strictly due to the declining number of members, as the article says.

We also had Theta Chi shut down due to numbers, as was mentioned before. The part that you haven't hear yet is that we have several chapters re-opening and re-charting that have been here in the past, such as Pi Kappa Phi, Delta Chi, and DU, just to name a few.

Unfortunately, the greek situation was not helped by our former college president, who despised greek life and would have been very happy if we all folded. But, it looks like we will be getting a new sorority this fall, but we do not know which house yet.

Sorry for the rant, but I didn't think it was right to leave you all thinking that our greek system over here was dying out.

~Lacey