Other GC members from closed chapters?

TriDeltaSallie · #1 10-02-2005, 02:47 PM

I've been lurking around here for weeks, really enjoying being back in the world of Greek life! I especially enjoyed the Weird Rush Stories thread! Too funny and brought back many great memories!

I am wondering how many other people on GC are from closed chapters. I am a DDD from Michigan State and our chapter closed about three (?) years after I graduated. Although we were not one of the "top" groups on campus, I had the best sorority experience, was very involved, and it broke my heart when our chapter closed. I was a national volunteer at the time and the had the dubious "privilege" of being in the meeting at Convention with the Executive Board when the decision was made to close the chapter. Not an experience I would ever wish on anyone.

After being so involved during college, it has been very disappointing to have no real alumna involvement. DDD is not big in Michigan like it is in many other states. There is only one other chapter about four hours away and there are no active alumnae groups in this part of Michigan. Because the MSU chapter is closed, there is no house to go back to at Homecoming. etc.

Anyway, sorry to make my first post such a downer, but I was wondering if there are any other GC members who are part of closed chapters and have had/are having similar experiences? I was glad to find GC because there really isn't anyone in my everyday life who can relate to my sadness over this. I think some people on GC have mentioned in passing that their chapter is closed, but I've read so many threads that I can't remember who they were!

Glad to finally be an "official" part of GC!

Sallie

SmartBlondeGPhB · #2 10-02-2005, 03:10 PM

My original chapter is closed but I was fortunate enough to transfer to a school (for other reasons) who had a Gamma Phi chapter and I affiliated with them.

I agree though, it isn't something I would wish on anyone.

Can you start an alumnae chapter in your area? I don't know how DDD is, but my alumnae chapter is full of women from many different collegiate chapters (most in other states) and we do very little (collectively) with the local collegiate chapters. Our role is sisterhood and fun for alumnae.

winnieb · #3 10-02-2005, 03:11 PM

My chapter is closed (Kappa Alpha Chapter of AGD, Avila University) also. I was a charter member of my chapter.
We started as a local, obtained university permission to affiliate with an NPC group, and I watched all the presentations.
We (as a local and university) selected AGD and colonization began. We were the only sorority on campus, and there was one men's group that was an AKL colony (not sure of the official name) as well.
After lots of hard work we were finally chartered and initiated.
My chapter closed o ne or two years after I graduated. It was very sad, heartbreaking in fact.
But I am still active today---- I advise our chapter at the Univ of KS. It is bittersweet being around the chapter--- makes me miss what I had, and miss my own chapter even more--- but I have come to love chapter as if it were my own.

Tom Earp · #4 10-02-2005, 03:22 PM

OMG, Wendi, I may know one of Your Close Members!!! A Customer of mine is , oh never mind, She was an AXO and had the same experience You did at Avila with Chapters being closed!

Still beat from this weekend at Estate Sale.

For You AGDs, The Greek Advisor is AGD at Mo. St. Un. She Grad. at Mo. Western!

Sweet Lady!

PM_Mama00 · #5 10-02-2005, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TriDeltaSallie
I've been lurking around here for weeks, really enjoying being back in the world of Greek life! I especially enjoyed the Weird Rush Stories thread! Too funny and brought back many great memories!

I am wondering how many other people on GC are from closed chapters. I am a DDD from Michigan State and our chapter closed about three (?) years after I graduated. Although we were not one of the "top" groups on campus, I had the best sorority experience, was very involved, and it broke my heart when our chapter closed. I was a national volunteer at the time and the had the dubious "privilege" of being in the meeting at Convention with the Executive Board when the decision was made to close the chapter. Not an experience I would ever wish on anyone.

After being so involved during college, it has been very disappointing to have no real alumna involvement. DDD is not big in Michigan like it is in many other states. There is only one other chapter about four hours away and there are no active alumnae groups in this part of Michigan. Because the MSU chapter is closed, there is no house to go back to at Homecoming. etc.

Anyway, sorry to make my first post such a downer, but I was wondering if there are any other GC members who are part of closed chapters and have had/are having similar experiences? I was glad to find GC because there really isn't anyone in my everyday life who can relate to my sadness over this. I think some people on GC have mentioned in passing that their chapter is closed, but I've read so many threads that I can't remember who they were!

Glad to finally be an "official" part of GC!

Sallie

What's with chapters closing at MSU? Phi Mu closed there a few years ago. I mean I know some of the reasons but have a lot closed there? (you can PM me... didn't mean to hijack

)

FSUZeta · #6 10-02-2005, 04:59 PM

dear sallie, welcome to greekchat. i second what sbgpb said-if it is allowed in tri delta, start a new alumnae chapter where you live. when i moved to naples, there was no zta alumnae chapter, so i got in touch with the right people and started one if that is not feasible, maybe joining the local alumnae panhellenic would be the next best thing.

g41965 · #7 10-02-2005, 06:45 PM

My chapter closed in 2000, thirteen years after I graduated , closure was due to steadily declining numbers on a very tough campus -UT-Austin.When I pledged we had 85 members, by 2000 we had 12. The decline did not happen in a strait line, we went up and down, going from a post vietnam peak of 95 members in 1982 to 40 in 1986 back up to 65 by 1992 and then a long slow slide in the 1990s. It hurts as my chapter had had a presence on UT since 1947. We were never the top, the old southern fraternities always were the biggest KA, SAE etc. but we were good in athletics had a big house and had alot of fun.
DU tried to recolonize in 2001 but pulled out due to risk management problems with the colony, don't know if a revival is in the works.

TriDeltaSallie · #8 10-02-2005, 06:48 PM

PM_Mama00 -

Yes, a number of sororities have closed at MSU. Last year DH and I were in East Lansing so we took a drive around to see who was still there and who wasn't. I know that Alpha Xi Delta, Tri Delta, Alpha Gamma Delta, and Phi Mu have all closed in the last 10 years or so.

(Moderators - If what I'm writing here isn't kosher, let me know.)

I was at MSU from 1985-1990, pledging in 1987. There were 17 sororities and there was definitely three tiers. All of the chapters that have since closed would have been considered bottom tier groups. I don't have experience with other panhellenics, but I would say there was not a strong sense of "we all win when all of the chapters are strong" among the sorority community. It was certainly there among some segments, but it was not a pervasive attitude.

A lot of students work at MSU. When I was there, the vast majority of students held jobs. I think the economic downturns of the 90's probably hurt a lot of the sororities, especially the ones that were already struggling. A lot of women had to work to stay in school, not just work for spending money and sorority expenses. A lot of my sorority sisters worked to pay for their sorority membership.

I think there were other issues involved with the houses that closed. House location and the style/type of the house was a big negative for some chapters (including my own). I also think there were just too many sororities for the campus. AOPi came on campus while I was there and that troubled a lot of the sororities already there who were struggling to make quota. It was not unusual for several of the then 17 sororities to not make quota or even come close. When you have that many chapters not making quota, I don't think it is JUST about those chapters. I think there were too many chapters. A lot of the middle tier and lower tier sororities really felt slapped in the face when extension happened when numerous chapters were already struggling. I guess from the perspective of some it might seem like chapters closing was in the best interest of the Greek system because it "right sized" the sorority community. But for all those sisters and alumnae it is very hard to see happen.

So that's what I know. I haven't heard how many women went through rush or what quota was this year. If anyone knows, I would be interested to hear!

Sallie

Coramoor · #9 10-02-2005, 08:25 PM

That's how it used to be at WVU. We had like 15 or so sororities, but now we have 8.

There was a bunch of closings and numbers were down, but now things are on the up swing and we could more than likely have a few sororities re-colonize but the current ones always vote it down.

winnieb · #10 10-02-2005, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tom Earp
OMG, Wendi, I may know one of Your Close Members!!! A Customer of mine is , oh never mind, She was an AXO and had the same experience You did at Avila with Chapters being closed!

Still beat from this weekend at Estate Sale.

For You AGDs, The Greek Advisor is AGD at Mo. St. Un. She Grad. at Mo. Western!

Sweet Lady!

Tom-- are you sure it was Avila? If so, she has to be an AGD--we are the only NPC group EVER on the campus.
Find out who and PM me!!

AGDAlum · #11 10-03-2005, 09:51 AM

Sallie,
Your experience is like mine. I was completing my year as a leadership consultant when my chapter (at Mizzou) was closed in 1975.

Even if there is not a local alumnae club the fraternity would surely love to have you serve on the province or national committee level.

AGDAlum

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TriDeltaSallie
[I am wondering how many other people on GC are from closed chapters. I am a DDD from Michigan State and our chapter closed about three (?) years after I graduated. Although we were not one of the "top" groups on campus, I had the best sorority experience, was very involved, and it broke my heart when our chapter closed. I was a national volunteer at the time and the had the dubious "privilege" of being in the meeting at Convention with the Executive Board when the decision was made to close the chapter. Not an experience I would ever wish on anyone.

After being so involved during college, it has been very disappointing to have no real alumna involvement. DDD is not big in Michigan like it is in many other states. There is only one other chapter about four hours away and there are no active alumnae groups in this part of Michigan. Because the MSU chapter is closed, there is no house to go back to at Homecoming. etc.

AlphaFrog · #12 10-03-2005, 10:32 AM

My chapter closed in 2002. It is an official "Chapter in the Sky".

Jimmy Choo · #13 10-03-2005, 05:09 PM

My local was colonized on by a national in 2000. It was very sad b/c I had been had officer in my local so it was very sad to see something I had worked so in just disappear. Currently though, some of us are working to try to establish an alumni chapter so we can at least keep in touch and talk about "the good ole days". You should definatly talk to your national and try to get TriDelts in your area together. Even if they aren't women that were in your chapter, its nice to be around your sisters!

And I can completely related on how sad it is to go back to homecomming and not have events to go back to. Homecomming is some years so very sad.

Erik P Conard · #14 10-03-2005, 06:02 PM

One of the first, if not the first, colony was at Hays, KS or U of KS
in 1940. A colony is started from scratch, no predecessor...
An affiliate is a group taken by a national and is generally a local
group. An affiliate is not a colony.
Somehow we have lost the difference between the two terms
A merger is the coming together of two or more groups, usually
with some concessions from each group.
An absorption is the taking in of a group, usually with no terms
other than joining the two. Kinda like an unconditional surrender.
Sometimes a badge modification or ritual amendments or the alteration of a pledge pin...these are a result of a merger. Like
Lambda Chi & Theta Kappa Nu or TKE & Alpha Lambda Tau or
Phi Kappa & Theta Kappa Phi=Phi Kappa Theta.
TKE was going to merge with Kappa Delta Rho and be known as
Tau Kappa Delta, about 1939. The Tekes turned it down, but the
KDR's approved. So, it never happened...a merger

CarolinaDG · #15 10-03-2005, 08:10 PM

I am also from a closed chapter. It closed my senior year... Our numbers and relations on campus and with each other were improving, but I think it was a matter of "too little, too late."

I think the most frustrating thing about it is that unless you went through it, you will never understand... and because of that there's no way to really help it from happening to other chapters. Plus, explaining all of the details within a chapter is often a breach of confidentiality.

My sophomore year, when I pledged, Kappa Alpha Theta closed. I remember asking one of my friends in the chapter what happened, and her telling some things, and just thinking, "I'm so glad that we'll never have to go through that." Two years later, there we were having to close our chapter. It's sad, but like you, I wouldn't change anything about it. I often look back at the Greek Life site (I only graduated a year ago, so I still have friends) and am jealous of the beautiful houses they are building, and the fact that their alumnae have something to go back to... But when it comes down to it, in 2001 I pledged the chapter that I fit in with best.