LSU

tootiepie2 · #1 08-20-2011, 10:04 PM

Today was bid day at LSU. While I was there a lot of people were talking about possible expansion. My daughter said that there were reps from several sororities there during icewaters. The ones she remembered where ADPi, AChiO, and AOPi, Guess they are trying to break the alpha curse!!!I assume they were looking at the number of PNM's and the need for a new sorority. There are ten sororities at LSU and over 1000 PNM's. They have had this many for a few years. There is at least one empty house on the row. It would take a lot of refurbishing but there is housing. Also there are a few fraternities on the row in former sorority houses. I Don't know if those houses are being leased or if they bought them or if the university owns them.
Unfortunetly I don't have to much info, I assume all groups made quota. Everyone was very excited. My daughters sorority was thrilled with their pledge class and are off celebrating now.

KSUViolet06 · #2 08-20-2011, 10:15 PM

There has been expansion talk at LSU for a few years now (according to GC LSUers).

It's one of those schools where groups seem to be hesistant to express interest in because of the housing situation (based on what you've said, there may be something available now though), the financial investment/time/manpower it takes to start an SEC colony, and the campus culture re: sororities.

A lot of schools like LSU are such that name recognition of a sorority is really important. Women are generally wary of pledging a sorority that doesn't have a strong regional presence (either in LA or in their respective Southern hometowns.) So it's hard for a new group to succeed there.

On the other side of the coin, the stigma of having had a chapter there and being closed tends to stick around. So bringing back a closed chapter can be hard too, depending on how recent it was.

These are just my observations regarding why it would be hard. Feel free to correct me if I'm off base at all.

With that said, I would love to see a new group there if it could work out and thrive.

Just interested · #3 08-20-2011, 10:28 PM

The 3 groups mentioned by tootiepie 2 do have great SEC name recognition. Great to know they were at LSU taking a look.
I heard KD took 84 new members today. So quota again was high.
Houston sends more girls to LSU than many of our larger Texas schools.

tootiepie2 · #4 08-20-2011, 10:35 PM

I am hoping with success that Alabama seems to be having that they might take a chance on LSU. I definetly understand the stigma problem but most of those sororities have been gone so long that not too many people even remember they were there. Of course that might be a problem because I am sure they want a strong alum presence to help.
Who knows what will happen but most of the girls I talked to supported a new group coming in. They said it is just getting way to big. Now will the PNM's support it?

AOII Angel · #5 08-21-2011, 12:57 AM

LSU invited ADPi, AOPi, APhi, AChiO, AXiD and AGD to observe recruitment. The CPC will decide after recruitment whether or not to open for expansion. Apparently these are groups that have expressed interest in returning to LSU.

DubaiSis · #6 08-21-2011, 01:53 AM

That's pretty alpha-tastic! I wonder if anyone still owns houses there. I'm sure there would be big expense in bringing a sorority house back to pretty if it's been used by a fraternity house for 20 years, but I'd think it's still cheaper than starting from scratch.

I'm always rooting for an Alpha Xi ending, and would love to see us get bigger in the old south, but maybe a bigger southern presence sorority would make more sense? But looking at chapters in LA, only AOII has more than one (among the alphas). I guess only time will tell! I would love to be part of our expansion team and see how it all works. There's so much more to it than just winning a presentation contest.

ms_gwyn · #7 08-21-2011, 03:44 AM

I think around 2002 or between 2002-04, Sigma was asked to colonize, we backed out for a lot of reason, but the main one that I can recall specifically was housing issues, the one that was "earmarked" for occupation there were a lot of problems.....

Good luck if the campus opens to the Alpha ladies on breaking the curse!

lovespink88 · #8 08-21-2011, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

That's pretty alpha-tastic! I wonder if anyone still owns houses there. I'm sure there would be big expense in bringing a sorority house back to pretty if it's been used by a fraternity house for 20 years, but I'd think it's still cheaper than starting from scratch.

Our Kappa chapter (my chapter) is currently housed a in former fraternity house and from what I have heard, yes, yes it is.

AZTheta · #9 08-21-2011, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

There has been expansion talk at LSU for a few years now (according to GC LSUers).

It's one of those schools where groups seem to be hesistant to express interest in because of the housing situation (based on what you've said, there may be something available now though), the financial investment/time/manpower it takes to start an SEC colony, and the campus culture re: sororities.

A lot of schools like LSU are such that name recognition of a sorority is really important. Women are generally wary of pledging a sorority that doesn't have a strong regional presence (either in LA or in their respective Southern hometowns.) So it's hard for a new group to succeed there.

On the other side of the coin, the stigma of having had a chapter there and being closed tends to stick around. So bringing back a closed chapter can be hard too, depending on how recent it was.

These are just my observations regarding why it would be hard. Feel free to correct me if I'm off base at all.

With that said, I would love to see a new group there if it could work out and thrive.

+1 to what you said.

And culture does not always embrace change. Which means that many PNMs will miss out on the lifetime experience of belonging to a GLO, because of the multiple factors KSUViolet identified. And that is really too, too bad.

DubaiSis · #10 08-21-2011, 08:37 AM

Because of recent VERY successful expansions on other big campuses, maybe there will be a change of heart. I guess that's what the expansion teams have to determine, and where huge marketing campaigns come into play. DG at Bama is a great example. The hype as been at maximum overdrive for more than a year, and I'm sure that's no accident on DG's part.

AOII Angel · #11 08-21-2011, 10:57 AM

Supposedly two groups have houses still on campus. I cant remember the other group, but AOII's house has been occupied by fraternities and would need to be razed to the ground. The local sisters are obsessed with the fireplace in the house, though, bc it used to belong to one of the
Longs (Huey P. or Earl K.) who were famous from Louisiana politics.

tootiepie2 · #12 08-21-2011, 12:23 PM

The empty houses look pretty bad on the outside, I am sure it would take a lot to get them up to standards, but looking at the houes they are building at Alabama I think it could be done. I don't know if all the girls feel the same or what the climate on campus is about expansion. My daughter and her friends think it would be great, they were very excited about the idea. I think this could be a good time for growth.

Both the Long's were very involved in LSU. I believe it was Huey who got the first fraternity Deke to come to campus.

AOII Angel · #13 08-21-2011, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tootiepie2

The empty houses look pretty bad on the outside, I am sure it would take a lot to get them up to standards, but looking at the houes they are building at Alabama I think it could be done. I don't know if all the girls feel the same or what the climate on campus is about expansion. My daughter and her friends think it would be great, they were very excited about the idea. I think this could be a good time for growth.

Both the Long's were very involved in LSU. I believe it was Huey who got the first fraternity Deke to come to campus.

Yeah, and Huey built Tiger stadium as a dorm because it was the only way he could get money for the project! Gotta love any means to an end politics.
I grew up in BTR and my sister is in the BTR alum chapter, so I'm crossing my fingers as hard as I can for return of Alpha O chapter of AOII!

tootiepie2 · #14 08-21-2011, 02:22 PM

Angel- have you ever watched the documentry LSU Forever. Lot's of really interesting info about the beginning of LSU and the Longs involvement. Huey was big into the band. HIred some famous conductor as the band director and used to march with band himself.Big Ego!!!!!

AOII Angel · #15 08-21-2011, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tootiepie2

Angel- have you ever watched the documentry LSU Forever. Lot's of really interesting info about the beginning of LSU and the Longs involvement. Huey was big into the band. HIred some famous conductor as the band director and used to march with band himself.Big Ego!!!!!

No, but I should. I love LSU. This weekend's shenanigans are breaking my heart.