Duke's Alpha Omicron Pi chapter to close

[Jill1228]

sad when this happens

AOII to disband at Duke (Delta Upsilon chapter)
By: Julia Love
Posted: 10/27/08
Members of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority have decided to disband their chapter on campus, said President Celia Glass, a senior.

The decision was put to members of the sorority for a vote about two weeks ago, and the chapter will officially close Oct. 31. Although current sisters will be unable to join another sorority in the Panhellenic Association, they were initiated as alumnae members Saturday and will remain active in the Triangle Alumnae Chapter, Glass said.

"[Being in AOPi] has been a great experience for me all the way throughout," Glass said. "We're looking forward to remaining close friends, lifelong sisters."

AOPi extended nine bids during 2008 formal recruitment, the only chapter that failed to meet the 32-member quota set for all Panhel sororities that year, according to previous reports by The Chronicle. The sorority has fallen far short of the membership target since at least 2005.

To account for the loss of AOPi, Panhel may increase the new member quota for 2009 Formal Recruitment by one to two women per chapter, members of Panhel confirmed. Panhel will revisit the possibility of bringing another sorority to campus in the Spring, and AOPi hopes to recolonize within the next few years.

[AOII Angel]

I'm so sorry to hear this news. I knew they'd struggled. It's never fun to lose a chapter.

[irishpipes]

Especially a chapter that won JWH Cup in 1989. Things can sure change in a hurry.

[KSUViolet06]

This is sad to hear, but perhaps they can return at some point in the future.

[dukemama]

I suspected this was coming, but it's still sad. A good friend of mine was a sister in this chapter. Hope they can recolonize in the future.

[honeychile]

My sincere sympathy to the sisters/alumnae. I hope they can regroup & come back on campus soon.

[FSUZeta]

it is so sad to hear this. i hope that the campus supports the sisters of AOII and that they will be able to recolonize soon.

[Low C Sharp]

If the campus supported the chapter more, things might not have reached this point.

I know a number of alumnae of this chapter. Suffice it to say that it isn't the most Panhellenic campus in the world.
________
Vanila cam

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

If the campus supported the chapter more, things might not have reached this point.

I know a number of alumnae of this chapter. Suffice it to say that it isn't the most Panhellenic campus in the world.

That's sad to hear. I wonder how the other chapters will do now that the low man on the totum pole is out of the picture? When the bottom chapter goes, there is always a new bottom chapter.

[true_blue]

I'm so sorry to hear this!

[OleMissGlitter]

Very sorry to hear this. I had heard as well that the campus was not very Panhellenic at all. Hopefully, AOII can return one day to Duke.

[RU OX Alum]

I'm sorry for those sisters.

[Silmanarmo]

This is horrible. I hope they start up again.

[SydneyK]

Originally Posted by Jill1228

...Members of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority have decided to disband their chapter on campus...The decision was put to members of the sorority for a vote

Is it common for the decision to be left to the sisterhood? I can't imagine voting to disband my own chapter.

[LaneSig]

Originally Posted by SydneyK

Is it common for the decision to be left to the sisterhood? I can't imagine voting to disband my own chapter.

I don't know how common it is, but it happens. When I was in school, the Kappa Delta chapter on my campus voted to close. It was just becoming too much of a struggle to continue as an active chapter. I don't think that any chapter faced with such a decision takes it lightly.