New Sorority on Campus?

[DeltaBetaBaby]

I don't know that I would "brag" about having lost a bunch of chapters. I just think it is extreme stupidity that they would not invite the group that OWNS A HOUSE ON CAMPUS, unless there is some large, mitigating factor of which I am unaware.

[aopirose]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I just think it is extreme stupidity that they would not invite the group that OWNS A HOUSE ON CAMPUS, unless there is some large, mitigating factor of which I am unaware.

In the cases that I have seen, it is those other factors.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I don't know that I would "brag" about having lost a bunch of chapters. I just think it is extreme stupidity that they would not invite the group that OWNS A HOUSE ON CAMPUS, unless there is some large, mitigating factor of which I am unaware.

Just because XYZ has a house on campus doesn't mean that QRS's presentation didn't appeal more to the students and chapters already there. If the other presenting chapters feel confident that they can acquire a house, I'm not sure that it makes a whole lot of difference, particularly to the girls voting on the issue.

[aopirose]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Just because XYZ has a house on campus doesn't mean that QRS's presentation didn't appeal more to the students and chapters already there. If the other presenting chapters feel confident that they can acquire a house, I'm not sure that it makes a whole lot of difference, particularly to the girls voting on the issue.

Exactly.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Right, but we are not yet at the presentation stage. If they presented and were not chosen, I could understand that. But why not give them the chance to present? I find it hard to believe that there is SO much differentiation among the written proposals that you could easily make the decision when narrowing it to three. Is there any org whose statement of interest is just so amazing that it would set them apart enough to ensure they get chosen?

I don't have much experience with expansions, so if someone could shed some light on how they do the initial narrowing from 7 to 3, I would appreciate it. I would just have assumed that an existing house would tip it in an org's favor.

(and in case anyone is wondering, my org is already on the campus, so this is not personal)

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Right, but we are not yet at the presentation stage. If they presented and were not chosen, I could understand that. But why not give them the chance to present? I find it hard to believe that there is SO much differentiation among the written proposals that you could easily make the decision when narrowing it to three. Is there any org whose statement of interest is just so amazing that it would set them apart enough to ensure they get chosen?

I don't have much experience with expansions, so if someone could shed some light on how they do the initial narrowing from 7 to 3, I would appreciate it. I would just have assumed that an existing house would tip it in an org's favor.

(and in case anyone is wondering, my org is already on the campus, so this is not personal)

These are just guesses but:

Perhaps all 7 orgs did not send in proposals for whatever reason
If one of them has a house on campus, perhaps it is rented out with a longterm lease that would prevent the chapter coming back

There could still be a negative attitude on campus toward XYZ
ABC could have been removed from campus due to disciplinary actions and thus is not high on the list to be brought back.

I guess I'm just saying there are a LOT of variables and again, if the chapters that do not own houses are confident that they can procure one, I don't think it makes any difference to the campus, or the decisions made by Panhel, etc.

There are a lot of houses at UofI that have been swapped around a lot. My mother is an alumna and we drove around once while she was telling me that *that* house used to be XYZs but now it belongs to someone else. There seems to be enough mobility there that a chapter could acquire a house fairly easily.


Also, if you think the proposals are all the same, how do any three chapters get chosen? Just random luck?

[SWTXBelle]

It is highly likely that all 7 did not send proposals - and as to the differences between those that did send them in, since we haven't seen them we don't know. It's like shopping for everything else - you may think a car is a car is a car, but some people will prefer Toyota, some Dodge, some Chevy, Some BMW . . .

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Also, if you think the proposals are all the same, how do any three chapters get chosen? Just random luck?

No, I don't think that. That is what I am asking. I know for a fact that the chapter in question was not an RM issue, and they have been gone long enough (10 years?) that nobody remembers their reputation. I also strongly suspect that they have alumnae support in the area, as much as the groups that were chosen. What else goes into the initial proposal?

I do know that the groups chosen all have nearby chapters, so that would be one mitigating factor, but the one with a house has more chapters at large schools.

I realize that we have not all seen the proposals, but my point is that there must be some sort of objective criteria on which the CPH is supposed to decide.

As far as lots of houses moving, I agree that it would be fairly easy to find a house to rent. However, it would take a sizeable chunk of change to buy a house large enough to compete with the other NPC's. Now, I have no idea if there is an advantage to renting vs. owning your chapter house, but I would think a chapter coming back to campus would not want to buy something right away, so that would mean they would have to rent, be sure the colonization goes as planned, and then move.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

No, I don't think that. That is what I am asking. I know for a fact that the chapter in question was not an RM issue, and they have been gone long enough (10 years?) that nobody remembers their reputation. I also strongly suspect that they have alumnae support in the area, as much as the groups that were chosen. What else goes into the initial proposal?

I do know that the groups chosen all have nearby chapters, so that would be one mitigating factor, but the one with a house has more chapters at large schools.

I realize that we have not all seen the proposals, but my point is that there must be some sort of objective criteria on which the CPH is supposed to decide.

As far as lots of houses moving, I agree that it would be fairly easy to find a house to rent. However, it would take a sizeable chunk of change to buy a house large enough to compete with the other NPC's. Now, I have no idea if there is an advantage to renting vs. owning your chapter house, but I would think a chapter coming back to campus would not want to buy something right away, so that would mean they would have to rent, be sure the colonization goes as planned, and then move.

It is possible that the chapter you're thinking of (I really have no idea) did not send a proposal. But in 3 minutes I came up with several viable possibilities for why XYZ wouldn't be chosen. There are a lot of reason, and I'd be surprised if all of it is objective. If the members of the CPH are voting and these are a bunch of college students, there are any number of reasons why they'd be more likely to choose ABC over DEF, not all of them logical or sound ones.

ETA: Also I'd be that they'd go ahead and buy a house if available. (Or buy lots and build one) I can't imagine they're going to anticipate the colonization failing at such a level where they wouldn't need one.

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

No, I don't think that. That is what I am asking. I know for a fact that the chapter in question was not an RM issue, and they have been gone long enough (10 years?) that nobody remembers their reputation. I also strongly suspect that they have alumnae support in the area, as much as the groups that were chosen. What else goes into the initial proposal?

I do know that the groups chosen all have nearby chapters, so that would be one mitigating factor, but the one with a house has more chapters at large schools.

I realize that we have not all seen the proposals, but my point is that there must be some sort of objective criteria on which the CPH is supposed to decide.

As far as lots of houses moving, I agree that it would be fairly easy to find a house to rent. However, it would take a sizeable chunk of change to buy a house large enough to compete with the other NPC's. Now, I have no idea if there is an advantage to renting vs. owning your chapter house, but I would think a chapter coming back to campus would not want to buy something right away, so that would mean they would have to rent, be sure the colonization goes as planned, and then move.

Well, the only one that isn't one of the 3 presenting and owns a house on campus and "has chapters at large schools" just recolonized at a very large school just 3 hours from U of I. That could have affected that group's desire to recolonize at U of I and panhellenic's desire to allow then to recolonize. Colonizations take a crap load of alumnae support and money.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

What else goes into the initial proposal?

I realize that we have not all seen the proposals, but my point is that there must be some sort of objective criteria on which the CPH is supposed to decide.

I don't know if this helps, but the following general information is required by The University of Kentucky (UK) IFC Expansion Committee from any fraternity wanting to expand to UK. I would guess that collegiate panhellenic councils might have similar type of requirements as part of the proposals.

1. Number of alumni within a 100-mile radius of Lexington [UK];

2. number of colonization attempts in the last five (5) years, their respective status, and the names of the institutions at which they are located;

3. number of colonization attempts presently pending and the names of the respective institutions;

4. name of the institution housing the nearest chartered chapter of the fraternity and its status;

5. the ratio of field staff/consultants to chapters/colonies and the set visitation program;

6. reason for interest in colonizing at the University of Kentucky; and

7. status of housing corporation/alumni boards and plans for facilities in Lexington [UK].