Poaching Legacies

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Maybe those schools with more legacies that Quota need to add another chapter - it blows my mind that schools who have over 200 members only have 9-10 chapters! In the long run, that's probably the same amount of PNMs involved as, say Illinois or Penn State. ADD A CHAPTER - it will NOT hurt your prestige!!

I have to agree with you Honeychile, but a chapter with 70 members can't support the big houses that these big big chapters have at a lot of schools. Also, it's the PNMS who drop out rather than pledge a newer or smaller chapter. Example: Ole Miss, which has tried and tried to keep chapters, but they just can't pledge enough and there is no where else to build a house. There are chapters at Ole Miss, Alabama and Auburn that are approaching 300 members. That's a small industry, not a sisterhood.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

I have to agree with you Honeychile, but a chapter with 70 members can't support the big houses that these big big chapters have at a lot of schools. Also, it's the PNMS who drop out rather than pledge a newer or smaller chapter. Example: Ole Miss, which has tried and tried to keep chapters, but they just can't pledge enough and there is no where else to build a house. There are chapters at Ole Miss, Alabama and Auburn that are approaching 300 members. That's a small industry, not a sisterhood.

Well the only evidence that it might be possible to lower chapter size down to 70 and still run in the black is the fact that fraternities on the same campuses often with similarly sized houses can be financially solvent at much lower numbers.

But you're right even if it were sustainable from the financial perspective, it wouldn't work: it's so hard for a new group to break into that system and make it. The traditions of the groups are so strong.

On campuses where expansions take, adding groups is a great idea. But at Old Miss or even Mississippi State, good luck to ya! It's not a coincidence they don't have more groups.

So working with what we know, is it better to have big chapters or do something like Ohio State's firm total to keep the size under control?

I think a girl is better off in a huge chapter than not getting to be Greek at all.

[Zillini]

I agree that campuses with ever growing Greek systems should be looking to expand. It's a blessing and a curse having these incredibly large pledge classes year in and year out. It's wonderful to have a strong Chapter and an overall strong Greek system, but the sheer numbers make it difficult to manage the group as a whole.

Bama's in that situation with Chapter size and quota climbing each year. This year is looking to be no different. We are talking about expansion but can't until the University can offer comperable locations for housing. For anyone who is familiar with the campus, that's a big challenge, though there are a few possibilities. Point being, until that's available we can't expand. At the earliest in 2-3 years from what I've been told.

I was also told by our former Greek Advisor that the Univ wouldn't just expand by 1. They want 2 so that no one group is the "low man on the totem pole". So once space is available then we'll then go through the expansion selection process. Rumors (emphasize that) I've heard is that while almost every GLO that isn't currently on campus would love to come there are financial considerations that make them a bit hesitant. I've also heard it will take $1 mill +/- to build a comperable house.

ETA: I almost forgot. The GA also said that once the Board of Trustees approves a site for new housing it would be offered first to the current sororities if they wish to build a new house. A Chapter could then sell their old house to one of the new expansions. What I don't know is how it would be decided which Chapters would get to do this if there are more interested than there is space available. Highest bid? Random drawing? I'm also not sure how many would want to. /eta

Another thing worth mentioning, I was told by our accountant at least 10 years ago that our break even point for operating our physical chapter house was 120. Inflation and an aging house surely have affected that number, but we also have increased room and board fees over the years. I'm not sure if that's still an accurate number and I probably need to find out. Point being, the problem is not just whether a new sorority's International has the money to fund building a new house, but will the Chapter then be able to recruit enough members year in and year out to maintain it and service the expected mortgage?

Then we also have to factor in that it is a highly competitive campus for Recruitment. It could be difficult for any new or even returning sorority to get a strong foothold. Other rumored concerns are that while maybe the first few years they may pledge strong numbers due to the newness/excitement, but will it last? From my own experience here I can't tell you how many pnm's we see each year who say "I'm going XYZ/Old Row or nothing." I hope that this mindset can be overcome, but face it on a campus with such strong traditions it could be tough.

Please don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Bama expand. But it's easier said than done both here and on similar campuses.

[NutBrnHair]

"Poaching!" I love the term -- never heard it called that regarding legacies.

Not that I'm competitive (well, maybe just a wee little bit!), but I did take great pleasure in rushing and pledging other group's legacies.

I can think of two "success" stories from when I was a collegian:

"Jan" was the great-grandaughter of a founder of Phi Mu. Her mother called her before pref and said she was "polishing the badge" for her. She joined Chi Omega and was a very happy, active member and alumna. Her freshman year she was Homecoming Queen!

"Pam" got a strong rush from Chi Omega, but pledged Phi Mu. We continued to remain friends throughout her freshman year. She depledged Phi Mu before her initiation and joined Chi Omega the next year during formal rush. She later served the chapter as an officer and was a Miss Mercer contestant.

You think I was a good poacher??!?

[adpiucf]

I wouldn't say we rushed other sorority's legacies with the intent to steal them away, but if the PNM legacy was amazing and a good fit for us, then the fact that we "stole" her from her legacy sorority was a buzz within our chapter.

When I saw this thread, I actually thought of one of my chapter sisters right away-- Jill. In addition to having great grades and actvities, as well as being positively adorable, she was also a triple ZTA legacy, and we all knew it.

So on Bid Day, when we got our Bid List, we cheered as our president read Jill's name out loud-- you heard whispers of, "That's the triple ZTA legacy!" throughout... but it isn't like we'd go over to another sorority and taunt them or brag-- I don't think any UCF chapter would dream of doing that b/c all of our members have close friends in other chapters. We were just very excited about our new sister.

Jill was an ADPi through and through. One year during Spirit Week (what we call Work Week), everyone was stressing out, she got one of those toddler towels at Target-- you know, the towels that have an animal face for the hood? Anyway, she had the lion towel draped over her head (she was really teeny!) and skipped around the house, sneaking up on people shouting, "Roar!!! Smile, you guys!!!" It cheered everyone up!

And of course, it was always exciting when we welcomed our own sorority legacies to our chapter, especially if their legacy sister joined us for initiation!

[estherjb]

[quote=AlphaGamUGAAlum;1486420]Well the only evidence that it might be possible to lower chapter size down to 70 and still run in the black is the fact that fraternities on the same campuses often with similarly sized houses can be financially solvent at much lower numbers.

But you wouldn't let your daughter live in one. Girls cost more because they want things like working plumbing and pest control.

[AnchorAlumna]

[quote=estherjb;1505280]

Originally Posted by AlphaGamUGAAlum

Well the only evidence that it might be possible to lower chapter size down to 70 and still run in the black is the fact that fraternities on the same campuses often with similarly sized houses can be financially solvent at much lower numbers.

But you wouldn't let your daughter live in one. Girls cost more because they want things like working plumbing and pest control.

LOL!!!! How true!!!!!