University of Alabama Recruitment 2007

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by LXA SE285

Is First Circle the first three sororities to build houses on campus or the three oldest continuously operating chapters? I've heard both ...

I truly never heard of "First Circle." It's just "Circle," and it was the sororities which were located on or very near the circle bounded by KD, AGD, DDD, and AXOmega. The term has pretty much fallen out of use in favor of "Old Row." And true, "Old Row" is not synonymous with the Machine. The fraternities of the Machine use to pretty much tell the sororities what to do, and NEVER backed a sorority member for an SGA office. That has changed...some. Really, the sororities have WAY more members than fraternities and ought to take over the Machine! (And yes, I admire Minda Riley for standing up to them!)

[MVisKD]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

I truly never heard of "First Circle." It's just "Circle," and it was the sororities which were located on or very near the circle bounded by KD, AGD, DDD, and AXOmega. The term has pretty much fallen out of use in favor of "Old Row." And true, "Old Row" is not synonymous with the Machine. The fraternities of the Machine use to pretty much tell the sororities what to do, and NEVER backed a sorority member for an SGA office. That has changed...some. Really, the sororities have WAY more members than fraternities and ought to take over the Machine! (And yes, I admire Minda Riley for standing up to them!)

The First Circle sororities are KD, DDD & AGD. I don't really remember the history behind it, I just remember thinking that it was because those were the first sororities on campus. But seeing as how I only know KD's history I cannot vouch for that. First Circle had a private party every year and that was pretty much the extent....I don't know if they still do this or not but I am certain no one refers to them as "First Circle" in everyday chatter.

[Flora]

Originally Posted by MVisKD

The First Circle sororities are KD, DDD & AGD. I don't really remember the history behind it, I just remember thinking that it was because those were the first sororities on campus. But seeing as how I only know KD's history I cannot vouch for that. First Circle had a private party every year and that was pretty much the extent....I don't know if they still do this or not but I am certain no one refers to them as "First Circle" in everyday chatter.

The UA Alpha Gam website says, "The Psi Chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta was founded on the University of Alabama campus on November 18, 1921. As one of the first three sorority houses on campus, Alpha Gam is a member of First Circle." http://bama.ua.edu/~alphagam/history.html

[azureblue]

According to the Alabama ADPi website:

The Eta chapter was founded March 21, 1907, making it the second oldest women’s sorority at the Capstone. It was the first active chapter in the state of Alabama. On February 24, 2007, Eta Chapter celebrated 100 years of sisterhood with its current members, alumni, and international officers.

I never see ADPi listed as an "Old Row" or "First Circle", even though only KD has been there longer (1904). Does anybody know why?

[MVisKD]

Originally Posted by azureblue

According to the Alabama ADPi website:

The Eta chapter was founded March 21, 1907, making it the second oldest women’s sorority at the Capstone. It was the first active chapter in the state of Alabama. On February 24, 2007, Eta Chapter celebrated 100 years of sisterhood with its current members, alumni, and international officers.

I never see ADPi listed as an "Old Row" or "First Circle", even though only KD has been there longer (1904). Does anybody know why?

I do not. Perhaps their house wasn't built until later?

[bamabelle99]

Originally Posted by azureblue

I never see ADPi listed as an "Old Row" or "First Circle", even though only KD has been there longer (1904). Does anybody know why?

That's because they don't pay to be considered an "Old Row" sorority...neither does ZTA which came to campus right after ADPi...

I don't know enough about First Circle to comment - when I was at Bama, I remember them having a First Circle party, but that's it. I think KD, Alpha Gam, and Tri-Delt were the first three physical houses on sorority row (not necessarily the first chapters established on campus)...at least where sorority row is now. I know when ZTA first came on campus they were in a house somewhere else on campus, but that house burned so they built their current house (years and years ago).

[magnoliacurious]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

I truly never heard of "First Circle." It's just "Circle," and it was the sororities which were located on or very near the circle bounded by KD, AGD, DDD, and AXOmega. The term has pretty much fallen out of use in favor of "Old Row." And true, "Old Row" is not synonymous with the Machine. The fraternities of the Machine use to pretty much tell the sororities what to do, and NEVER backed a sorority member for an SGA office. That has changed...some. Really, the sororities have WAY more members than fraternities and ought to take over the Machine! (And yes, I admire Minda Riley for standing up to them!)

I've wondered for a while why Alabama sororities often have significantly more members than fraternities. Do y'all think if they traditionally recruited most of their members at a fall formal rush instead of informally over the spring and summer they would be much bigger? It would definitely seem so if they saw everybody and everybody saw them. Certainly with the Machine and all, it would seem they would be popular for those who could get in. They have been growing steadily since 2003 when they put more emphasis on formal rush and went to potential members in Alabama cities instead of having them come to them.

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by magnoliacurious

I've wondered for a while why Alabama sororities often have significantly more members than fraternities. Do y'all think if they traditionally recruited most of their members at a fall formal rush instead of informally over the spring and summer they would be much bigger? It would definitely seem so if they saw everybody and everybody saw them. Certainly with the Machine and all, it would seem they would be popular for those who could get in. They have been growing steadily since 2003 when they put more emphasis on formal rush and went to potential members in Alabama cities instead of having them come to them.

Fraternities rush in a totally different way...dare I say, DISORGANIZED way? LOL!!
Sororities are way more organized, both individually and as a group. NPC-style recruitment is geared toward placing as many PNMs as possible. Most fraternities sign up their pledges at summer rush parties. Very few pledge through formal recruitment. IMHO: stupid, but that's the way it's always been. And gosh darn, they aren't about to change!

[magnoliacurious]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

Fraternities rush in a totally different way...dare I say, DISORGANIZED way? LOL!!
Sororities are way more organized, both individually and as a group. NPC-style recruitment is geared toward placing as many PNMs as possible. Most fraternities sign up their pledges at summer rush parties. Very few pledge through formal recruitment. IMHO: stupid, but that's the way it's always been. And gosh darn, they aren't about to change!

So it sounds like you agree with me that fraternities as a whole would have lots more members if they historically had a more emphasized formal rush, am I right? I would think even if the individual ones didn't have a quota, and the popular ones knew about who they wanted already, the upshot of having more go through rush was that several more individual frats would end up taking more new members as well as the system as a whole than would have been the case with most of the recruiting done informally, no? In fact, when I told an Ole Miss fraternity alum who considered going to Alabama out-of-high-school recently about how Alabama frats recruit; he looked surprised and said "that's interesting, I assumed every school did it like this (formal fraternity recruitment)."

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by magnoliacurious

So it sounds like you agree with me that fraternities as a whole would have lots more members if they historically had a more emphasized formal rush, am I right? I would think even if the individual ones didn't have a quota, and the popular ones knew about who they wanted already, the upshot of having more go through rush was that several more individual frats would end up taking more new members as well as the system as a whole than would have been the case with most of the recruiting done informally, no? In fact, when I told an Ole Miss fraternity alum who considered going to Alabama out-of-high-school recently about how Alabama frats recruit; he looked surprised and said "that's interesting, I assumed every school did it like this (formal fraternity recruitment)."

Yes, I do agree. And Alabama DOES have a formal fraternity rush (they still call it rush), but it is extremely small compared to the sororities' formal process.

[magnoliacurious]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

Yes, I do agree. And Alabama DOES have a formal fraternity rush (they still call it rush), but it is extremely small compared to the sororities' formal process.

Thanks, that's about what I thought! Yeah, I knew they had a formal rush, but it's been much less important as I understand it than informal recruitment. Although like I've been saying, they have been placing more importance on it, particularly for out-of-state guys and those who don't know which fraternity they want to be in. I guess they've felt they have a good enough number of members and pretty much all the clout and whatever else they may want. But it seems like they could be really, REALLY big!! Just my humble two cents. Thanks again!

[BamaPike]

MANY years ago, there was a "Second Circle" which was in the neighborhood of the Zeta and Phi Mu houses. It disappeared when newer houses were constructed and streets were moved.

As far as the Old Row thing is concerned, when I was at Bama in the mid 80's, the fraternities were Sigma Nu, Phi Gam, Phi, Deke, SAE and KA and the Sororities were Alpha Gam, KD, Chi O, Tri-Delt, Phi Mu and Kappa. If I remember correctly, I think that the Pikes, Sigma Chi's and Alpha Chi's took part in some of the Old Row parties and there may have been other houses like AOPi and Theta Chi.

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by BamaPike

MANY years ago, there was a "Second Circle" which was in the neighborhood of the Zeta and Phi Mu houses. It disappeared when newer houses were constructed and streets were moved.

As far as the Old Row thing is concerned, when I was at Bama in the mid 80's, the fraternities were Sigma Nu, Phi Gam, Phi, Deke, SAE and KA and the Sororities were Alpha Gam, KD, Chi O, Tri-Delt, Phi Mu and Kappa. If I remember correctly, I think that the Pikes, Sigma Chi's and Alpha Chi's took part in some of the Old Row parties and there may have been other houses like AOPi and Theta Chi.

Must have been longer ago than 1970! I never heard of "First" or "Second Circle"...just "the Circle." Streets moved???? When? Where?

[AGDLynn]

Streets moved???? When? Where?

Well, hubby was born in Anchorage, AK and the streets had moved b/c of the ice or something decades later, lol.

[RollTide08]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

Must have been longer ago than 1970! I never heard of "First" or "Second Circle"...just "the Circle." Streets moved???? When? Where?

Really? I'm an active member at a UA chapter, and I've always heard it called "First Circle", never just "Circle". The First Circle consists of AGD, Tri-Delt, and KD, and they have a party every other year (the off years they put the money into a float for the homecoming parade.)