University of Alabama Recruitment 2007

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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.)

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by 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.

Ah. OK. Are we talking about the University of Alabama or University of Alaska? I kinda doubt Tuscaloosa, Alabama streets would move because of ice!

[BamaPike]

When I said years ago, I meant YEARS like back to the 20's and 30's. I was looking through some old Corolla's (the yearbook not the car!) and saw a map of the old streets. Colonial Drive existed but Magnolia didn't. There was a cul-de-sac off of Colonial that ended in front of the Tri-Delt, Alpha Gam and KD houses hence "First Circle". There was another cul-de-sac off of Colonial somewhere close to the Phi Mu house and ended roughly where the southern part of Magnolia exists today. Don't bet the farm on my info because it's been years since I've seen this info. Also, I should have used "rerouted" instead of moved. We have tornados and hurricanes in Tuscaloosa but thankfully no earthquakes!

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by BamaPike

When I said years ago, I meant YEARS like back to the 20's and 30's....

Oh, OK. I'm old, but not THAT old LOL!!! That's probably why "Second Circle" hasn't been used in recent memory.

[bamagirl09]

Y'all are so confused. I can't even address all of the wrong things that have been posted on this thread.

Old Row: SAE, DKE, KA, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gam, Sigma Nu
Kappa, KD, Chi O, Alpha Chi, Phi Mu, Tri Delt, Alpha Gam - has to do with social distinction, typically, but not always, stronger chapters.

First cirlce: KD, Tri Delt, Alpha Gam - has to do with location on Sorority Row.

Machine: Has old and new row houses.

Fraternities and sororities are equal in the machine. Proof would be all of the sorority women in SGA positions and two female SGA presidents in the past few years.

Fraternities go for the quality over quantity idea. Most of the fraternity pledge classes this year are around 40 men. The fraternities are making a concerted effort to grow in size. However, that takes time.

That's all I can think of for now. Most of you who aren't UA grads are, well, clueless.

[southernyankee]

Originally Posted by Bamarox

You can't join Old Row or leave Old Row. You simply are or are not Old Row. It has to do with the fraternity's or sorority's period of time on campus.

I haven't posted in forever! My daughter is a sophomore pi phi at Bama and just thought i'd mention that they had an awesome rush too! She seemed thrilled with all the wonderful girls that they got and the low percentage of girls that "dropped" them!

As for "old row", i just found out the pi phi will be acquiring that status...which makes me think you are correct... that it is determined by amt. of time on campus.

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by bamagirl09

...Most of you who aren't UA grads are, well, clueless.

Thank you Bamagirl...some of us old grads are also clueless.

Originally Posted by southernyankee

...As for "old row", i just found out the pi phi will be acquiring that status...which makes me think you are correct... that it is determined by amt. of time on campus.

It has nothing to do with the amount of time on campus. (Pi Phi is 4th "youngest" on campus). It's paying money to join the group.
Quoting Irishpipes here:
Chapters chartered at the University of Alabama:
Kappa Delta 1904
Alpha Delta Pi 1907
Zeta Tau Alpha 1910
Delta Delta Delta 1914
Alpha Gamma Delta 1921
Chi Omega 1922
Delta Zeta 1922
Alpha Chi Omega 1924
Kappa Kappa Gamma 1927
Delta Phi Epsilon 1927-1973
Alpha Xi Delta 1927-1972 and 1981-1988
Phi Mu 1931
Alpha Phi 1932-1968
Sigma Kappa 1932-1995
Sigma Delta Tau 1935
Delta Gamma 1947-1978
Alpha Epsilon Phi 1948-1967
Pi Beta Phi 1949
Alpha Omicron Pi 1967
Kappa Alpha Theta 1967
Gamma Phi Beta 1988
(Sororities in italics no longer have chapters at UA)

[kk_bama]

Originally Posted by southernyankee

I haven't posted in forever! My daughter is a sophomore pi phi at Bama and just thought i'd mention that they had an awesome rush too! She seemed thrilled with all the wonderful girls that they got and the low percentage of girls that "dropped" them!

As for "old row", i just found out the pi phi will be acquiring that status...which makes me think you are correct... that it is determined by amt. of time on campus.

Just to get everybody clear on the age of chapters currently open at Alabama, here is the list. I think this clears up the fact that Old Row is more or less a social thing, as Pi Phi, if it is to be included this year, is one of the newer sororities.

# Kappa Delta 1904
# Alpha Delta Pi 1907–1909, recolonized 1931
# Zeta Tau Alpha 1910
# Delta Delta Delta 1914
# Alpha Gamma Delta 1921
# Chi Omega 1922
# Delta Zeta 1922
# Alpha Chi Omega 1924
# Kappa Kappa Gamma 1927
# Phi Mu 1931
# Sigma Delta Tau 1935
# Pi Beta Phi 1949
# Alpha Omicron Pi 1967
# Kappa Alpha Theta 1967
# Gamma Phi Beta 1988

[RollTide08]

Originally Posted by southernyankee

I haven't posted in forever! My daughter is a sophomore pi phi at Bama and just thought i'd mention that they had an awesome rush too! She seemed thrilled with all the wonderful girls that they got and the low percentage of girls that "dropped" them!

As for "old row", i just found out the pi phi will be acquiring that status...which makes me think you are correct... that it is determined by amt. of time on campus.

Pi Phi had an amazing rush this year and is a very strong chapter, but they aren't joining Old Row this year. Old Row is limited to the seven chapters that are in it now. Chapters can choose not to participate in Old Row, but should they choose not to participate, another chapter doesn't step in to take its place. As it stands, every chapter that participated in Old Row last year is participating this year.