Total Too Low???

[agzg]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

This whole situation seems ridiculous to me. But I’ll let all of you decide.

The chapter I advise is on a campus with two other NPC sororities. There has always been a debate as to what to do about total, and it has been brought up at least once each year in Panhellenic. Even with many discussions lasting far longer than they should, total has stayed at 40 for at least the past 7 years.

Just yesterday at a business meeting, I handed out a recruitment survey to all of the sisters to fill out, and in one of the questions I had said, “Total stands at 40…” and someone said, “Just so you know, total was just changed.” I found out that it went from 40 to 30. Even in the past when it had been discussed, it was never brought up that it should be this drastic of a change. From 40 to 35, maybe. But 40 to 30 seems extreme (I don’t know if it would seem that way on other campuses, but this is a huge jump for us because we’re so small already).

As I said, there are 3 NPC sororities on campus. In the time since I’ve been a sister (and knowing a little about the few years before I joined), I have seen/heard one of those chapters reach total a few times, one of those chapters has come extremely close once or twice, and one chapter has never had more than 20. We only have informal recruitment, so gaining interest for each individual chapter can be challenging.

This past semester, there was a huge interest in Greek life, especially among freshmen women, and with deferred recruitment, everyone is looking forward to a successful spring recruitment.

Which is why I’m confused. Right now, one chapter has 16 members, one has 24, and another has 28. It makes no sense to me why they would lower total by this much.

I know that one chapter always wants to have their numbers close to total, simply because they are required to pay dues according to what total stands at (Ex: Total is at 40, dues are $10 per member, they pay $400 no matter how many members they have). This is one of the main reasons why total has been brought up year after year.

But I also have to wonder if this decision has been partially influenced by the Greek Advisor. Although she’ll never admit it, she clearly wants to move closer to a more structured form of recruitment. I completely agree that it would be beneficial to SLOWLY move in that direction. But she seems to want to do it all at once. Also, she’s been heard talking about bringing another sorority to campus. I would think it was a rumor, but they are currently attempting to bring another fraternity to campus, also, and that might happen within the next year or so. I would think that if it was attempted to bring another sorority to campus, the whole project might fail, as we’re still attempting to gain a general interest in Greek life on campus.

IMO, I think the Greek Advisor wants to bring the sororities to total in order to “prove” that we either a) need formal recruitment, or b) need another sorority.

What do all of you think? Opinions? Even if you were to exclude the aspect of the Greek Advisor’s standpoint, do you think that it was wise for them to lower total with two chapters who are now very close to that ceiling, and with a quickly approaching spring recruitment period that will most likely be very successful?

If you go to a more structured recruitment, total won't cause any problems for the two larger chapters (because you bid to quota, not total, and you can go over total as long as you don't go over quota).

IMO, it might help to have a more structured recruitment (formal recruitment with three chapters isn't really an option, but partially structured could work well) by means of drumming up more interest and working TOGETHER, instead of separately doing COR, which, from what I know of your campus, groups are more interested in doing what THEY do rather than helping everyone else out with recruitment.

Oh, and your Greek Advisor does not want to bring another group to campus. That's just a rumor. Even if she did want to, she can't force Panhellenic Council to open for expansion. But that doesn't matter, because what you're hearing is just a rumor.

ETA: When I was an active, there was a chapter that doubled their size by meeting quota through formal recruitment then continuing to bid through COR. I don't know if they would have been able to do that if there hadn't been something to get them started (formal recruitment).

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by alphagamzetagam

If you go to a more structured recruitment, total won't cause any problems for the two larger chapters (because you bid to quota, not total, and you can go over total as long as you don't go over quota).

The problem is, we're not doing structured recruitment right now. So isn't this hurting the two chapters who are close to total, especially the one that currently has 28 members?

I just don't know why it was changed. Right now, it seems to not make any sense.

[Kansas City]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

The problem is, we're not doing structured recruitment right now. So isn't this hurting the two chapters who are close to total, especially the one that currently has 28 members?

I just don't know why it was changed. Right now, it seems to not make any sense.

If anything, I would say a lower total will benefit the smaller chapter by allowing them to offer more bids in order to get to total.

When total was 40, did any of the chapters even come close to total and when (how long ago)?

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by Kansas City

When total was 40, did any of the chapters even come close to total and when (how long ago)?

One chapter met it at least 3 or 4 times since I've been around (5 years). Another chapter has come basically just under it a couple times (35-38 members). The last time a chapter reached total was spring 2007.

The thing is, for a chapter to have 2 new members in the spring semester is VERY rare because of deferred recruitment. For them to change it to 30 now seems strange with one of the chapters at 28 members, especially because of the unusually large interest from freshmen this year. It would make sense if after this spring recruitment they decided to change it because all of the chapters were truly struggling. But why would they change it now?

Another reason that I don't understand is because every year, by the time spring semester comes around, 1 or 2 of the chapters would always be above 30 members (and usually above 35). So why lower it to 30?

[agzg]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Another reason that I don't understand is because every year, by the time spring semester comes around, 1 or 2 of the chapters would always be above 30 members (and usually above 35). So why lower it to 30?

This is another reason why I think you're headed toward partially structured, which could be a very good thing for your greek system as a whole.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by alphagamzetagam

This is another reason why I think you're headed toward partially structured, which could be a very good thing for your greek system as a whole.

Oh, I definitely agree that it would help. But I feel like we're skipping steps here. Shouldn't they make attempts to work together and promote Greek life as a whole, and in turn, gain a more general interest before they worry about turning over to a more structured recruitment? I understand they may go hand in hand, but I think that things like Panhellenic informational sessions, 'Meet the Greeks', and joint social activities should happen before they worry about changing the entire system.