What is going on at University of Iowa?

[sdbeta1]

Originally Posted by TSteven

As for chapter size, of the chapters that have closed, would they be consider the traditionally large chapters at Iowa? And is the "small in size" average chapter size a result of the number of men participating in rush (i.e. campus culture), or the number of bids extended? For example, while I do not know for sure if the Iowa fraternities do this, I know that many fraternities on Midwestern campuses extend bids based on the number of men that may live in the house. Give or take a few men. So if the current eleven houses on campus are at their own self-imposed total, then statically, it would be possible to suggest that those chapters are doing well.



By the way, Delta Upsilon is still listed on the Iowa IFC website. I'm guessing they haven't had time to remove Delta Upsilon from it. However, both Beta Theta Pi and Tau Kappa Epsilon are listed on the Iowa IFC website as well. Would anyone know if Beta and TKE are recent closures as well? Or did they re-colonized (comeback) since they previously closed?

The small size is due to campus culture. Formal rush is being formally eliminated after last semester as a result. The IFC website isn't updated too often. Beta and TKE have recolonized since their closures. Kappa Sigma as well but has since disbanded. Some of the closures were due to risk management issues DU, Fiji, Pike, Beta. Of which were all big houses in terms of membership. Others due to membership, Kappa Sig and Phi Delt. I believe Delta Tau Delta is scheduled to come onto campus, they have been attempting to expand by one IFC chapter each semester.

Another issue is that traditional houses are being converted into apartments. Thus there is no space for some chapters in terms of housing. Off the top of my head I can think of three houses that have been converted, and one that is about to be converted.

[ISUKappa]

Originally Posted by sdbeta1

Another issue is that traditional houses are being converted into apartments.

I hate this. Those gorgeous old fraternity houses right on the river. I understand some Housing/Alumni corps have to sell their houses due to financial reasons, but still...

At least Iowa City isn't to the point of Ames, where there's a new apartment building going up every month it seems, yet less than 2/3 are filled.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by sdbeta1

The small size is due to campus culture. Formal rush is being formally eliminated after last semester as a result. The IFC website isn't updated too often. Beta and TKE have recolonized since their closures. Kappa Sigma as well but has since disbanded. Some of the closures were due to risk management issues DU, Fiji, Pike, Beta. Of which were all big houses in terms of membership. Others due to membership, Kappa Sig and Phi Delt. I believe Delta Tau Delta is scheduled to come onto campus, they have been attempting to expand by one IFC chapter each semester.

Another issue is that traditional houses are being converted into apartments. Thus there is no space for some chapters in terms of housing. Off the top of my head I can think of three houses that have been converted, and one that is about to be converted.

What would you (or any others who might know) say *is* the campus culture? More to the point, are there less men going through rush? And if so, why?

And for what it is worth, the NIC has advocated for years that member fraternities should rush 365 days a year. The concept of a "structured rush week" was more of less to allow freshmen the opportunity to view all the chapters at one time.