Clemson Recruitment

[PKTKKG]

Originally Posted by TigerPiPhi

Pi Phi is presenting at Clemson on Wednesday, November 12. Pi Phi did not present for recolonization in 2004 (even though we were invited) not only because we had our hands full colonizing other chapters but also because of concern about Clemson at that time. Delta Gamma had just closed in 2003. We had learned from Alpha Gams experience in the 1990s (who came on just as we were closing in 1994 or 1995) that coming on when someone is closing shop may not be the best thing to do. Alpha Gam ended up closing just 6 years later. Then DG 3 years after that. I remember many chapters having to COB all the time to stay afloat.

There was a big imbalance between big sororities and small sororities at that time, instead of everyone being around the same size and being healthy from an extension standpoint.

I'm glad to see that chapters are appearing to do better now on the Clemson campus. Seems like everyone is getting good numbers in recruitment.

I am hopeful for Pi Phi. After successful presentations at Mississippi State, NYU, and MIT recently, I hope another goes our way. Georgia Alpha is a great chapter nearby (one of the top Pi Phi chapters), and all the North Carolina chapters are strong. I went to NC State's installation in 2005, and they did a great job there.

There was never a SC Gamma that I recall. The only chapters in SC were at USC and Clemson, and that's according to the history book from the 2005 Convention in Tampa.

Sis was a SC Alpha from USC, btw.

And yes, the Clemson sororities have floors in the dorms. Pi Phi used to be 3rd floor of Barnett, between ADPi and Theta.

Do you happen to know why Pi Phi did not express interest in USC when it opened for expansion a few years ago and is now expressing interest in Clemson? Just curious as the USC chapter was there for over 50 years before closing, and I have always wondered why they didn't try to come back.

[TigerPiPhi]

If you are talking about when Gamma Phi colonized at USC, that was the same year DZ colonized at Clemson (2004), so I'm assuming some of the same reasons apply. I can't remember which chapter(s) Pi Phi was colonizing at that time -- I'd have to look it up -- but there were other commitments at that time, I guess. I know a lot of our national/chapter structure, programming, and marketing was changing at that time, too, so I suspect a lot of Nationals' money, time, and efforts were going into organizing that as well. I think many of those changes were positive and make us a more efficient and attractive organization today.

Also I really don't know much about the specifics of USC's Panhellenic, as I did not go there and never inquired about it. All I know is that Theta colonized and then closed a chapter at USC in the 1990s (one of my high school classmates was a founder actually), but I don't know if that played in role in them being cautious about how ready the school was to expand. Maybe they felt Panhellenic there did not do enough to support or promote their existing chapters to ensure a healthy Greek system overall. (???)
I went to Clemson and have spoken to our National NPC delegate about them before, so I'm a little more informed about them.

I'm sure they had to factor in housing costs (building a house), commitment of area alums to AAC and House Corps, opportunities for expansion at other schools, etc., among many other things that I have no idea about in their decision. Expansion is expensive, and you want that investment to pay off. I have no idea how all that played out for USC at that time, so all of this is just speculation.