Duke's Alpha Omicron Pi chapter to close

[sigmaceli]

LOL, thanks for teaching me the ways!

[sarasmile]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

That's sad to hear. I wonder how the other chapters will do now that the low man on the totum pole is out of the picture? When the bottom chapter goes, there is always a new bottom chapter.

Originally Posted by AGDee

I think when a chapter is really struggling, it becomes exhausting and is not the positive collegiate sisterhood experience that it should be. That's when chapters say "enough already, we should let it go" and vote to close.

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Again, I think it bears repeating that it doesn't do chapters any good to talk crap about "Smallest Chapter", because if that one closes, someone has to become the new "Smallest Chapter." I think chapters sometimes forget that.

Originally Posted by Tippiechick

One more thing, with girls, as has been said before, you MANY times have the "smallest chapter syndrome." Typically, no matter the campus, your smallest chapter will get a stigma. You may be smaller by 5 girls. But, you might soon hear whispers of the so-called "problems" your chapter is having. Next thing you know, your next rush may be harder because of the rumors. The rushees tend to steer away from the smallest group. If this goes on with everyone else maintaining their numbers, you'll eventually close.

But, that doesn't solve the problem. WHY? Because, you'll still have a "smallest chapter." And, the cycle will continue. Bringing new chapters on doesn't solve the problem. They'll just take their place in the numbers rankings.

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

It is entirely possible to have a chapter full of intelligent, attractive, involved women who are caught in the "death spiral" - they aren't at total, because they are perceived as being "smaller" they can't pledge quota, and so it goes. It's nothing to be ashamed of, and sometimes, with a great deal of work, it can be stopped. But often there comes a time when it is better to close the chapter and hope someday an opportunity to recharter will present itself. While it is in the best interests of the GLO, and the members certainly understand that, it is painful. Terribly painful.

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

It is my sincere hope and prayer that the use of the new release figures will help avoid "the death spiral", and that we will see far fewer chapters have to close because of declining numbers.

Originally Posted by 33girl

Many times, the women in those chapters DO NOT CARE that they're the smallest or don't have the biggest house or don't have the most mixers. They pledged for different reasons. It's their national HQ or the campus that is telling them that they suck. And if you hear that enough (and buy into it) it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

I could care less if a chapter is seen as "worst" on campus if the women are having a fun experience.

I agree so much with all of the above. My chapter closed several years after I graduated. It still stings to go back to campus and see someone else's letters on our house.

I've seen a lot of so-called "bad" chapters from a variety of sororities on different campuses, and the frustrating thing is that they generally have great women as members. But its all campus politics, and as SWTXBelle mentioned once that "death spiral" starts its difficult to reverse.

Seeing this thread brought back a lot of memories. I wish the best to the AOPi ladies at Duke, and also to any woman who has experienced the closure of their chapter.