University of Kentucky Recruitment

[catfan]

I was sorry to learn that Sigma Kappa has closed at UK. Since the early 70's, 5 sororities have closed. Now Alpha Phi has colonized, and I can't help but think that was the final straw for SK. I heard Phi Mu is scheduled to colonize in 2011.
I wish them all success, but wish Panhellenic could help the GLO's that are struggling with membership. Are they using the release figure method in recruitment?

[sydney bristow]

Originally Posted by catfan

I was sorry to learn that Sigma Kappa has closed at UK. Since the early 70's, 5 sororities have closed. Now Alpha Phi has colonized, and I can't help but think that was the final straw for SK. I heard Phi Mu is scheduled to colonize in 2011.
I wish them all success, but wish Panhellenic could help the GLO's that are struggling with membership. Are they using the release figure method in recruitment?

I think the problem with helping a struggling chapter get more members vs bringing on a new group has a lot to do with perceptions. Many of the girls I know who joined Alpha Phi are girls who never considered being in any of the other 12 sororities at UK but wanted the colonization experience. These girls probably had the chance to join Sigma Kappa but didn't feel as if they fit in there. This is not to say that Sigma Kappa was in any way undesirable- I know lots of Sigma Kappas and they are all fun, cute, well-rounded girls. But when it comes down to it, stigma has a way of hurting groups within the greek system as sad as that might be.

Panhellenic did an excellent job marketing informal this spring for the chapters with smaller numbers and Sigma Kappa always did an excellent job marketing themselves for informal. It was a total shock when we heard they were shutting down, the rumors had been around for a while but nobody ever thought it would actually happen.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by catfan

I was sorry to learn that Sigma Kappa has closed at UK. Since the early 70's, 5 sororities have closed. Now Alpha Phi has colonized, and I can't help but think that was the final straw for SK. I heard Phi Mu is scheduled to colonize in 2011.
I wish them all success, but wish Panhellenic could help the GLO's that are struggling with membership. Are they using the release figure method in recruitment?

I think it's unfair to put any of the blame on Alpha Phi colonizing at UK. By the time a decision is made in cases like this, the writing has been on the wall for awhile. They made the best decision for their chapter, and I'm sure that was a very hard decision. I doubt they're putting the blame on extension.

[catfan]

Not blaming A Phi, just bad timing. Obviously A Phi filled a void, I know they had a great colony pledge class.

[sydney bristow]

Originally Posted by catfan

Not blaming A Phi, just bad timing. Obviously A Phi filled a void, I know they had a great colony pledge class.

Agreed! Just found out that the university has given the Sigma Kappa house to Delta Sigma Phi. Correct me if I'm wrong those of you in the know, but isn't that house one of the few in sorority circle owned by the university and not the actual chapter? I seem to remember that Sigma Kappas had to use their student id's to get inside when most people have fobs or punch codes...

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by sydney bristow

Agreed! Just found out that the university has given the Sigma Kappa house to Delta Sigma Phi.

So there are now two fraternities located at Sorority Circle.

And just a point of clarification. You do mean that the University is allowing Delta Sigma Phi to lease the house right? I just doubt that UK would "give" Delta Sigma Phi the house.

In any case, congratulations to Delta Sigma Phi. Seems like a good match. They have been un-housed (officially) for quite a long time and they do have the numbers to support living there.

Originally Posted by sydney bristow

Correct me if I'm wrong those of you in the know, but isn't that house one of the few in sorority circle owned by the university and not the actual chapter? I seem to remember that Sigma Kappas had to use their student id's to get inside when most people have fobs or punch codes...

I am not sure of the current ownership status of the Sigma Kappa house. I believe - but may be wrong here - that all six houses on the Circle are on UK owned land which is leased to the housing corporations. But which houses are owned by the housing corporations and which ones are leased, I am not sure. I would suspect that ThetaPrincess24 might know.

(Paging ThetaPrincess24!)

What I do know is that when the Circle opened, 321 Columbia Terrace (the current Sigma Kappa house) was the Alpha Xi Delta house. So perhaps the Alpha Xi Delta Housing Corporation sold it to the University which then leases it to Sigma Kappa. Or maybe they (Alpha Xi Delta) still own it and lease it directly to Sigma Kappa.

Prior to Sigma Kappa moving into their current house, they were across the lawn at 327 Columbia Terrace - the current Phi Delta Theta house. That house was the Zeta Tau Alpha house when the Circle opened. I seem to recall that not too many years ago, the Zeta Tau Alpha Housing Corporation sold it to UK. But prior to that, they - Zeta - leased it to Sigma Kappa.

[MUSK81]

FWIW, I do think the soon-to-be former Sigma Kappa house is owned by UK. My older son applied there and when I was surfing their housing page, it had rates and meal plans for some of the GLOs, including SK - as an alumnae, I found it interesting. Also heartbreaking because my chapter closed when I was a collegian. After 30 years, it still makes me sad ... my heart goes out to them.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by TSteven

I am not sure of the current ownership status of the Sigma Kappa house. I believe - but may be wrong here - that all six houses on the Circle are on UK owned land which is leased to the housing corporations. But which houses are owned by the housing corporations and which ones are leased, I am not sure. I would suspect that ThetaPrincess24 might know.

(Paging ThetaPrincess24!)

What I do know is that when the Circle opened, 321 Columbia Terrace (the current Sigma Kappa house) was the Alpha Xi Delta house. So perhaps the Alpha Xi Delta Housing Corporation sold it to the University which then leases it to Sigma Kappa. Or maybe they (Alpha Xi Delta) still own it and lease it directly to Sigma Kappa.

Prior to Sigma Kappa moving into their current house, they were across the lawn at 327 Columbia Terrace - the current Phi Delta Theta house. That house was the Zeta Tau Alpha house when the Circle opened. I seem to recall that not too many years ago, the Zeta Tau Alpha Housing Corporation sold it to UK. But prior to that, they - Zeta - leased it to Sigma Kappa.

I dont much care for the idea of fraternities living in Sorority Circle. If they move in then it's not really "sorority circle" anymore.

Anywho, it has been about 5-6 years since I served on Facility at UK, but I'm thinking atleast some of the chapters own the houses and UK leases the land. A small fee is paid to the university for the land. Atleast in the case of Theta, the facility corp. was responsible for all maintenance inside and outside of the house even down to the sprinkler systems that we had to spend a pant load of money to bring to code ourselves.

[KAPPAtivating]

As a UK Alum...bid day was one of THE BIG things on campus...lol. Shoutout to the PIKES and Sigma Chi's who threw off the chain parties...lol.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by KAPPAtivating

As a UK Alum...bid day was one of THE BIG things on campus...lol. Shoutout to the PIKES and Sigma Chi's who threw off the chain parties...lol.

The PIKES no longer have a house (atleast the house in the quad no longer is standing). I dont know if they are throwing those parties anymore.

I do recall quite a few fraternity members doing drive bys through campus in front of the sorority houses to watch PNM's go from party to party during recruitment.

[sydney bristow]

Originally Posted by TSteven

So there are now two fraternities located at Sorority Circle.

And just a point of clarification. You do mean that the University is allowing Delta Sigma Phi to lease the house right? I just doubt that UK would "give" Delta Sigma Phi the house.

In any case, congratulations to Delta Sigma Phi. Seems like a good match. They have been un-housed (officially) for quite a long time and they do have the numbers to support living there.



I am not sure of the current ownership status of the Sigma Kappa house. I believe - but may be wrong here - that all six houses on the Circle are on UK owned land which is leased to the housing corporations. But which houses are owned by the housing corporations and which ones are leased, I am not sure. I would suspect that ThetaPrincess24 might know.

(Paging ThetaPrincess24!)

What I do know is that when the Circle opened, 321 Columbia Terrace (the current Sigma Kappa house) was the Alpha Xi Delta house. So perhaps the Alpha Xi Delta Housing Corporation sold it to the University which then leases it to Sigma Kappa. Or maybe they (Alpha Xi Delta) still own it and lease it directly to Sigma Kappa.

Prior to Sigma Kappa moving into their current house, they were across the lawn at 327 Columbia Terrace - the current Phi Delta Theta house. That house was the Zeta Tau Alpha house when the Circle opened. I seem to recall that not too many years ago, the Zeta Tau Alpha Housing Corporation sold it to UK. But prior to that, they - Zeta - leased it to Sigma Kappa.

Haha yes of course they will be leasing it. I think it's really good for them too, they are (in my opinion) the most involved fraternity on campus.

[ukgirl12]

I will be coming in as a sophomore in the fall. I am wondering what the best way for me to go about recruitment is? I don't have any alumni relation and am wondering what the best way is for me to obtain a recommendation? Thank you!

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by ukgirl12

I will be coming in as a sophomore in the fall. I am wondering what the best way for me to go about recruitment is? I don't have any alumni relation and am wondering what the best way is for me to obtain a recommendation? Thank you!

What city are you coming from? If there is an Alumnae Panhellenic in your area, that would be the first place I would start (and I would start ASAP)!


In addition there are many threads in the recruitment forum about how to obtain recommendations. I would highly suggest that you really do seek them out, read them, and heed their advice.

[ukgirl12]

I am coming as an out of state transfer student.

[sydney bristow]

Originally Posted by ukgirl12

I am coming as an out of state transfer student.

Look at the stickied threads at the top of this forum for rec info and some EXCELLENT advice about recruitment in general. This website is like the recruitment bible!!!