Recruitment 2010 news

[33girl]

I just looked at Barbie's competitive rush schools thread. I didn't realize there were only EIGHT chapters at Arkansas. Holy crap. Yes it's a little smaller than some of the other competitive schools but still, holy crap.

[TideMom]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

Now the housing problem... that IS a problem. But I've also wondered if it wouldn't work for 3 chapters to colonize at the same time so that they could all build together, even if off Greek row somewhere. That wouldn't be an option for Normal U, but for the SEC-style schools, I think they could easily accommodate that kind of increase in chapters. What do you think? Am I completely off base? Be nice if I am ;}

Interesting idea : ) I'm a Virginia Tech graduate and when I was there only several of the sororities had actual houses. The University set aside a piece of land for "sorority row" where they built dorm style housing and all the sororities are there now. I would have LOVED to have had the opportunity to live in something like that with my sisters!

On another housing note, my daughter just rushed at Alabama and there were over 1600 girls going through and 15 sororities. Some pledge classes were as high as 115!

I'm looking forward to hearing about South Carolina's recruitment - I have a special PNM rushing there!

[gee_ess]

Hi Irishpipes! Glad you posted!

I get depressed just thinking about how tough things look for other groups on this campus. But, I do think AOPi did it the right (yet very expensive) way which is why they were more successful earlier than the other newer group.

I SO SO SO wish DG would take a good look at coming back. There are alums still in Arkansas - and they are old enough to provide financial assistance. Plus, with strong DG chapters at schools close by (like Ole Miss, Mizzou) this seems like a good fit.

If I just had a magic wand!

[carnation]

And Theta too!

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by carnation

And Theta too!

Not to pick on anyone, but the word on the street is that this wouldn't work out just yet. The little old ladies in Fayetteville make sure that old memories never die.

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

Does Arkansas get fewer students from out of state than other SEC schools? I am surprised that DG and Phi Mu closed given the stature of those groups in Louisiana and Mississippi. I would have imagined that, at a minimum, they could have found a niche with girls from those states.

Arkansas is chock-full of out-of-staters. They have some program which gives in-state tuition to border state students with certain SAT/ACT scores. This was done to pull up the scholastic standing of the school when they joined the SEC. I would say half of AOII's chapter is from Texas.

Yes, I think that the closures despite the national rep of Theta and the local rep of Phi Mu and DG has scared off some potential new groups.

Chi Omega Psi (Founding Chaper) 1895
Zeta Tau Alpha Epsilon 1903-1938/1947
Pi Beta Phi Arkansas Alpha 1909
Delta Delta Delta Delta Iota 1913
Phi Mu Alpha Beta 1923-1933/1978-1995
Kappa Kappa Gamma Gamma Nu 1925
Delta Gamma Alpha Omega 1930-1992
Alpha Delta Pi Delta Delta 1957
Alpha Chi Omega Delta Rho 1961-1977
Kappa Alpha Theta Delta Nu 1966-1989
Kappa Delta Zeta Gamma 1989
Alpha Omicron Pi Xi Omicron 2007

[Smile_Awhile]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

Hi Irishpipes! Glad you posted!

I get depressed just thinking about how tough things look for other groups on this campus. But, I do think AOPi did it the right (yet very expensive) way which is why they were more successful earlier than the other newer group.

I SO SO SO wish DG would take a good look at coming back. There are alums still in Arkansas - and they are old enough to provide financial assistance. Plus, with strong DG chapters at schools close by (like Ole Miss, Mizzou) this seems like a good fit.

If I just had a magic wand!

I would ADORE if AXO came back to U of A. But, unfortunately, I don't think we have the money to do it, I believe (though don't know) that we don't have the money to invest into that, and we don't have a huge Southern reputation. We don't really have the alumnae base in that area either (though the OK chapters are not all that far away...). But I don't see that happening any time soon....

[AGDLynn]

Georgia Tech Quota 41, Alpha Gam 44 amazing young women. Woo!

That's all I know.

[NUBlue&Blue]

Wow, still in the 40's even with the addition of Alpha Phi. Haven't talked to my daughter yet...she's enjoying her last bid day as an undergrad, so I'll check with her later. Boy, that went fast!

ETA: Just talked to her and Phi Mu got 41.

[DubaiSis]

That's what I'm saying. They could be AT LEAST a 15 chapter school. Now where are the money fairies who can make this happen?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

That's what I'm saying. They could be AT LEAST a 15 chapter school. Now where are the money fairies who can make this happen?

It's not just the money fairies, it's the perception fairies who control the brains of the girls choosing chapters. If you could control those the money fairies wouldn't be as big of an issue.

[Low C Sharp]

Plus, with strong DG chapters at schools close by (like Ole Miss, Mizzou) this seems like a good fit.

Does Arkansas get fewer students from out of state than other SEC schools? I am surprised that DG and Phi Mu closed given the stature of those groups in Louisiana and Mississippi. I would have imagined that, at a minimum, they could have found a niche with girls from those states.
________
VAPORIZER WIKI

[TXalum1]

The cost for housing is a HUGE consideration in all of this. Two of the original sororities at my university returned to campus in the last few years. The university owns the housing and pays for the shell but each group pays for the finish out. They had to make tough decisions regarding space and furnishings because the new houses cost so much more than the originals. On a campus where you must buy a lot and build and furnish a house in this economy, you have a challenge, even with generous alums standing by.

[gee_ess]

I think the big push from out of staters is what is driving up the recruitment numbers. Texas girls are a big population in all of the houses with Missouri and Oklahoma not too far behind. Arkansas is on a crusade to grow the student population and there are all sorts of financial incentives to accomplish that.

I agree that Theta will not be able to return. Too many bad vibes. I seriously think the only viable group to return is DG. They were there for a long time.

[KKG09]

Are all 8 chapters meeting quota each year? It is my understanding that no one will colonize on campus until that happens. I rushed there my freshman year and transferred after and affliated at a different university; however, I was under the impression that nothing was going to improve quota-wise until every chapter was filled.

[irishpipes]

There is one chapter that does not make quota and usually is well under. That will not affect a colonization because Panhellanic can't force a PNM to pledge that group. AOII came on and hasn't really affected the recruitment outcomes of that other group one way or another.