What’s it like to be in a Huge Chapter?

[Griffins&Quills]

I was under the impression that Alabama had opened for expansion when DPhiE presented in 2011 and then closed. I didn't think they were still open. But idk.

There are still some groups who could/should be back at Alabama but hopefully sometime soon

As far as large chapters go, well, our house was built in 2005 I think, and around that time, total was in the mid 90s, in 10 years, total has come to around 200 and PCs are growing every year, with more and more girls going through recruitment. When I was there, we were towards the higher end, and I still knew every single one of my >160 sisters. I can't imagine being in a group that only had 20 members total. Different strokes I suppose. The only issue is house size. Because growth happened fairly rapidly and I guess no one thought the future would be like this, we now have a new-ish house, that's too small to accommodate us.

[Titchou]

I think once all the fruit basket turn over construction is done at Alabama, if any of the remaining groups who could reasonably be determined to be able to build a house of the size needed were to express any interest, Alabama would be willing to bulldoze the remaining lots. There is room for at least 3 more houses - if I am remembering correctly. Am sure AnchorAlumna will correct me if I am wrong!

[irishpipes]

There are 9 NPCs that are not currently at Alabama. 4 have been there before, but are presently dormant:
Alpha Xi Delta (1927-1972 and 1981-1988)
Delta Phi Epsilon (1927-1932 and 1953-1973)
Sigma Kappa (1932-1943 and 1988-1995)
Alpha Epsilon Phi (1948-1968)

Then there are 5 that have never been there:
Alpha Sigma Alpha
Alpha Sigma Tau
Theta Phi Alpha
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Phi Sigma Sigma

DPhiE recently presented, and they were not selected. My own opinion is that there are only 2 viable options for successful expansion at Alabama. In the past, these groups may not have been "southern" enough. But now, with the Greek boom in the south, they should have ample alumnae support and name recognition. It is still a lot to ask though - that is a ton of money to invest on something that isn't a sure thing. Even adding 2 chapters wouldn't alleviate much of the crowding at Alabama.

[Titchou]

At one point in all this expansion at Bama, one still owned the house they had lived in there. But neither elected to pursue the opportunity to present any of the times the campus has been open. I wonder if either is kicking themselves now????

[Griffins&Quills]

From the talk I've heard, general consensus seems to agree with you Irishpipes on the 2 viable options thing

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by Titchou

That's not exactly accurate, DBB. Alabama's recruitment historically has been before classes and our football season start. So saying we "won't" do it is, at best, misleading. College here starts in mid August so recruitment is the week before classes begin. The first games of football season are now usually the Thursday thru Saturday of Labor Day weekend.

Originally Posted by irishpipes

I believe you're confusing Alabama with Ole Miss. Alabama always goes before school starts in August. Ole Miss schedules around football and does occasionally conflict with Jewish Holidays.

Mea culpa! I am confusing my giant SEC recruitments. It was Ole Miss that we discussed here previously.

[Sciencewoman]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Mea culpa! I am confusing my giant SEC recruitments. It was Ole Miss that we discussed here previously.

Take heart that you didn't confuse it with Michigan, where home football games and Jewish High Holy Days are avoided when scheduling recruitment. Then some people gripe about recruitment taking two and a half weeks....

[TriDeltaSallie]

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

Take heart that you didn't confuse it with Michigan, where home football games and Jewish High Holy Days are avoided when scheduling recruitment. Then some people gripe about recruitment taking two and a half weeks....

We had one recruitment at Michigan State that ran over three weeks one year because of the way the football games and Jewish holidays fell. Then you add on the work week before that and it was a solid month of rush with most of it during the time after classes had started. And then there were a number of chapters that had to COB after formal rush. It was a nightmare.

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

We had one recruitment at Michigan State that ran over three weeks one year because of the way the football games and Jewish holidays fell. Then you add on the work week before that and it was a solid month of rush with most of it during the time after classes had started. And then there were a number of chapters that had to COB after formal rush. It was a nightmare.

Insanity! Go early, 2 weeks, get it done, sleep for a couple of days...start school.

[Titchou]

They feed them the same way any facility does - buffet or banquet style. 150 is not that many people. At Alabama they have serving lines like a cafeteria with a full c ommercial kitchen.

[AnchorAlumna]

I'm goggling at the amount of food they have to buy and how they prepare all of it. I know many of them were or are using catering services...but the work that goes into it on the caterer's end....wow! I can't even imagine a kitchen that big!! And woe be if you lose the contract!

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

I'm goggling at the amount of food they have to buy and how they prepare all of it. I know many of them were or are using catering services...but the work that goes into it on the caterer's end....wow! I can't even imagine a kitchen that big!! And woe be if you lose the contract!

I know lots of chapters don't have a set dinner time, so women come and go within a several-hour block. Also, some have night classes and get a "to-go plate" left in the fridge for them.

[Tom Earp]

I was suprised by now my chapter have @ 50 members which is the norm in my school. P S US Kansas.That is what I like about the size, we know ALL of our members.

That is why I love smaller schools where we are a name and not a number!

But, that is just me and Navane always gives great advice as usual, she has been there!

[ZTAngel]

I came from a large chapter. There were close to 80 women in my pledge class and around 250 women in the chapter. Looking back at my college years, I think a smaller chapter probably would've been a better experience for me. Here are the pros and cons of a big chapter. This is based on my personal opinions and experience.

Pros

• Always someone from your chapter in one of your classes.
• Socials were a blast.
• You never had a problem filling leaderships positions or committees.
• Participation in philanthropy events, socials, sisterhood events, etc. was never an issue.

Cons

• It was impossible to know or be friends with every girl in your sorority. Because of this, cliques were rampant and very closed-off. For someone more introverted and shy like me, it would break me and caused me to almost drop more than a handful of times. Ever feel completely alone in a room full of people? Yeah....there's that....and it sucked.
• You had to fight for a leadership position or committee spot since there were many other girls who would fight you tooth-and-nail for that role.
• Sorority recruitment "practices" were a week long process plus two summer meetings. It's difficult to corral 250 women and get them all to learn the same process, songs, entrances, exits, do and donts of rushing, etc. These practices started early in the morning and went to the wee hours with rush directly following. Everyone always ended up sick because they were so worn out.
• Too many chiefs, not enough Indians. Especially in a chapter that was as strong as mine. Every girl had a leadership role of some sort in high school. Every girl had a strong opinion. Every girl was used to having her leadership skills appreciated, and her opinions known. Imagine that times 250 women. It was a recipe for disaster, and it caused some major drama at times.
• We built an addition to our house while I was in college to accommodate our chapter. Our chapter room couldn't fit all of us. We were sitting two to a seat or on the floors during chapter. By the time our new chapter room came along, we had somewhat outgrown it (although not to the extent of our previous room). We all had to cuddle with each other during chapter. I imagine that with the addition of several sororities since my time there that pledge class sizes have been reduced leading to smaller chapter sizes. My guess is that the chapter room probably feels more comfortable now than when I was there.

[NWguy]

250? That's the size of a church congregation. You must've had to use a microphone for your chapter meetings.

Even in a fraternity chapter of about 70, it was a challenge to get to know everyone. As is typical, I assume, the upperclassmen hung out together a lot, but they never excluded anyone from hanging out with them; it was just hard to break into that group at the beginning.

We had a "first open seat" system for chapter meetings, where upon entering the chapter room we were encouraged to sit at the first available seat, rather than sitting next to the same guys all the time. There was never any real drama that I remember, except once when a brother borrowed someone else's car and wrecked it (at a Jack n' the Box drive-thru).