University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) 2012 Recruitment

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

AzTheta, I agree. The system can accommodate that much growth. This adds to my thinking that they will wait until after Arkansas is done. If it goes well (and we're all assuming it's going to be more than fine), they will feel more confident to go outside the box a little.

The system can accommodate that much growth? I don't know that we know that. I believe most/every chapter at Ole Miss has just expanded their chapter houses. How do they pay for that if chapters go from 350ish to 125ish in only a couple of years (graduation attrition combined with much lower quotas)? Plus, if the new chapters want to bid up to average chapter size, that would mean 4 chapters times 350ish which is roughly 1,400. That is a whole lot, especially because these colonies would want to be extremely selective. Not to mention that that many colony members could overwhelm the system. That is a lot of folks who don't know the ropes all at one time.

I'm all for expansion at Ole Miss (and lots of other places), but I think biting off too much at once will inevitably cause one or more of the new chapters to fail. That would be tragic considering the cost to colonize.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

The system can accommodate that much growth? I don't know that we know that. I believe most/every chapter at Ole Miss has just expanded their chapter houses. How do they pay for that if chapters go from 350ish to 125ish in only a couple of years (graduation attrition combined with much lower quotas)? Plus, if the new chapters want to bid up to average chapter size, that would mean 4 chapters times 350ish which is roughly 1,400. That is a whole lot, especially because these colonies would want to be extremely selective. Not to mention that that many colony members could overwhelm the system. That is a lot of folks who don't know the ropes all at one time.

I'm all for expansion at Ole Miss (and lots of other places), but I think biting off too much at once will inevitably cause one or more of the new chapters to fail. That would be tragic considering the cost to colonize.

Do you think two are possible and/or necessary?

I understand the thinking that two groups at once helps avoid some sort of stigma attached to a single new group, but we've seen lots of successful colonizations in the SEC in recent years, and I'm not sure that the new kid necessarily comes in at a disadvantage. Often, it seems, many women would prefer the new group over one that has a less popular reputation.

ETA: I didn't realize there are only 9 groups there now. That means that every new group is a serious hit to quota (over 10%).

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

The system can accommodate that much growth? I don't know that we know that. I believe most/every chapter at Ole Miss has just expanded their chapter houses. How do they pay for that if chapters go from 350ish to 125ish in only a couple of years (graduation attrition combined with much lower quotas)? Plus, if the new chapters want to bid up to average chapter size, that would mean 4 chapters times 350ish which is roughly 1,400. That is a whole lot, especially because these colonies would want to be extremely selective. Not to mention that that many colony members could overwhelm the system. That is a lot of folks who don't know the ropes all at one time.

I'm all for expansion at Ole Miss (and lots of other places), but I think biting off too much at once will inevitably cause one or more of the new chapters to fail. That would be tragic considering the cost to colonize.

even though they had expanded the houses, they still don't hold everyone. Many are land locked with no room to build what they need. the idea when they do an expansion is to hopefully lower quota/total enough that current bricks and mortar can accomodate the chapters. Not everyone can build an Alabama McMansion.

[OleMissGlitter]

Originally Posted by Titchou

even though they had expanded the houses, they still don't hold everyone. Many are land locked with no room to build what they need. the idea when they do an expansion is to hopefully lower quota/total enough that current bricks and mortar can accomodate the chapters. Not everyone can build an Alabama McMansion.

Well said. And we for sure are land locked!

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by OleMissGlitter

Well said. And we for sure are land locked!

IMHO: one chosen to recruit NOW (views Fall '12 and begins Spring '13) and one chosen to recruit in three years (views Fall '15 and begins Spring '16).

Land/housing situation reminds me of a few recently-expanded western campuses.

And which campus recently chose THREE colonies over an 8-or-9 year period? That sounds like a good plan, but at Mississippi choosing three would mean one left-out (and who wants that?)

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

IMHO: one chosen to recruit NOW (views Fall '12 and begins Spring '13) and one chosen to recruit in three years (views Fall '15 and begins Spring '16).

Land/housing situation reminds me of a few recently-expanded western campuses.

And which campus recently chose THREE colonies over an 8-or-9 year period? That sounds like a good plan, but at Mississippi choosing three would mean one left-out (and who wants that?)

I also don't know that it makes sense for an org to commit to a colonization six years from now. I realize they could back out, but a lot can change in that timeframe.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

IMHO: one chosen to recruit NOW (views Fall '12 and begins Spring '13) and one chosen to recruit in three years (views Fall '15 and begins Spring '16).

Land/housing situation reminds me of a few recently-expanded western campuses.

And which campus recently chose THREE colonies over an 8-or-9 year period? That sounds like a good plan, but at Mississippi choosing three would mean one left-out (and who wants that?)

I also don't know that it makes sense for an org to commit to a colonization six years from now. I realize they could back out, but a lot can change in that timeframe.

[LaneSig]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

IMHO: one chosen to recruit NOW (views Fall '12 and begins Spring '13) and one chosen to recruit in three years (views Fall '15 and begins Spring '16).

Land/housing situation reminds me of a few recently-expanded western campuses.

And which campus recently chose THREE colonies over an 8-or-9 year period? That sounds like a good plan, but at Mississippi choosing three would mean one left-out (and who wants that?)

North Carolina State University was the campus that has the 3 planned expansions. Kappa Alpha Theta will join in 2013, Kappa Kappa Gamma in 2016, and Alpha Xi Delta in 2019. This is actually the second time that NCSU has had three groups present and then stacked the expansion.

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by OleMissGlitter

Well said. And we for sure are land locked!

As are we!

[MaryPoppins]

Originally Posted by OleMissGlitter

Well said. And we for sure are land locked!

Landlocked is a relative term at Ole Miss. The Administrators have a habit of destroying parking or closing off roads to make walking malls on campus. Many places I parked while I as in school are now faculty parking, gone, malls, or a building. Of course now Newsweek named Ole MIss the #1 Beautiful Campus, so there ya go!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Titchou

even though they had expanded the houses, they still don't hold everyone. Many are land locked with no room to build what they need. the idea when they do an expansion is to hopefully lower quota/total enough that current bricks and mortar can accomodate the chapters. Not everyone can build an Alabama McMansion.

I'm assuming that the houses/land conditions are such that they can only build out, not build up? (i.e. put more stories on top)

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I'm assuming that the houses/land conditions are such that they can only build out, not build up? (i.e. put more stories on top)

You can only add stories if the original structure was designed to support it from an engineering point of view - or you have enough money to shore it up - if that's possible with the design.

As for adding groups, what happens more often when they want to add more than one is that they stack them - what happened to us at Alabama as we were offered the slot after Alpha Phi but it was put off an additional year as the land situation was not approved by the BOT. At UAB when we went on, we were offered the first slot and Alpha Xi Delta the second one, supposed to be two years after. It ended up being 3 years (or maybe 4) as campus conditions didn't warrant it after the second year.

So, all this is to say that the group or the campus can decide to move it out a year - or more - if need be.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by Titchou

You can only add stories if the original structure was designed to support it from an engineering point of view - or you have enough money to shore it up - if that's possible with the design.

As for adding groups, what happens more often when they want to add more than one is that they stack them - what happened to us at Alabama as we were offered the slot after Alpha Phi but it was put off an additional year as the land situation was not approved by the BOT. At UAB when we went on, we were offered the first slot and Alpha Xi Delta the second one, supposed to be two years after. It ended up being 3 years (or maybe 4) as campus conditions didn't warrant it after the second year.

So, all this is to say that the group or the campus can decide to move it out a year - or more - if need be.

I remember this...Delta Gamma rejected campus offers three times between 1984 and January 1990, then accepted June 1990 when their alum base had been built. DG installed in 1991, and Alpha Xi in 1997.

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

I remember this...Delta Gamma rejected campus offers three times between 1984 and January 1990, then accepted June 1990 when their alum base had been built. DG installed in 1991, and Alpha Xi in 1997.

We did not reject 3 offers before accepting. We declined an opportunity to present but never an offer to colonize.