Zeta Tau Alpha at Tulane

[carnation]

There are tons of reasons that a sorority might decide not to proceed with colonization and we'll probably never know why Zeta did so at Tulane. As strong as Zeta is, they must have had major signals that it wasn't going to work. Quién sabe?

I recall a fairly recent story about 2 groups that were selected to present at a large Southern university. Now the third group apparently knew this ahead of time but the other 2 were shocked to see that a majority of the girls at their presentation were Goth/alternative types. These dozens of girls had decided that they were going to be the "alternative" sorority. Group 3 was okay with this.

Groups 1 and 2 didn't want to deal with the ongoing problems that an alternative chapter can have. They put their heads together and gave very "blonde" presentations. As they hoped, group 3, with their presentation tailored for these girls, was selected. The chapter still exists but is very unlike the others and is much smaller than the rest. They're lucky because a chapter like that would struggle at most big Southern schools.

Anyway, I have no idea what the girls at Tulane were like but I wanted to throw in this story to show that something other than numbers or grades or anything else you'd normally expect can be the dealbreaker.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by carnation

I recall a fairly recent story about 2 groups that were selected to present at a large Southern university. Now the third group apparently knew this ahead of time but the other 2 were shocked to see that a majority of the girls at their presentation were Goth/alternative types. These dozens of girls had decided that they were going to be the "alternative" sorority. Group 3 was okay with this.

Groups 1 and 2 didn't want to deal with the ongoing problems that an alternative chapter can have. They put their heads together and gave very "blonde" presentations. As they hoped, group 3, with their presentation tailored for these girls, was selected. The chapter still exists but is very unlike the others and is much smaller than the rest. They're lucky because a chapter like that would struggle at most big Southern schools.

It's nice to know that group #3 actually cared about giving these "alternative" girls a sisterhood where they would feel welcome and is OK with being smaller instead of just condeming them. As long as you aren't biting off more than you can chew with a ginourmous house, the only reason smaller chapters have a bad sorority experience is usually because their national$ are con$tantly telling them they suck because they're smaller. It's hard to rush successfully when the people who you pay dues to, ostensibly to lift you up, are always putting you down.

[carnation]

I don't see where groups 1 and 2 were any worse for not wanting an alternative chapter than any other group is for deciding they're not interested in a certain group of girls. I don't see why 1 and 2 would've wanted to spend millions of dollars on a chapter that would always struggle--and they do--in many ways.

I don't think of Group 3 as being noble. One of their alums told several of us that really, what they wanted was a chapter on that campus and they hoped to gradually change the group. A few years out and that really hasn't happened.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by carnation

I don't see where groups 1 and 2 were any worse for not wanting an alternative chapter than any other group is for deciding they're not interested in a certain group of girls.

Because they decided from the outset (with apparently very little interaction with the women in question) that a chapter full of girls who happen to like black makeup etc would not be committed to their values, excellent fundraisers, great students or otherwise good sisters. As I said, if they don't go all out and buy a house they will never fill - if in effect they are OK with being a smaller chapter, much in the way that SDT does on several campi - who cares? It seems that 1 and 2 were far more concerned with initial appearances than with what the women would actually give back to the group.

Originally Posted by carnation

I don't think of Group 3 as being noble. One of their alums told several of us that really, what they wanted was a chapter on that campus and they hoped to gradually change the group. A few years out and that really hasn't happened.

Was this alum a national councillor/decisionmaker of any sort at the time? Or just someone shooting off her mouth and clutching her pearls? If this was really the case, the group would have probably bait-and-switched before they even chartered, rather than waiting for the horrible Bauhaus* fans to even sport their letters for a millisecond.

*Yes I'm old.

[carnation]

This alum is a regional officer whom I've known for years. She's hardly a pearl-clutcher and I've got to say, this woman has tried everything with this group.

The chapter doesn't do "excellent fundraisers". It's hard getting them to do much of anything because the girls don't appreciate being asked to do them or much that's social either. After all, they were going to be the un-sorority! This chapter has been a total frustration for their nationals. Getting a house is on hold.

You think it's all about the black makeup? No, it was the attitude that went with the makeup. Those of us who have been around for awhile have seen what usually happens with un-sororities around her because their dislike of traditional sorority life makes them not want to participate in the usual Greek life (we can't figure out why they even wanted to pledge). This gets around and those groups often get disastrous recruitment results.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by carnation

This alum is a regional officer whom I've known for years. She's hardly a pearl-clutcher and I've got to say, this woman has tried everything with this group.

The chapter doesn't do "excellent fundraisers". It's hard getting them to do much of anything because the girls don't appreciate being asked to do them or much that's social either. After all, they were going to be the un-sorority! This chapter has been a total frustration for their nationals. Getting a house is on hold.

You think it's all about the black makeup? No, it was the attitude that went with the makeup. Those of us who have been around for awhile have seen what usually happens with un-sororities around her because their dislike of traditional sorority life makes them not want to participate in the usual Greek life (we can't figure out why they even wanted to pledge). This gets around and those groups often get disastrous recruitment results.

Maybe they need to be assisted by someone who is a little more open-minded, instead of someone who thinks there's only one way to be a successful sorority - even in (gasp) THE SOUTH.

Well, thanks anyway for making those 150 girls at Tulane happy that they're not going to be in a sorority.

[carnation]

Well GCers, this is what I was talking about. I'm acquainted enough with the un-sorority's doings that I know what has occurred and that they have cost their national buttloads of money and pain. 33 doesn't know the situation and can only make assumptions.

Same with Tulane. Something (some things?) told ZTA that the situation wasn't going to work out. Maybe it was numbers or scholastics or something we haven't dreamed of. *Zeta is there, we're not, so I wouldn't begin to make assumptions about what happened.*

[adpiucf]

Interestingly, I've seen the acquisition of a house dramatically change the tone of a chapter overnight. Dues go up to pay for house and parlor fees, people leave because they don't like the change/can't afford the increase, and the perceived prestige of a house attracts more women in the next recruitment. I can't speak for everywhere and I'm not, but that happened quite a few times on my campus.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by 33girl

It's nice to know that group #3 actually cared about giving these "alternative" girls a sisterhood where they would feel welcome and is OK with being smaller instead of just condeming them. As long as you aren't biting off more than you can chew with a ginourmous house, the only reason smaller chapters have a bad sorority experience is usually because their national$ are con$tantly telling them they suck because they're smaller. It's hard to rush successfully when the people who you pay dues to, ostensibly to lift you up, are always putting you down.

Agreed!