2020/2021 New Chapters/Expansions/Charters/Closures

[Cookiez17]

Yeah I was about to say it's heartbreaking that the chapter got this news in the middle of recruitment. Also looking at the irishpipes thread the chapter is relatively new too.

[g41965]

The DU Quarterly was just published. DU is expanding to University of Nevada , University of Delaware and Purdue University in the Spring of 2021 and The University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Washington State University and Texas Tech University in the Fall of 2021.

[LaneSig]

Originally Posted by g41965

The DU Quarterly was just published. DU is expanding to University of Nevada , University of Delaware and Purdue University in the Spring of 2021 and The University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Washington State University and Texas Tech University in the Fall of 2021.

Is the Nevada expansion at UNLV or UNR?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Cookiez17

Yeah I was about to say it's heartbreaking that the chapter got this news in the middle of recruitment. Also looking at the irishpipes thread the chapter is relatively new too.

Better for them to close in the middle of rush than right after when the pledge classes are already picked.

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Better for them to close in the middle of rush than right after when the pledge classes are already picked.

Very true. Its just sad that it's after the chapter had spent so much effort (I'm assuming?) working on recruitment. Also, I feel like that's always a time where the chapter feels the closest (work week) and to then be told you're losing your charter is just painful. Would have been better off telling them during the shutdown in April if they knew it was imminent.

However, I'm guessing they waited for the first round of returns to try and see how the recruitment might play out?

[irishpipes]

I think TCU is a typical tough Texas school to crack, and the chapter was barely off the ground when a second new group was brought on. ---> premature death

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

I think TCU is a typical tough Texas school to crack, and the chapter was barely off the ground when a second new group was brought on. ---> premature death

Yes, Phi Mu came on about 4-5 years after AOII, and I agree that can be rough on a new chapter.

Texas schools can be tough to crack without name recognition, however, 50% of TCU student are now from out of state with a large portion from California, the Midwest, and SEC country. I think this may be less a factor in the closing of AOII because Sigma Kappa, Gamma Phi Beta, and Phi Mu have all had successful new chapters in the last 20 years or so without a strong presence at the big Texas schools prior to their TCU colonization.

Honestly, I think AOII was doomed from the start because of campus culture *at the time* which corresponded with the rise of the online sorority ranking site. That site was flooded with posts- and people in real life- discussing tiers and that if you are new "you start at the bottom and work your way up." It was horrible to witness but this mindset was broadcast loud and often by a small but vocal enough group of undergraduates, which included both sorority women and the fraternities.

Before AOII could even recruit the potential founders were being told that they would have to start at the bottom in terms of tiers and social status. There was no campus support for them at all. Who would want to join that? Panhellenic and the Greek Life Office could have/should have been much more on top of this situation to ensure that unaffiliated women saw membership in a new sorority as a positive and not a social negative.

They were able to recruit a wonderful group of women, however chapter total at the time was in the high 100s, and they only pledged about 60-70. I was worried from day one and knew they would never be able to catch up.

Other than that vile ranking site that was new at the time (and maybe someone different in the GL office? Honestly not sure on that..) I don't know why their colonization was different than the other three that I mentioned. When those groups came to campus all the sorority members were on board, encouraging their unaffiliated friends to go for it. There was widespread excitement over campus about those groups, with members wearing buttons, etc promoting the new group. All three of those groups pledged close to campus total, and all have thrived since. Very different than AOII.

Starting with a smaller group and then to have to do recruitment the next fall.. well that's tough on a chapter. I am not sure they have ever made quota. It is unfortunate that Phi Mu had to come so quickly but the chapters were bursting at the seams. While it was refreshing to see the campus go all out in support for Phi Mu my heart broke for AOII.

[g41965]

Hi Lane,

DU is expanding to University of Nevada at Reno.

[shadokat]

Closures at Bloomsburg University

ACACIA - RMF
Alpha Tau Omega - RMF
Kappa Sigma - RMF
Alpha Sigma Tau - RMF

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by ComradesTrue

Yes, Phi Mu came on about 4-5 years after AOII, and I agree that can be rough on a new chapter.

Texas schools can be tough to crack without name recognition, however, 50% of TCU student are now from out of state with a large portion from California, the Midwest, and SEC country. I think this may be less a factor in the closing of AOII because Sigma Kappa, Gamma Phi Beta, and Phi Mu have all had successful new chapters in the last 20 years or so without a strong presence at the big Texas schools prior to their TCU colonization.

Honestly, I think AOII was doomed from the start because of campus culture *at the time* which corresponded with the rise of the online sorority ranking site. That site was flooded with posts- and people in real life- discussing tiers and that if you are new "you start at the bottom and work your way up." It was horrible to witness but this mindset was broadcast loud and often by a small but vocal enough group of undergraduates, which included both sorority women and the fraternities.

Before AOII could even recruit the potential founders were being told that they would have to start at the bottom in terms of tiers and social status. There was no campus support for them at all. Who would want to join that? Panhellenic and the Greek Life Office could have/should have been much more on top of this situation to ensure that unaffiliated women saw membership in a new sorority as a positive and not a social negative.

They were able to recruit a wonderful group of women, however chapter total at the time was in the high 100s, and they only pledged about 60-70. I was worried from day one and knew they would never be able to catch up.

Other than that vile ranking site that was new at the time (and maybe someone different in the GL office? Honestly not sure on that..) I don't know why their colonization was different than the other three that I mentioned. When those groups came to campus all the sorority members were on board, encouraging their unaffiliated friends to go for it. There was widespread excitement over campus about those groups, with members wearing buttons, etc promoting the new group. All three of those groups pledged close to campus total, and all have thrived since. Very different than AOII.

Starting with a smaller group and then to have to do recruitment the next fall.. well that's tough on a chapter. I am not sure they have ever made quota. It is unfortunate that Phi Mu had to come so quickly but the chapters were bursting at the seams. While it was refreshing to see the campus go all out in support for Phi Mu my heart broke for AOII.

This makes a ton of sense. Thanks for the insight. I wondered why the other ones (that are in the same boat in terms of name recognition in the state) did well while this one didn't. Very sad for AOPi.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by ComradesTrue

Honestly, I think AOII was doomed from the start because of campus culture *at the time* which corresponded with the rise of the online sorority ranking site. That site was flooded with posts- and people in real life- discussing tiers and that if you are new "you start at the bottom and work your way up." It was horrible to witness but this mindset was broadcast loud and often by a small but vocal enough group of undergraduates, which included both sorority women and the fraternities.

There was no campus support for them at all. Who would want to join that? Panhellenic and the Greek Life Office could have/should have been much more on top of this situation to ensure that unaffiliated women saw membership in a new sorority as a positive and not a social negative.

What was the process TCU used when AOII was chosen? Was it one person extending the invitation to colonize, or did all campus NPC groups vote to invite AOII?

Did TCU sororities feel AOII used undue special influence to become THE GROUP allowed to colonize? Was the TCU Greek Advisor at the time AOII was chosen an AOII herself?

It's always anti-panhellenic when any campus goes to the extreme of setting-up their CHOSEN NPC GROUP to fail.

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

What was the process TCU used when AOII was chosen? Was it one person extending the invitation to colonize, or did all campus NPC groups vote to invite AOII?

Did TCU sororities feel AOII used undue special pressure in some form to become THE GROUP allowed to colonize? Was the TCU Greek Advisor at the time AOII was chosen an AOII herself?

It's always anti-panhellenic when any campus goes to the extreme of choosing, then intentionally dooming, their CHOSEN NPC GROUP to failure.

As far as I remember it was the typical 3 sororities presented and one was chosen but I will be honest that I don't remember specifics on that. That is definitely how it was for the other 3 more recent colonizations, though.