Scary Quota Numbers

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by arrowlady

I had a feeling the number at Arkansas would be large. Just spent the last few days with my Alumnae club writing RIF's for local girls. So many great girls going thru recruitment.

Why are there no chapters willing to go to Arkansas? Such a beautiful campus, I understand the cost is high. However there is expansion going on all over the country. Why not at Arkansas???

Because the cost is high and the probability of 'failure' is also high.

Why not spend resources elsewhere if you're a national org.?

[arrowlady]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Because the cost is high and the probability of 'failure' is also high.

Why not spend resources elsewhere if you're a national org.?

With so many girls going thru recruitment now do you think the chance of failure is still there??? I guess the best thing to do would be to look and see if the numbers continue to trend up...

[carnation]

Originally Posted by arrowlady

With so many girls going thru recruitment now do you think the chance of failure is still there??? I guess the best thing to do would be to look and see if the numbers continue to trend up...

I highly doubt that anyone would fail at this point if they had comparable housing. According to numerous people in the know, it's mainly a combination of the incredibly high costs of Fayetteville real estate and the lack of cooperation of the university in helping to find housing.

Remembering the houses of 3 groups that have left: one sold their house to Sigma Chi and the other 2 houses were way too small in order to compete these days; actually, they were smaller than the rest back in the seventies.

There were several fraternities back in the day on Stadium Drive that played musical houses and some have folded. I wonder what the chances are of buying and leveling one of those houses and rebuilding.

[wavycutchip]

arrowlady, I will send you a PM

[arrowlady]

Originally Posted by wavycutchip

arrowlady, I will send you a PM

thanks!

[Xidelt]

What if Panhellenic did away with guaranteed bids? Would that reduce the size of pledge classes to make it manageable?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Xidelt

What if Panhellenic did away with guaranteed bids? Would that reduce the size of pledge classes to make it manageable?

I'm guessing that the "guaranteed bids" concept is kind of a moot point since from what people have said, very hard and very big cuts happen early on anyway. In other words, the girls getting to the pref round are girls that the groups truly do want. There just happen to be a whole lot of them.

[gee_ess]

Is is crazy that I get a little thrill whenever Arkansas is discussed on Greekchat even though we are talking about a dire situation?? (I'll answer: yes)

Arkansas has created a monster, and not just for Greek Life. Housing at the university is at a premium and the rumor is that next year they will not be able to guarantee housing for anyone other than freshmen.

I think all of these groups had better think 'outside the box' about how to reach and connect with their pledges. I believe the kappas are setting up small groups with individual leaders (similar to what the KDs are doing) and then the groups will shuffle every week so the girls can get to know each other. Also,let's not forget how first semester initiation negatively impacts this!

I just pray that the UA can also 'think outside the box' about ways to help with housing a new group(s) who want to come to campus...please!!

PS Also heard a rumor that head of Greek Life resigned a week or so ago. Has anyone else heard that?

[arrowlady]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

Is is crazy that I get a little thrill whenever Arkansas is discussed on Greekchat even though we are talking about a dire situation?? (I'll answer: yes)

Arkansas has created a monster, and not just for Greek Life. Housing at the university is at a premium and the rumor is that next year they will not be able to guarantee housing for anyone other than freshmen.

I think all of these groups had better think 'outside the box' about how to reach and connect with their pledges. I believe the kappas are setting up small groups with individual leaders (similar to what the KDs are doing) and then the groups will shuffle every week so the girls can get to know each other. Also,let's not forget how first semester initiation negatively impacts this!

I just pray that the UA can also 'think outside the box' about ways to help with housing a new group(s) who want to come to campus...please!!

PS Also heard a rumor that head of Greek Life resigned a week or so ago. Has anyone else heard that?

I am glad to hear that groups are trying to find ways to better get to know such large groups.
Hopefully in the future some brave group will colonize and get support from the other groups on campus.

[carnation]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

PS Also heard a rumor that head of Greek Life resigned a week or so ago. Has anyone else heard that?

I think this might be a good thing, lol.

[hootyhoo]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

PS Also heard a rumor that head of Greek Life resigned a week or so ago. Has anyone else heard that?

As far as I know, no. Our assistant director of Greek Life left earlier this summer for a job promotion at Arkansas State.

Also, I know several of the chapters have struggled in the past, and one still doesn't make quota today, but we're desperate for more chapters. AOII has done AMAZING thing since being becoming a part of the U of A and took quota last year. During expansion last year we had 6-7 national organizations take exploratory visits, but the cost is just too high to secure a colony.

Thank you guys for the small group ideas. I'm pretty sure it's ZTA at Arkansas that has done something like this in the past. We talked about grouping of girls of 5-6 each week and just having them do something together on their own like study, go to coffee, eat lunch, etc. At this point I think anything can help.

Also, while out-of-state students do add to the population and pull to Arkansas (myself included), our huge jump last year was due to the lottery scholarship. It is only offered to Arkansas residents, so we expect this to be a big factor this year as well. But, on that same note, when I went through rush I was one of 2 girls from my very large district that went to Arkansas. I know of 20 girls already from that same district signed up, so out-of-state and in-state students are both increasing.

[momof4girls]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

Arkansas has created a monster, and not just for Greek Life. Housing at the university is at a premium and the rumor is that next year they will not be able to guarantee housing for anyone other than freshmen.

This is true. The University is expecting their largest freshmen class in history. My daughters friend, who just completed her freshmen year, received a letter from the university in the spring stating they would be unable to accommodate her housing request for the fall. At the time she didn't know if she was even going to be able to house in the house. Fortunally she did receive space in the house for the fall.

[IndianaSigKap]

Is Arkansas one of those campuses where it's actually cheaper to live in a sorority house than to live in the dorms or off campus housing?

[KSUViolet06]

^^^I remember reading somewhere that most if not all of the chapters have renovated their chapter rooms to be able to accomodate the increased numbers so all 300ish of the girls fit.

[carnation]

I'm trying to figure out how the Pi Phis did that. Maybe they incorporated the whole bottom floor?

Same for the others, though.