University of Alabama Recruitment Guide is now available online

[KitKat58]

Meal plans are optional at some schools?

[Titchou]

At schools in the SEC - and most places except for Indiana and Washington and a maybe a few others - the majority of members do not live in the house. And at Indiana and Washington the chapters are only in the 100's - not 200's and 300's. At Alabama there is a meal plan so the house has to hold them for meals and have a separate chapter room. Both need to hold close to 300. The ones at Arkansas and Ole Miss are large but in no way could house their 300-400 member chapter to have all live in.

[FSUZeta]

It is a lot easier to find 80 members out of 250-300 who will live in, than it is to have to require half the chapter to live in (so that ends are met). And I guess it is human nature that when there is space for less than half the members to live in, living in is seen more as a privilege than an obligation.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

It is a lot easier to find 80 members out of 250-300 who will live in, than it is to have to require half the chapter to live in (so that ends are met). And I guess it is human nature that when there is space for less than half the members to live in, living in is seen more as a privilege than an obligation.

Yes. Also, the economy ebbs and flows, and building on the smaller side is a safer bet. It's cool to sleep 120 when the economy/enrollment/etc. all favor Greek Life. When it goes bad, depending on a number of factors, you may find yourself regretting building so many beds (as they are not filled and you're barely scraping by to pay operating costs.)

[IndianaSigKap]

Originally Posted by Titchou

At schools in the SEC - and most places except for Indiana and Washington and a maybe a few others - the majority of members do not live in the house. And at Indiana and Washington the chapters are only in the 100's - not 200's and 300's. At Alabama there is a meal plan so the house has to hold them for meals and have a separate chapter room. Both need to hold close to 300. The ones at Arkansas and Ole Miss are large but in no way could house their 300-400 member chapter to have all live in.

You nailed it. It's hard for me to understand sometimes because of Indiana's housed culture. Most sororities are able to use their dining rooms as chapter rooms and have study areas, laundry area, workout areas in the lower levels or basement. But I don't understand why if their dining rooms hold 300+ why don't they just have meeting in there as well. It would allow them more space for amenities like treadmills, ellipticals, or home theater systems, etc.

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

It is a lot easier to find 80 members out of 250-300 who will live in, than it is to have to require half the chapter to live in (so that ends are met). And I guess it is human nature that when there is space for less than half the members to live in, living in is seen more as a privilege than an obligation.

You are so right about the perception of living in as a privilege. When I was at Indiana we had a small beautiful house in the center of campus, great location. It's now the Office of Admissions. It only slept around 75. Any girls who wanted to live out really could. There was never an issue with filling the house. I had friends in other chapters who had to live in for all three years and by senior year, they hated it. They went home for a night or two if they lived close enough or crashed with friends or boyfriends who had apartments.

[Titchou]

Amen, FSUZeta!

[Titchou]

Yes, AOII and KATheta are not on the master plan for a move. However, there are a couple of "future" lots that could be theirs down the road if they don't manage to get another chapter to come to campus. When the 4 lots were added behind the president's mansion, one of those two (not sure which so I don't want to misspeak) asked to be included in the pool of candidates for the 3 that weren't assigned (DG had been promised one as part of their coming on campus). However,they had just requested and received approval for a renovation so were told they could not apply for a lot at that time.

[CarolinaCarnati]

My daughter is an AOPi at Alabama....the house received a beautiful renovation last year prior to fall Recruitment. My understanding is that since they cannot expand their house upwards (as it sits literally in the shadows of the stadium), the plan is to expand to the right of the house (Temple Tutwiler building is slated to be demolished).

[MaryPoppins]

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

Are you including the big renovations (like Chi O) as new houses? Are Theta and AOPi the two you mean?

I understand that Delta Omicron Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta (Bama) is currently evaluating how they are going to increase their facility size but have not yet settled on a plan.