Indiana University - NPC predictions

[DubaiSis]

All 26 will be represented before IU changes from bed rush BUT chapters will slowly start going over their totals by a few each year. "We're not changing the rules, but we ARE going to let 5 seniors (or some other ridiculously small number) live out. And inevitably when it turns out the sky doesn't fall because of 5 seniors living out, it will move to 10, to 20 to the majority of seniors living out.

I personally think there is a place for unhoused chapters as a counterpoint to the uber-exclusion of the chapter houses now and they will continue to succeed, providing they maintain high standards and keep a very visible social profile. But in the next 10 years, one could fail and people will see it as a sign that it was NEVER going to work. But then the sun will rise again and the other unhoused chapters will be just fine. I'm not pointing fingers at anyone in particular. You can't expect all this growth and have 100% success.

[glittergal1985]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

I personally think there is a place for unhoused chapters as a counterpoint to the uber-exclusion of the chapter houses now

I'm not quite sure what you mean. Are the unhoused chapters somehow less "exclusive?" I know that many PNMs may have chosen to rank unhoused groups last because they preferred to have a house, but as the recent recruitment stories have shown us, even the unhoused groups were making some brutal cuts. As far as there being a "place" for unhoused groups, I can't possibly imagine any NPC being okay with being second tier on this campus for such a concrete reason as lack of housing. If IU wants to offer students an alternate greek experience, they should look outside of the NPC. We will have to wait and see what the future brings, but it is my belief that current groups are simply waiting to ensure years of stability before they begin investing in comparable housing.

[33girl]

But then you get a chicken and egg situation. When rushees are saying "I really liked ABC but I want to live in a house"- how can they get stronger with that mindset? And as discussed before, if you market yourself as not having a house as being a positive, then you get the kind of members who might not want to do other things affiliated with IU Greek life either.

[glittergal1985]

Originally Posted by 33girl

But then you get a chicken and egg situation. When rushees are saying "I really liked ABC but I want to live in a house"- how can they get stronger with that mindset? And as discussed before, if you market yourself as not having a house as being a positive, then you get the kind of members who might not want to do other things affiliated with IU Greek life either.

I think the unfortunate reality right now is that PNMs do have that mindset and are ranking unhoused groups last for the most part, and that the unhoused groups are left to choose from the PNMs who have been funneled down after the house groups have taken their picks. The fortunate part is that there are so many PNMs that the unhoused groups are still left with a large pool of worthy women to choose from. It is my understanding that we are all maintaining healthy sized chapters of quality members, it's just the stigma of being an unhoused group that we have to deal with. As far as marketing being unhoused as a positive, I'm betting that the number of women choosing unhoused groups for the fact that they are unhoused is minuscule at best. I think it is more of a case of a PNM wanting ABC badly enough that they are willing to overlook the lack of housing, rather than wanting ABC because it is unhoused.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by glittergal1985

I think the unfortunate reality right now is that PNMs do have that mindset and are ranking unhoused groups last for the most part, and that the unhoused groups are left to choose from the PNMs who have been funneled down after the house groups have taken their picks. The fortunate part is that there are so many PNMs that the unhoused groups are still left with a large pool of worthy women to choose from. It is my understanding that we are all maintaining healthy sized chapters of quality members, it's just the stigma of being an unhoused group that we have to deal with. As far as marketing being unhoused as a positive, I'm betting that the number of women choosing unhoused groups for the fact that they are unhoused is minuscule at best. I think it is more of a case of a PNM wanting ABC badly enough that they are willing to overlook the lack of housing, rather than wanting ABC because it is unhoused.

This. I doubt very seriously that there are very many women walking around campus saying, "Geez, I'd really like to be a part of that Greek scene but I sure hate those giant Greek houses." They likely don't want to be in Greek life for many other reasons. The house isn't the thing keeping them out. For many people, even in our campuses without Greek housing, a giant chapter house is the DREAM. I'm not really sure why since it is usually expensive, cramped and not that nice (unless you are in one of those new houses which are still expensive, cramped but maybe a little nicer.)

[DubaiSis]

Originally Posted by glittergal1985

I'm not quite sure what you mean. Are the unhoused chapters somehow less "exclusive?"

I don't mean exclusive, or highly selective, I mean exclusionary, or leaving people out for really no apparent reason. The unhoused chapters will more than likely continue to function with a quota and quota additions system like the rest of the Greek world outside of IU. So the girls who pref at unhoused chapters have a reasonably strong chance of finding a home through QAs as opposed to the girls who "win" through most of rush only to end up unmatched. That is where exclusive crosses the line into exclusionary in my book. If girls did everything right and were well-liked through the entire process, they should find a home. That's how it works everywhere else and has proven to be wildly successful. And I think it will be for the unhoused chapters too, while seeming more democratic and less bitchy.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

I thought one of the groups not at IU already turned down a chance to colonize there. Just because the school wants all 26 doesn't mean it is calling all of the shots.

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I thought one of the groups not at IU already turned down a chance to colonize there. Just because the school wants all 26 doesn't mean it is calling all of the shots.

Yes, at least 1 has said no recently.

[33girl]

And another (I assume we're talking of 2 different ones) has stated they will not even present unless they have a guarantee of a house.

[ForeverRoses]

Originally Posted by 33girl

And another (I assume we're talking of 2 different ones) has stated they will not even present unless they have a guarantee of a house.

Define "house". Are we talking comperable housing to the current houses groups, dorm wings, or townhouses?

[33girl]

I'm pretty sure they said comparable on campus house.

[cinder1965]

There are also girls who are on special diets: diabetic, gluten free, paleo, food allergies. This is also hard to do in a sorority house. You might think this is a small number of women, but you would be surprised how many people are on special diets.

This is absolutely true....I am on the corp board of my chapter and I have been surprised at how many requests we get from members with special diets that we cannot accommodate and as a result, they need to live out.

[33girl]

It's not just actually living in with all the vaunted bonding that is a factor. It's the social pecking order as well.

[DubaiSis]

I don't understand what you're getting at. Can you elaborate?

[33girl]

Who chapters mix with or pair with for events. If upper tier fraternities don't want to mix with them it has a negative impact, and vice versa. We'd all like to pretend those things don't matter, but let's be real - they do, especially at schools with large Greek systems.