University of Texas colonization

[Tom Earp]

We all are trying to grow there as glos!

As I said, We all want to be at The biiig Schools.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by banditone

How is Beta at UT?

Pretty sure they were good before my time. Not so much now. I know back in my dad's time at UT he had quite a few really good friends that went Beta. I think they were really good back then.

[gpb1874]

Originally Posted by banditone

How is Beta at UT?

They were struggling for a few years, but were kicking things back in gear a year or two ago. Not sure how they are doing right now.

[banditone]

That's good. The more I look into it, U.Tex is an "odd" fraternity setup. It's just not like you see in the big SEC schools.

[EE-BO]

Beta at Texas was a very large chapter from the 60s-mid 90s. I was graduating just as the numbers started to slip, and unfortunately they slipped fast when they did.

Rush is critical at UT, as is maintaining solid relationships with sororities- and when that gets neglected for even a year a chapter at this school can sink very quickly.

I am a bit biased as an advisor and all, but I am really proud of how the chapter is doing today. Growth is hard coming from the 20s (it was in the teens around 2001!), but we are just over 30 now and summer rush has already been really solid.

The chapter today also puts more emphasis on scholastics and philanthropy than when I was there, and they have worked hard to develop a solid social reputation. You need numbers and budget to do many things socially, but you are never too small a chapter to develop a good reputation on which to build.

I have to say that as much fun as I had in college- I am not sure I would have wanted to be an advisor for my chapter as it was at the time. These guys today have our same spirit and still have a good time- but they also take care of their grades, their bills and our chapter's reputation. And there were not many of us doing that in my day.

Banditone- UT is different even from other SEC schools, and I think it comes down to money in the end. Cost of living is very high- and far worse now with the rezoning. Plus bands and rental of hotels/clubs for chapter and alumni events are astronomically expensive here. I have been to my share of parties at Georgia and Auburn- plus visits to a few other places in the South- and nowhere have I seen the level of investment that is required at UT. Most other chapters look at our dues and are astonished.

A chapter at UT needs a $100,000 budget annually to get by ($200-300K is better)- and that creates a lot of pressure to bring in the numbers. In fact, you will find many larger houses are not all that great. The best from a social position perspective (I pretty much agree with macallan's list except I would replace Sig Ep with Kappa Sig) do have numbers AND quality- but many houses here have numbers and are low quality. And a few, Beta among them, have quality but low numbers.

How that shakes out in the long run remains to be seen- but in my time you could label 6-7 chapters at Texas as top tier socially (with SAE and FIJI back then being the clear top 2), where today it is really just 3 undisputed (SAE, FIJI and KA)- and there are fewer fraternities of any viability overall.

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by EE-BO

Banditone- UT is different even from other SEC schools, and I think it comes down to money in the end.

Editorial for those who are going to ask: He isn't saying that UT is in the SEC, it is in the Big XII, but is often compared to the SEC regarding Greek Life.

[Texas Beta]

Will there ever be a new fraternity here? It’s voted on by our IFC I thought, which wouldn't ever vote to allow a new chapter here.

Our chapter here has been through a lot numbers wise and housing, but fortunately we're rebounding now and building a very solid chapter with great guys. Give us a few years (and a break in the ridiculous land prices around west campus!) and our numbers will be back to that of 10-40 years ago. *edit, I say this with confidence because I can bet that Beta has one of the largest alumni bases out of any fraternity at UT.

[violetpretty]

In regards to (re)colonization, the perspective of I/NHQ in regards as to what makes a chapter successful and "top" in their eyes may be different than what the GLO members on a campus would define as success. Most (NIC/NPC) HQs today want involved, active, values-based, intelligent, diverse members who are interested in brotherhood or sisterhood. A (NIC/NPC) HQ would consider a chapter successful if it isn't struggling numbers wise and was a high achieving chapter.

Just because a recolonized chapter isn't a "top" chapter in the eyes of the established Greek community (for example, they're not old Southern money) doesn't mean they can't be successful in HQ's eyes. If any HQ thought "We will be the top chapter on this campus (as described by macallan25) or we won't come on", then there would be very little extension anywhere.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by JessSigKap

In regards to (re)colonization, the perspective of I/NHQ in regards as to what makes a chapter successful and "top" in their eyes may be different than what the GLO members on a campus would define as success. Most (NIC/NPC) HQs today want involved, active, values-based, intelligent, diverse members who are interested in brotherhood or sisterhood. A (NIC/NPC) HQ would consider a chapter successful if it isn't struggling numbers wise and was a high achieving chapter.

Just because a recolonized chapter isn't a "top" chapter in the eyes of the established Greek community (for example, they're not old Southern money) doesn't mean they can't be successful in HQ's eyes. If any HQ thought "We will be the top chapter on this campus (as described by macallan25) or we won't come on", then there would be very little extension anywhere.

As stated before, Texas is a different kind of animal with regards to successful fraternities on campus. Texas Beta made a very good point also with regards to IFC voting on new chapters.

Also, I didn't exactly say that the top chapters at UT are the only ones that are successful. I said that it would be very, very hard for a recolonized/newly colonized chapter to even get to the point that someone could consider them successful.

[Tom Earp]

While UT is of course in the Great Big XII conference (), as has been said, maybe there is some comparison to SEC Schools as in Old Money and time of Chapters there.

I have followed Betas with deep interest as well as LXA. Well, we are both Greeks and when you know Brothers in each one it is always interesting to see what is happening.

In each of all GLOs there, there are ups and downs yearly or maybe a little farther period of time.

It can happen, Hair today, Bald tomarrow!