Clemson Recruitment

[TigerPiPhi]

Pi Phi is presenting at Clemson on Wednesday, November 12. Pi Phi did not present for recolonization in 2004 (even though we were invited) not only because we had our hands full colonizing other chapters but also because of concern about Clemson at that time. Delta Gamma had just closed in 2003. We had learned from Alpha Gams experience in the 1990s (who came on just as we were closing in 1994 or 1995) that coming on when someone is closing shop may not be the best thing to do. Alpha Gam ended up closing just 6 years later. Then DG 3 years after that. I remember many chapters having to COB all the time to stay afloat.

There was a big imbalance between big sororities and small sororities at that time, instead of everyone being around the same size and being healthy from an extension standpoint.

I'm glad to see that chapters are appearing to do better now on the Clemson campus. Seems like everyone is getting good numbers in recruitment.

I am hopeful for Pi Phi. After successful presentations at Mississippi State, NYU, and MIT recently, I hope another goes our way. Georgia Alpha is a great chapter nearby (one of the top Pi Phi chapters), and all the North Carolina chapters are strong. I went to NC State's installation in 2005, and they did a great job there.

There was never a SC Gamma that I recall. The only chapters in SC were at USC and Clemson, and that's according to the history book from the 2005 Convention in Tampa.

Sis was a SC Alpha from USC, btw.

And yes, the Clemson sororities have floors in the dorms. Pi Phi used to be 3rd floor of Barnett, between ADPi and Theta.

[SCTransplant]

Alpha Phi is scheduled to present on Nov. 11. Not sure what the housing plans will be for an additional chapter. I will try to find out.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by TigerPiPhi

Pi Phi is presenting at Clemson on Wednesday, November 12. Pi Phi did not present for recolonization in 2004 (even though we were invited) not only because we had our hands full colonizing other chapters but also because of concern about Clemson at that time. Delta Gamma had just closed in 2003. We had learned from Alpha Gams experience in the 1990s (who came on just as we were closing in 1994 or 1995) that coming on when someone is closing shop may not be the best thing to do. Alpha Gam ended up closing just 6 years later. Then DG 3 years after that. I remember many chapters having to COB all the time to stay afloat.

There was a big imbalance between big sororities and small sororities at that time, instead of everyone being around the same size and being healthy from an extension standpoint.

I'm glad to see that chapters are appearing to do better now on the Clemson campus. Seems like everyone is getting good numbers in recruitment.

I am hopeful for Pi Phi. After successful presentations at Mississippi State, NYU, and MIT recently, I hope another goes our way. Georgia Alpha is a great chapter nearby (one of the top Pi Phi chapters), and all the North Carolina chapters are strong. I went to NC State's installation in 2005, and they did a great job there.

There was never a SC Gamma that I recall. The only chapters in SC were at USC and Clemson, and that's according to the history book from the 2005 Convention in Tampa.

Sis was a SC Alpha from USC, btw.

And yes, the Clemson sororities have floors in the dorms. Pi Phi used to be 3rd floor of Barnett, between ADPi and Theta.

Thanks for the details on all that. And welcome to GC!

The third SC chapter information is coming from this post. Pi Phi didn't always use the state-by-state naming system. Early in our history, the sorority used a naming system similar to what most GLOs use: the Alpha chapter was at Monmouth, and so on. The system was a bit disorganized and I think there were alumnae clubs that were lettered chapters at that time as well. At some point fairly early on we switched to the state-by-state system, and all the chapters that were still functioning got new names. I know for sure though, that the defunct chapters at the time of the name reorganization did NOT get new names. Thus there ARE some closed collegiate Pi Phi chapters that don't have state-by-state names. Some of them are at institutions that no longer function.

In this instance, according to irishpipes' thread, Pi Phi had a chapter at Baptist College, which is now Charleston Southern University.

You can look this up in the comprehensive history of Pi Phi that should be in every chapter's archives.

You can also see it on the Pi Phi website. I'm not giving anything away on this because when you set up an account you can see this list without having logged in... So when you set up an account and have to choose your chapter of initiation, the options on the drop-down menu include:

IA Clarinda
IC Psi
Phi of IC
Rho of IC
Zeta of IC

I'm assuming that the IA Clarinda is in Iowa. It's a state-by-state name, but a non-standard one. We used to have a ton of chapters in Iowa that no longer exist, you can see those on the drop-down list. Oddly, there are two groupings, one under "Iowa" and one under "IA."

Interesting stuff.

[PKTKKG]

Originally Posted by TigerPiPhi

Pi Phi is presenting at Clemson on Wednesday, November 12. Pi Phi did not present for recolonization in 2004 (even though we were invited) not only because we had our hands full colonizing other chapters but also because of concern about Clemson at that time. Delta Gamma had just closed in 2003. We had learned from Alpha Gams experience in the 1990s (who came on just as we were closing in 1994 or 1995) that coming on when someone is closing shop may not be the best thing to do. Alpha Gam ended up closing just 6 years later. Then DG 3 years after that. I remember many chapters having to COB all the time to stay afloat.

There was a big imbalance between big sororities and small sororities at that time, instead of everyone being around the same size and being healthy from an extension standpoint.

I'm glad to see that chapters are appearing to do better now on the Clemson campus. Seems like everyone is getting good numbers in recruitment.

I am hopeful for Pi Phi. After successful presentations at Mississippi State, NYU, and MIT recently, I hope another goes our way. Georgia Alpha is a great chapter nearby (one of the top Pi Phi chapters), and all the North Carolina chapters are strong. I went to NC State's installation in 2005, and they did a great job there.

There was never a SC Gamma that I recall. The only chapters in SC were at USC and Clemson, and that's according to the history book from the 2005 Convention in Tampa.

Sis was a SC Alpha from USC, btw.

And yes, the Clemson sororities have floors in the dorms. Pi Phi used to be 3rd floor of Barnett, between ADPi and Theta.

Do you happen to know why Pi Phi did not express interest in USC when it opened for expansion a few years ago and is now expressing interest in Clemson? Just curious as the USC chapter was there for over 50 years before closing, and I have always wondered why they didn't try to come back.

[TigerPiPhi]

If you are talking about when Gamma Phi colonized at USC, that was the same year DZ colonized at Clemson (2004), so I'm assuming some of the same reasons apply. I can't remember which chapter(s) Pi Phi was colonizing at that time -- I'd have to look it up -- but there were other commitments at that time, I guess. I know a lot of our national/chapter structure, programming, and marketing was changing at that time, too, so I suspect a lot of Nationals' money, time, and efforts were going into organizing that as well. I think many of those changes were positive and make us a more efficient and attractive organization today.

Also I really don't know much about the specifics of USC's Panhellenic, as I did not go there and never inquired about it. All I know is that Theta colonized and then closed a chapter at USC in the 1990s (one of my high school classmates was a founder actually), but I don't know if that played in role in them being cautious about how ready the school was to expand. Maybe they felt Panhellenic there did not do enough to support or promote their existing chapters to ensure a healthy Greek system overall. (???)
I went to Clemson and have spoken to our National NPC delegate about them before, so I'm a little more informed about them.

I'm sure they had to factor in housing costs (building a house), commitment of area alums to AAC and House Corps, opportunities for expansion at other schools, etc., among many other things that I have no idea about in their decision. Expansion is expensive, and you want that investment to pay off. I have no idea how all that played out for USC at that time, so all of this is just speculation.

[TigerPiPhi]

Originally Posted by breathesgelatin

Thanks for the details on all that. And welcome to GC!

The third SC chapter information is coming from this post. Pi Phi didn't always use the state-by-state naming system. Early in our history, the sorority used a naming system similar to what most GLOs use: the Alpha chapter was at Monmouth, and so on. The system was a bit disorganized and I think there were alumnae clubs that were lettered chapters at that time as well. At some point fairly early on we switched to the state-by-state system, and all the chapters that were still functioning got new names. I know for sure though, that the defunct chapters at the time of the name reorganization did NOT get new names. Thus there ARE some closed collegiate Pi Phi chapters that don't have state-by-state names. Some of them are at institutions that no longer function.

In this instance, according to irishpipes' thread, Pi Phi had a chapter at Baptist College, which is now Charleston Southern University.

You can look this up in the comprehensive history of Pi Phi that should be in every chapter's archives.

You can also see it on the Pi Phi website. I'm not giving anything away on this because when you set up an account you can see this list without having logged in... So when you set up an account and have to choose your chapter of initiation, the options on the drop-down menu include:

IA Clarinda
IC Psi
Phi of IC
Rho of IC
Zeta of IC

I'm assuming that the IA Clarinda is in Iowa. It's a state-by-state name, but a non-standard one. We used to have a ton of chapters in Iowa that no longer exist, you can see those on the drop-down list. Oddly, there are two groupings, one under "Iowa" and one under "IA."

Interesting stuff.

Thanks for the welcome.

I saw that post, but I don't think it is accurate. I don't recall a chapter of that naming convention in the history in SC, and Charleston would have been far from where Pi Phi was colonizing at that time. That was right after the Civil War, and I doubt Southern women would have been very receptive to a bunch of Northern girls coming in to start a group. Most of the oldest of the Southern chapters started in the 1920s and 1930s, in my recollection.

[ChitownPiPhi]

Any news as to which group was selected at Clemson? Just curious...

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by TigerPiPhi

Thanks for the welcome.

I saw that post, but I don't think it is accurate. I don't recall a chapter of that naming convention in the history in SC, and Charleston would have been far from where Pi Phi was colonizing at that time. That was right after the Civil War, and I doubt Southern women would have been very receptive to a bunch of Northern girls coming in to start a group. Most of the oldest of the Southern chapters started in the 1920s and 1930s, in my recollection.

I guess you'd have to ask irishpipes where she got the info.

Re: the 2004 thing, we weren't expanding a tremendous amount at that time (the NC State chapter does come to mind), but I think some of the other concerns you mention (difficulty of colonizing on those campuses and other major organizational stuff going on in Pi Phi then) could be factors. If you want to chat more about all that send me a PM. I did talk to some people "in the know" about it, as it were, at the time.

[lauralaylin]

Originally Posted by ChitownPiPhi

Any news as to which group was selected at Clemson? Just curious...

It hasn't been announced yet.

[sunnydebs]

sigma kappa has been chosen for colonization at Clemson.

[FSUZeta]

congratulations to sigma kappa.

[BetteDavisEyes]

Originally Posted by sunnydebs

sigma kappa has been chosen for colonization at Clemson.

YAY!

[UofISigKap]

Originally Posted by BetteDavisEyes

YAY!

Go, go, extension team!

[CougarGrad]

Originally Posted by sunnydebs

sigma kappa has been chosen for colonization at Clemson.

Congratulations and much luck to Sigma Kappa at Clemson!

[honeychile]

Congratulations to Sigma Kappa!