Spring Recruitment at University of Alabama?

[Zillini]

Originally Posted by Barbie's_Rush

I have a question about moving total up so much in this kind of environment. It seems to me pretty counter intuitive to do so when you have a recent colonization, an upcoming colonization, one NPC chapter that's so small it is unhoused and doesn't do formal recruitment, and at least one chapter that has struggled to make quota up until this year. (At least this is the overall situation I have gathered from reading Greekchat.) Wouldn't this make the big chapters even huger and the smaller/newer/struggling chapters struggle even more to try to keep up? Can someone explain to me the rationale behind the decision? I'm not dissing it, I'm just wondering what it is supposed to achieve.

Total had not been changed in several years, despite very large quotas and even quota additions. The largest chapters are well above the new Total. However the smaller ones had their hands tied because Total was just 180. There was no way they could even come close to catching up with out a significant increase.

In hindsight Total could have and perhaps should have been increased in prior years, but everyone was hesitant to do so because of Alpha Phi's recolonization. There had not been a re/colonization effort here for an incredibly long time. No one was sure how it would go over, particularly in the first year they would fully participate in Formal Recruitment. As it turned out there was little cause for concern because they came on like gangbusters in year #1 recruiting up to Chapter Average and then did an amazing job in FR. With their current numbers they will not be participating in COR despite the Total increase. Due to Alpha Phi's success, everyone is very optimistic that DG's return in 2011 will prove to be just as successful.

Here is something I learned from our NPC Area Advisor that I did not know before. In the year prior to a re/colonization established chapters are allowed to COR up to Chapter Average without having Total changed. Since a colony is allowed to recruit up to Chapter Average it's only fair that the established chapters also have that benefit before hand. Therefore next year any chapters that are still on the smaller end of the scale will have the opportunity to get their numbers up.

As for SDT, well that is such a unique case on this campus and I'm not going to rehash the why's of it. If anyone's interested they can search the forums for past discussions. Point being, to include SDT in the calculations of Chapter Average used to determine Chapter Total would dramatically skew the numbers lower. It would unfairly penalize the other chapters and more importantly the PNMs who are interested in joining one of them.

Originally Posted by APhi4Ever

Is this taking into account graduating seniors? Plus, some women may transfer/drop out/go inactive/or study abroad. Even then so, I'm sure many of those chapters would still not have a lot of spots to fill regardless.

The numbers Titchou quoted were from late October. They may change slightly after December to include those things you mentioned. Still, I don't anticipate a significant increase in the number of chapters eligible to COR.

[WVU alpha phi]

Originally Posted by Zillini

In hindsight Total could have and perhaps should have been increased in prior years, but everyone was hesitant to do so because of Alpha Phi's recolonization. There had not been a re/colonization effort here for an incredibly long time. No one was sure how it would go over, particularly in the first year they would fully participate in Formal Recruitment. As it turned out there was little cause for concern because they came on like gangbusters in year #1 recruiting up to Chapter Average and then did an amazing job in FR. With their current numbers they will not be participating in COR despite the Total increase. Due to Alpha Phi's success, everyone is very optimistic that DG's return in 2011 will prove to be just as successful.

That's amazing after only being on campus a little over a year. That makes me so proud of my sorority!

[APhi4Ever]

Originally Posted by WVU alpha phi

That's amazing after only being on campus a little over a year. That makes me so proud of my sorority!

Me too!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Zillini

As for SDT, well that is such a unique case on this campus and I'm not going to rehash the why's of it. If anyone's interested they can search the forums for past discussions. Point being, to include SDT in the calculations of Chapter Average used to determine Chapter Total would dramatically skew the numbers lower. It would unfairly penalize the other chapters and more importantly the PNMs who are interested in joining one of them.

Yup. SDT nationals has basically shown they're supporting that chapter as is, so this isn't any sort of "putting the screws to SDT" issue.

[missblonde]

Is Spring Sorority Recruitment at UA the same as Fall? Is it still a week-long process and a big deal? Do they still go on retreat afterwards? I'd just like to know the differences between the Fall and Spring recruitment. I'm trying to make up my mind as to WHEN to go to Bama... (I'm currently attending my first semester in college elsewhere.) And I want to be at Bama SOOO bad so i'm kinda considering going during the Spring... Is the campus dead in the Spring or are there still parties and nightlife and stuff? (: Thanks!

[Zillini]

Last year was one of the rare years when any sort of significant Spring Recruitment occurred due to Chapter Total being raised. Even with that though, only about 5-6 Chapters were in a position to take new members.

Chapter Total was again raised this year after the completion of Formal Recruitment due to DG coming to campus next year. Chapters below that can COB up to the new Total. Panhellenic anticipates reviewing Total again either late this fall or early spring. Whether any Chapters are in a position to COB in spring then will all depend on their numbers in comparison with whatever Chapter Total is. (Please refer here for a full explanation.)

As to the process of Spring or COB Recruitment, no it is nothing like Formal Recruitment in the fall. It is up to each chapter to determine who to invite, what activities they want to do, when they want to schedule them, and how long/how many events until they decide whether or not to extend a Bid.

[missblonde]

Okay, thank you! And how does it work when a new sorority (DG) comes to campus? Is it formed by people already at UA or do they bring people in to do the recruiting and such?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by missblonde

Okay, thank you! And how does it work when a new sorority (DG) comes to campus? Is it formed by people already at UA or do they bring people in to do the recruiting and such?

They bring people in (from the national office and from nearby chapters) to do the rushing.

Occasionally an interest group of current students springs up at a campus and they then look for an NPC to colonize them and a new NPC ends up on campus that way. However, this is not that sort of colonization.