Colonization at the University of Alabama?!?

[OleMissGlitter]

Originally Posted by BamaMama

If a new group colonized AFTER formal recruitment, wouldn't that put them somewhat at a disadvantage starting out? It seems that the "prime" PNMs would have already pledged another group - leaving them with girls that didn't go through recruitment, dropped out for one reason or another, or were totally dropped by all the other groups. Group reputation is so strong at a school like Bama, and if you start out with the reputation of pledging anyone that didn't get a bid somewhere else, it's hard to shake that image, isn't it?

Well there might be lots of upperclassmen that did not go through recruitment who would be a great asset to a new colony. Usually in a colony they have a large mix of freshmen and then upperclassmen. I know that's what AOII at Arkansas did. I think most NPC groups tend to have some upper classmen in their colony group to help distribute leadership and women who are already involved on campus. Also, there is always a handful of "prime" PNMs who might decide not to go through recruitment just to be a part of a new colony and to be considered a "founding member" of a chapter. Sometimes it’s just as cool to be a part of the newest sorority on campus as it is to be a part of the oldest sorority on campus.

[bamagirl09]

UA is open for expansion. Let the speculation begin!

[kk_bama]

Yay for expansion. This is exciting. I do think UA is getting a bit more Panhellenic-spirited, so that should help the two new sororities.

[Regina Filangie]

Not to be a debbie downer but it seems that if they do let 2 new orgs colonize they will do so with the assumption that one will not make it. It happened to Sigma Kappa in the '80s and GPhiB, which has been there for 20 years, is still not at total (although it seems that they are very close thanks to their great recruitment this year!) UA panhellenic is so big into tradition and I just don't see a large number of girls, or at least large enough to fill up two new orgs, intereted in a chapter that didn't have tradition on the UA campus. Just look at all the talk about the first circle, old row stuff in that UA recruitment thread. I'd just hate to be one of the two competing for those first few pledge classes. Talk about cut throat

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by BamaMama

If a new group colonized AFTER formal recruitment, wouldn't that put them somewhat at a disadvantage starting out? It seems that the "prime" PNMs would have already pledged another group - leaving them with girls that didn't go through recruitment, dropped out for one reason or another, or were totally dropped by all the other groups. Group reputation is so strong at a school like Bama, and if you start out with the reputation of pledging anyone that didn't get a bid somewhere else, it's hard to shake that image, isn't it?

This is true for many colleges. At Washington and Lee, were 80% of women are Greek (it's higher for men), the successful colonizations have occurred when the new sorority actually participates in formal recruitment. In 1991, the first time W&L tried to expand, the group tried to recruit after formal recruitment, and failed--the chapter was never even installed. In 1992 and 1997, when Pi Phi and KD respectively colonized, they went through formal recruitment. The new groups were given a quota of campus total, and the old groups divided up what was left via normal quota procedures. This is also planned to be the process for any future W&L recruitments.

I know for a fact that in 1992 when Pi Phi was colonized the William & Mary undergrad chapter was brought in to run recruitment along with the alumnae and national representatives.

[hmd1014]

I recall reading somewhere that the Gamma Phis are living in the AXiD house?

Did Gamma Phi buy the house, or does Alpha Xi's house corp still own it? KKBama?

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by BamaMama

If a new group colonized AFTER formal recruitment, wouldn't that put them somewhat at a disadvantage starting out? It seems that the "prime" PNMs would have already pledged another group - leaving them with girls that didn't go through recruitment, dropped out for one reason or another, or were totally dropped by all the other groups. Group reputation is so strong at a school like Bama, and if you start out with the reputation of pledging anyone that didn't get a bid somewhere else, it's hard to shake that image, isn't it?

it depends.

when a sorority is colonizing after formal recruitment, they usually hold a presentation during the first round of parties(they are scheduled into the rotation) and every pnm would attend the presentation. they learn a little of the sorority's history, what opportunities the new colony will provide for her members, the projected timeline, etc. panhellenic makes sure that the pnms understand that the opportunity is there for the pnms.

believe it or not, some girls will drop out of recruitment in order to have the opportunity to be a part of something new. there may be lots of legacies from other chapters in the state who would want join. girls who have heard great things about other chapters of that sorority. girls who have a strong sense of adventure and are not afraid of a challenge and hard work.

when a colony is started, the national sorority wants a broad spectrum of women for the membership. they don't want all freshman, but they do want freshman. they also want sophomores, juniors and some seniors. they are building a chapter from scratch, so they need girls from each class.

as to taking rejects:we all know wonderful, well qualified pnms who are bidless every year. had things gone differently, had they listed xyz in their top choices instead of abc, they would have been part of the xyz new member class. fate happens. it doesn't mean that they were rejects-which makes me think of something or someone not worthy.

we also have to remember that the majority of the membership of each sorority will have no idea where patty pnm ended up on their bid list-for all they know patty declined their invitation. there will be members in each sorority that loved, loved, loved a particular pnm and were very disappointed when she was not invited back(or when she chose not to come back).

pnms seeking to become a colonist of a sorority have to go thru more scrutiny than the average pnm, because they are meeting local alumnae and/or national officers and former national officers. i wonder how successful many of us would have been had we been trying to become a founding sister of a colony? national officers understand campus climates and know what they have to overcome for the colony to be successful. founding a colony is a major investment and the national officers and local alumnae are going to do everything to make sure that the colony is a success.

panhellenic plays an important role in the whole process. if the panhel officers are enthusiastic about a new sorority coming on campus and really talk it up, the sorority chapters will catch that feeling too. promoting the colonization as a positive(which it is) and talking it up can help dispel the "that new sorority only took everyone elses rejects" trash talk. advisors to the established campus sororities also have an obligation to make sure that the addition of a new chapter is seen in a positive light and that their chapter remains positive and supportive toward the colony. alumnae of other sororities as well as parents have a big role to play too-by stating positive things about the colonization and getting the word out about the new group.it is never easy, and on some campuses is harder, but it can be successful.granted, it may be more difficult to colonize on a tradition-rich campus such as bama. but it can be done.

sorry for the sermon, but i was an advisor to a colony and know what a huge undertaking it is, as well as an exciting opportunity.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

it depends.

when a sorority is colonizing after formal recruitment, they usually hold a presentation during the first round of parties(they are scheduled into the rotation) and every pnm would attend the presentation. they learn a little of the sorority's history, what opportunities the new colony will provide for her members, the projected timeline, etc. panhellenic makes sure that the pnms understand that the opportunity is there for the pnms.

believe it or not, some girls will drop out of recruitment in order to have the opportunity to be a part of something new. there may be lots of legacies from other chapters in the state who would want join. girls who have heard great things about other chapters of that sorority. girls who have a strong sense of adventure and are not afraid of a challenge and hard work.

when a colony is started, the national sorority wants a broad spectrum of women for the membership. they don't want all freshman, but they do want freshman. they also want sophomores, juniors and some seniors. they are building a chapter from scratch, so they need girls from each class.

as to taking rejects:we all know wonderful, well qualified pnms who are bidless every year. had things gone differently, had they listed xyz in their top choices instead of abc, they would have been part of the xyz new member class. fate happens. it doesn't mean that they were rejects-which makes me think of something or someone not worthy.

we also have to remember that the majority of the membership of each sorority will have no idea where patty pnm ended up on their bid list-for all they know patty declined their invitation. there will be members in each sorority that loved, loved, loved a particular pnm and were very disappointed when she was not invited back(or when she chose not to come back).

pnms seeking to become a colonist of a sorority have to go thru more scrutiny than the average pnm, because they are meeting local alumnae and/or national officers and former national officers. i wonder how successful many of us would have been had we been trying to become a founding sister of a colony? national officers understand campus climates and know what they have to overcome for the colony to be successful. founding a colony is a major investment and the national officers and local alumnae are going to do everything to make sure that the colony is a success.

panhellenic plays an important role in the whole process. if the panhel officers are enthusiastic about a new sorority coming on campus and really talk it up, the sorority chapters will catch that feeling too. promoting the colonization as a positive(which it is) and talking it up can help dispel the "that new sorority only took everyone elses rejects" trash talk. advisors to the established campus sororities also have an obligation to make sure that the addition of a new chapter is seen in a positive light and that their chapter remains positive and supportive toward the colony. alumnae of other sororities as well as parents have a big role to play too-by stating positive things about the colonization and getting the word out about the new group.it is never easy, and on some campuses is harder, but it can be successful.granted, it may be more difficult to colonize on a tradition-rich campus such as bama. but it can be done.

sorry for the sermon, but i was an advisor to a colony and know what a huge undertaking it is, as well as an exciting opportunity.

I respectfully disagree. There are situations in which recruiting AFTER formal recruitment is a death sentence for the colonizing sorority. I can't speak as to whether this is the case for Alabama, but I think it's certainly the case for my alma mater. See my above post....

It's all to do with what your current Greek percentage is, IMO.

Again, I say this not having been the advisor to a colony or any such thing--only having been on a very predominantly and competitive Greek campus.

[33girl]

This is an odd question, but is there any way for the sororities presenting or Bama to know how many possible legacies of the presenting groups would be at the school? Would Panhel have that on their forms?

I mean, tradition is tradition, but if you are a quadruple DG legacy I can see where you might really want to be in a new colony rather than one of the established groups, especially if none of them really tickled your fancy.

Hoping this kind of makes sense...

Oh, and BamaMama, if a colonization happens at a school like this, it'll be known WAY ahead of time and publicized - it's not like the girls will go through rush and then at the end be told "oh by the way, Mu Nu Nu is colonizing if y'all are into that."

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by 33girl

This is an odd question, but is there any way for the sororities presenting or Bama to know how many possible legacies of the presenting groups would be at the school? Would Panhel have that on their forms?

I'm not sure how they would find this out. I know that the sororities make it a point to point out how many alumnae and alumnae chapters they have in the area, but I don't know about legacies.

[BamaHannah]

Based on information from the UA Panhellenic, and reported back to the individual chapters, expansion has been approved. I guess we'll have to see how many expansion opportunities there will be (one or two).

[FSUZeta]

how exciting!! you bama ladies must keep us informed, please.

bamamama, typically when a new group is colonizing on a campus, their national officers/colonization team will give a presentation during the first round of parties or during the pnm information session proor to recruitment, informing pnms of the opportunity of being a member of a colony. they would then hold events following formal recruitment.

a moratorium on cob events is usually honored for a few weeks, in order for the sorority to select its colonists and get them up and running. after that time period, those chapters who did not pledge quota or are not at total may hold cob events.

[AEPhiSierra]

slightly off topic:

everybody is talking in terms of 3 orgs presenting. but when schools plan on having 2 groups colonize do they usually invite more than 3 groups to present? the idea of having 3 groups present for 2 spots sounds kind of silly to me, especially if one of the groups selected decides to drop out of presenting.

Originally Posted by AEPhiSierra

the idea of having 3 groups present for 2 spots sounds kind of silly to me, especially if one of the groups selected decides to drop out of presenting.

While it is possible for a group to decide to drop out of the running, for some reason I'm having a hard time imagining that it'll happen at such a desirable campus like 'Bama.

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by OTW

While it is possible for a group to decide to drop out of the running, for some reason I'm having a hard time imagining that it'll happen at such a desirable campus like 'Bama.

I don't know - when Arkansas was open a couple of years ago 2 out of the 3 invited to present dropped out. I wish that wouldn't happen but I guess the timeline is so quick sometimes that groups submit for consideration before they have a chance to run the numbers and really analyze if it is the right time and place for them.