Informal recruitment at Michigan State? What happened?

[TriDeltaSallie]

I just popped over to the Michigan State Greek site to see if there had been any changes as to how many sororities were still on campus, who had which house, etc. I was shocked (SHOCKED!) to see that all of the sororities except Sigma Kappa held winter informal recruitment this year.

What happened? I'm assuming it is a numbers thing? Recruitment numbers are way down due to the economy and chapters are trying to (literally) fill houses?

I'm still trying to fathom some of these chapters doing informal recruitment since informal rush at MSU has always primarily been for chapters that were struggling/not making quota. It's like a total paradigm shift.

Is anyone an area adviser or in the know about MSU to fill me in?

[kchaptergphib]

hello? Paging other BIG TEN [okay, now really 12] greeks!
First, I really know nothing about MSU greek life. BUT, after reading your post, my first question would be what is Chapter Total? The chapters would not be participating in COR/Spring Informal if they were not below total. It is possible that total has not been appropriately lowered in decades, and this is hard on all but the "top" (membership numbers-wise) chapters in that they are constantly CONSTANTLY doing COR.

[MUSK81]

Good point about the economy. I was in school during the 1981-82 recession and we saw all of our numbers drop too. I'm a Sigma Kappa alumna and am glad to see that we're apparently doing well (MSU is traditionally a strong chapter) and I wish everyone else well in getting back up to speed.

[Sciencewoman]

TriDeltaSallie, I also live in West Michigan and I haven't heard anything about MSU chapters struggling. I just spent time with our MSU chapter advisor and 5 collegian attendees at the Gamma Phi convention and there wasn't a word mentioned about numbers being down with any houses. I know our chapter is doing fine. I did hear some discussion about fall recruitment dates being moved back...perhaps there's more interest from PNMs later in the year??? I'm not sure the Michigan economy is having the effect people might think: Gamma Phi Beta is colonizing at GVSU this fall; Panhellenic numbers went up 56% there between 2007-2009, and were up again last fall. Total is going up by 10 and we're the second colonization in two years.

[TriDeltaSallie]

Thanks for the replies. I also received a lengthy email from another MSU alumna who did not want to respond on the thread but knew a great deal about what was going on at MSU because of her position as a national volunteer in her particular GLO.

kchaptergphib, this person also mentioned that chapter total is way too high and panhel refuses to lower it. So you are right in guessing that is a factor.

Sciencewoman, I think Grand Valley is a bit of an anomaly in that that particular university has been undergoing incredible expansion the last ten to fifteen years. I think it is great that the Greek system is doing so well. I wish we had a Tri Delta chapter there as it is so close that I could be involved. But I doubt DDD will put any more chapters in Michigan. We just do not have a supportive alumnae base here which is really too bad.

Back to MSU... From everything I've experienced and observed, I think it is an unhealthy Greek system and I've heard others say the same thing. It has been that way for a very long time. One person described the atmosphere in the system as toxic. The tiers there are incredibly pronounced and there is little to no Panhellenic spirit. The campus lost four sororities in a relatively short time and quota is half what it used to be. It's really too bad because Greek life is so big on other Big Ten campuses that it really should be at MSU as well.

[Sciencewoman]

Wow, I am sorry to hear that about the environment at MSU. I am very excited about GVSU...if it keeps growing the way it is, perhaps Delta Delta Delta will be there in the future...you never know!

In the meantime, you should check out the Grand Rapids Alumnae Panhellenic group on Google sites (I think they're on Facebook, too). That would be a great way to get involved locally if you don't have an alum group in the area. I don't think we have a rep. from Tri-Delta and we've been trying to get all groups involved...hint, hint!

On a side note, let me say that I really appreciated your heartfelt words of wisdom on the Auburn recruitment forum. Well said!!!

[Benzgirl]

Oddly, the numbers at Ohio State are up. Panhellenic lifted the chapter totals this year, and now over half of the houses finished with over 100 in the spring. I'm not sure how many graduated or disaffiliated, but the move had the opposite reaction that I was expecting. I had thought the big would get bigger and the smaller houses would disappear. Didn't happen.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

kchaptergphib, this person also mentioned that chapter total is way too high and panhel refuses to lower it. So you are right in guessing that is a factor.

Are there groups being directed by their HQs to vote no for lowering it, or is it the bigger groups being jerks? Sometimes women on Panhel aren't informed properly (like they think they'll have to make members quit to get down to total) and make poor decisions.

[TriDeltaSallie]

Sciencewoman - I did look into the GR Panhellenic last year, but didn't end up participating. I'll have to give it another go!

33girl - I don't know the answer to your question. Maybe my source will email me more details. I do know that MSU Panhel has a track record of not doing what is best for the Panhellenic system as a whole and my opinion is that much of it is driven by the tiers. (People on GC can talk all they want about how we shouldn't talk about tiers, but reality is reality, folks. And someone can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about how Panhel functions now, but from what I've been told it hasn't changed.)

AOPi was brought on campus when I was there. At the time there were at least four to six groups not meeting quota in fall rush or else having a very difficult time getting there. Bringing AOPi on created a lot of hard feelings in a situation where there was already a fair amount of animosity.

My source also told me that there is a fairly negative view of Greeks on campus which I would say is a change since I graduated. It was never an overwhelmingly Greek school, but general opinion was not overwhelmingly negative either. They should have started the RFM sooner and it might have saved some of the smaller groups. Instead it just left lots of bitter and resentful women who didn't get bids. Not the greatest PR move.

I don't know what the answer is. I had always hoped that Tri Delta might be back there before my daughter would possibly attend. That still could happen (she's only almost 4!), but I'm not holding my breath. Until the university values the Greek system and they get a really good adviser, I don't think it will ever really thrive.

Just my two cents.