Expansions for 2006/2007

[TigerOwl]

Originally Posted by flirt5721

AXiD will re-colonize our Kappa Chapter at University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign as of Fall 2007

Congrats to you! I had a call this afternoon about it! Many warm "fuzzies" sent to you and the Kappa chapter for this fall recruitment too!

[SWTXBelle]

Congratulations to A Xi D!!!

[WCUgirl]

Here is the official announcement!

5/1/2007 - Alpha Xi Delta Invited to Re-colonize Kappa Chapter

Indianapolis, IN – The National Council of Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity proudly announced today that the Fraternity received an invitation to re-colonize its Kappa Chapter at the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign. In rejoining the Illinois Greek community, Alpha Xi Delta will once again be a part of the nation’s largest Greek community that includes 19 other National Panhellenic Conference groups.

“Alpha Xi Delta has dreamt of re-colonizing our Kappa Chapter at the University of Illinois for some time and we are thrilled to have received the invitation to once again be a part of the Illinois Greek community,” said Deborah Fenwick Maas, National President of Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity.

Alpha Xi Delta volunteers and staff will conduct the colonization recruitment beginning in fall 2008. A campus public relations campaign to generate excitement and interest in Alpha Xi Delta will commence in fall 2007.

“We are grateful to the Illinois Panhellenic Council for extending us this invitation and are inspired by the opportunity to share Alpha Xi Delta and all she has to offer with generations of women to come at the University of Illinois,” added Maas.

Alpha Xi Delta first installed its Kappa Chapter at the University of Illinois in 1905. The chapter became dormant in 1995.

Founded in 1893 at Lombard College, now Knox College, in Galesburg, Illinois, Alpha Xi Delta inspires women to realize their potential by providing opportunities for sisterhood, leadership, knowledge and service. The national women’s fraternity has over 142,000 initiated members and has chapters on 112 college campuses. For more information on Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity, visit www.alphaxidelta.org.

[IvySpice]

Does the chapter still have a house on campus? (There was a veiled discussion about this earlier, but I didn't get it.)

[LaneSig]

The Alpha Sigma Phi chapter (Epsilon Iota) at Western Michigan University voted to surrender its charter due to low numbers.

[SkiingSister]

I have been lurking for a while. It is great to see all of the colonizations going on. Someone mentioned that a sorority would be colonizing each year for two years, I think was at one of the Texas schools. Also somewhere in this thread, there was talk of chapters of closing meanwhile another is colonizing at that same school. I think it was ASU, fraternities to be specific.

I know that we are anxious to grow our organizations and spread our creeds. However, perhaps we are going at too quickly. When do we as organizations know how much colonization is too much too soon? What do we do about those chapters that are failing?

Back in late 80's/early 90's a large university had "The Five Year Plan" where five sororities colonized in 4.5 semesters. Well, after 10 years later, 2 of the five are around. The brainiac that thought of that idea should have had some forethought that maybe too much too soon is not such a good idea. Perhaps, to ensure success of the chapter colonizing, it would be good to wait a minimum of 4 years, ideally 5 to see how the new chapter is doing and the need for another organization/colony before colonizing another group. I know we all hate rules and being told what to do. But, at what point do we balance current need/desire versus long term success of our chapters?

[lilzetakitten]

I'd really say that depends on the school. For example, my school colonized two sororities in two years. Both are doing very well at this point. However, we had three chapters prior to that, and the campus was growing at a record pace. Our school is now taking larger freshman classes than ever before in the school history, and there really was a need for more sororities. So I'd think that the school and the Greek Life officials would know how many groups it needed based on student intake.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by SkiingSister

I have been lurking for a while. It is great to see all of the colonizations going on. Someone mentioned that a sorority would be colonizing each year for two years, I think was at one of the Texas schools. Also somewhere in this thread, there was talk of chapters of closing meanwhile another is colonizing at that same school. I think it was ASU, fraternities to be specific.

I know that we are anxious to grow our organizations and spread our creeds. However, perhaps we are going at too quickly. When do we as organizations know how much colonization is too much too soon? What do we do about those chapters that are failing?

Back in late 80's/early 90's a large university had "The Five Year Plan" where five sororities colonized in 4.5 semesters. Well, after 10 years later, 2 of the five are around. The brainiac that thought of that idea should have had some forethought that maybe too much too soon is not such a good idea. Perhaps, to ensure success of the chapter colonizing, it would be good to wait a minimum of 4 years, ideally 5 to see how the new chapter is doing and the need for another organization/colony before colonizing another group. I know we all hate rules and being told what to do. But, at what point do we balance current need/desire versus long term success of our chapters?

I completely agree with this post! Although, I think that most of the GLOs that are chosen in these multi-year plans have the right to take a second look at the campus before really going through with it. Say the plan is ZYX in 2007 and CBA in 2009. CBA looks at the state of the Greek system in 2008 and sees that not only has ZYX never been at total, the other groups have gone down in numbers and Panhellenic unity is in the toilet. CBA then decides to run fast, run far.

I would HOPE that groups would do that, rather than barrelling through with a colonization just because they've gotten the OK. Your above post is very telling. I think a lot of people thought the boom in the 80s - early 90s would last forever. I guess they didn't hear of the 50s turning into the 60s and 70s.

Personally I would be more impressed with a group that hasn't closed any chapters in 5 years than one that has added 7 new colonies in that time period. That's not where the "flash" is though. Maybe people think because of the baby boomlet there will be tons of students, but if none of the students want to be Greek, it won't really matter.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally Posted by lilzetakitten

I'd really say that depends on the school.

I would agree. 2 of the places we have colonized at (actually maybe 3) in the last few years have been brand new systems. And I've actually been quite happy with our recent extensions.

[gogators07]

Kappa Upsilon Chi, National Christian Fraternity is installing five chapters this year:

Lambda - University of Central Florida (Orlando, FL)
Mu - Clemson University
Nu - University of Tennessee
Xi - University of Kentucky
Omicron - University of Mississippi

[LaneSig]

I am sorry to report that the Alpha Omicron Pi chapter at Northern Illinois University will be closing at the end of this semester.

I am also sorry to report that the Alpha Gamma Delta chapter at Valdosta State University will be closing at the end of this semester.
http://www.alphagammadelta.org/content/happenings/Theta%20Sigma%20Press%20Release%204-24-07.pdf

[adrie435]

Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland invited Kappa Alpha Theta to colonize there starting this coming fall

[Tom Earp]

Closing of chapters is hard for all of us least of all our Nationals. It is a hard decission for sure.

Expansion is done for two reasons.

1. A school is opening up for the first time to Greeks.

2. A School is in a growth period and the current chapters are getting to large.

Is growth good, I just say Yes!

I always use Alfred in NY as one who closed down ALL Greeks when a pledge in a local was killed in a hazing accident. So, who did this help? None of us who had Chapters there.

The tide seems to be changing and maybe in the future, it will cahnge there also!

Our own carnations college, Troy State College, was only locals and figured it would be better if they went Nationals. It seems to be working out very well for them!

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Our own carnations college, Troy State College, was only locals and figured it would be better if they went Nationals. It seems to be working out very well for them!

Hmmm, I don't believe she's at Troy State. That campus has had national groups for 30+ years.

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

Hmmm, I don't believe she's at Troy State. That campus has had national groups for 30+ years.

You're right, she's not.