Alpha Chi Omega and Phi Mu - Arkansas

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

Yes. I know it's hot for everyone, but they're undergrads at a 117-year-old chapter, not grown women alumnae founding a colony on an ultracompetitive campus.

Sure, but those times don't include SEC rush! (Unless you are a Mizzou DG at a luau-themed pref.) Rush is on right now for Phi Mu and AXO. The Chi Omegas are perfectly appropriate because they are just being PH boosters, not conducting a rush.

If a colonizing consultant at UA poses for a picture in letters in this sort of dishabille prior to bid day, I'll eat my words. But I doubt it will happen. They're going to look smashing every second they are in public, whether dressed up or down.

I think it's great that on a very traditional campus, the oldest chapter would do what it could to promote and support the new kids.

I have noticed that many NPC colonization teams often include members from nearby chapters as well as recent graduates. So it is not unusual to see members of the colonization team include members similar in age to the campus demographics. Which is why I first asked if these women might be members of the Phi Mu team.

Again, if Chi Omegas and Phi Mus don’t have a problem with this, then as I said before, more power to them both.

By the way, was this some sort of campus wide (i.e. campus panhellenic) support? Did any other chapters (including Chi Omega) do the same for Alpha Chi Omega?

[gee_ess]

During the summer freshman orientation sessions, members from various NPC orgs took turns wearing PHI MU and AXO letters and helping man their booth at the Go Greek portion of the sessions.

Arkansas is bending over backwards to welcome and help these groups. The chi o group was showing support.

[33girl]

The barefoot girls look a lot better, cuter and I dare say saner than the girls wearing HOT NYLON NIKES WITH SOCKS!!! Yuk! Stinky poo feet!

[momof4girls]

Phi Mu will also be using the Chi Omega house for several of their activities, perhaps that explains the photo better.

[WhiteDaisy128]

Originally Posted by mandyk01

This whole process is fascinating to me!. So what would an AXO legacy do in a colonization situation at such a competitive school? Would she go as far as she can and then drop out just like all the other PNMs. Do you think she would have sufficient info to choose between AXO and her other choices without having met with AXO for more than an info session....what a hard choice!

I pity the really big greek systems. My greek system is so small you could almost pref based on which chapter the other PNMs want. I almost didn't pref AXO because of a snotty PNM who also wanted them...turns out she was just really competitive and we ended up being great sisters.

North Carolina State University is not an SEC school, and recruitment isn't as competitive, but for what it's worth...I went through the colonization of Delta Gamma there in 2002 (our 10 year anniversary is coming up!!).

I never had ANY interest in going through formal recruitment at NCSU. I didn't know much about Greek Life at NCSU and I had listened to the stereotypes of "sorority girls" on campus. In retrospect, I think it would have been awesome to go through recruitment and I do think that one of the existing groups could have been home -- but that's beside the point.

I was thrilled when DG was going to come colonized. I was a DG legacy and I knew that we'd be able to start our own traditions and start with no stereotypes. I would say that about 90% of our colonizing class did NOT go through formal recruitment. Those that did go through formal recruitment were split pretty evenly between being released and withdrawing.

So not everyone that goes through the colonization process will have ever gone through formal recruitment. Some AXO and PM legacies will come out of the woodwork as sophomores, juniors, and seniors having had no other interest in Greek Life before.

[gatordeltapgh]

gee_ees -

When I saw this on our FB page I couldn't help but wonder if one of these sweet young ladies was your daughter.

[LaneSig]

Interviews for Alpha Chi Omega and Phi Mu begin on Monday. Bid Day will be Sept. 9th.

Bid Day:

The pnms will gather and receive their bids at the Greek Theater. The new Phi Mu pledges will have a celebration at the Chi Omega house. The new Alpha Chi Omega pledges will celebrate at the Delta Delta Delta house. If I remember correctly, both houses are next door to each other and centrally located. Very cool of Chi O and Tri Delta to allow the use of their respective houses.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Wow, the amount of support from the other groups is amazing!

[gee_ess]

gatordeltapgh - no none of girls is mine! But, I am glad to see some pics of the Kappas joining in with the others to welcome the groups. Post others if you have them. I knew some of the KKG girls who helped out at the AXO and PM tables during summer orientations and was really proud of the NPC efforts to help these groups make a successful entrance. I echo the sentiment of others: it is so great to see the support from these groups! It just proves that all groups are eager to share the pnm pool and to grow this Greek system.

[KSUViolet06]

I don't know if I missed this in another thread, but how are these colonizations happening?

Are there 2 separate colony recruitments or is it like a mini FR where you have to visit both?

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I don't know if I missed this in another thread, but how are these colonizations happening?

Are there 2 separate colony recruitments or is it like a mini FR where you have to visit both?

From earlier info, it sounds like PNM's can choose to attend the open events of one or both groups, but then they actually do make a final preference. I don't know if that means they pick one, or if they just say which they'd prefer, and then are eligible for their second choice as well.

[cas]

A friend of mine who has gone to the info session told me that they will be able to rank the two in order of preference. So it shouldn't be an either/or type of thing.

[sugarmagnolia]

What kind of alumnae support will these groups have at such a big SEC school?

[gee_ess]

There are actually quite a few phi MU alumnae in the state and surrounding area. The phi MU chapter at Arkansas closed in the 80's so those young women are now in their 50's. I am not sure about the AXO alumnae. However, u of a is closely located to the Oklahoma and Missouri borders where I am sure there are alumnae of both groups.

[Smile_Awhile]

The Arkansas alumnae chapter of Alpha Chi Omega (Kappa Sigma Kappa) relaunched up about 2 years prior to the recolonization efforts beginning, and seems to have a decent number of members (I've never been able to attend a function). According to the IrishPipes thread, Delta Rho closed in 1977, so there are still alumnae living in the state.

Also, University of Oklahoma is only 3 hours up the road from Fayetteville, and there are many, many Alpha Chi Omega alumnae in Oklahoma.