2 The Oracle April 4
advertisement
Sorority expansion progressing
by Amy Potter
A serious problem began to take shape prior to the Fall Formal Recruitment of 1999. Chapter Recruitment Chairs began to express concern about chapter size and the high number of girls participating in Formal Recruitment.
Chapters had member totals in the 160's, when the campus total was supposed to be at 140 members. The number of recruits that chapters accept during recruitment usually hovers around 55. That number is expected to increase by five or higher per chapter for the 2001 Fall Formal Recruitment.
After looking at the increasing numbers in sororities, a proposal was formulated around the concept of extending an invitation to colonize another sorority at the University of Kansas by Bill Nelson, former Coordinator for Greek Programs; Taylor Gill, Co-Chairman of the Extension Committee, and Chapter Recruitment Chairs.
According to Gill, the idea of assessing the need to extend
was the first step in following the extension process established by the National Panhellenic Council and the University of Kansas constitution.
"We worked for nine months collecting data on current trends at the university and the opinions of the students." said Gill.
The next step involved expressing the favorable opinion of the Extension Committee to the Panhellenic Delegates Council. According to Angie Carr, Coordinator for Greek Programs, all but two chapters voted in favor of extension.
"There was a lot of education presented to the chapters on extension. We were stopping the gossip mill and getting the facts out there." said Gill.
The committee then put together a packet about KU greek life to give to other national organizations that are not currently represented at KU, and now they in turn are waiting on these organizations to submit information about their organization.
The third step after the binders of information have been received involves selecting two to three National Organizations to invite to KU for an interview.
"We are looking for a National Organization with strong alumni support, able to provide adequate housing, and a strong national reputation," said Gill.
Currently there are lots zoned specifically for sororities and fraternities near the parking lot of Sigma Nu and next to the new Lamba Chi chapter house. There are also houses available that are still owned by chapters who are no longer at KU.
If the Panhellenic Delegate Council approves one of the organizations, their recommendation will then go to the University. If the University approves, Carr expects the new sorority could start recruiting members in Spring 2002.
Laurel Brinkman, Panhellenic President, said a new sorority would "offer a new opportunity to women who chose to discontinue the recruitment process. It would give those women a different option."
"KU has a large Greek Community with a strong history. This is a positive step for the Greek Community and KU as a whole. This needs the support of everyone in the Greek Community," said Gill.
To the Men of Sigma Nu,
Congrats on a job well done.
Thanks for all of your hard work!
We will miss working with you.
Best of luck in the future
and
Happy Sails to You!
Love,
The Women of Kappa Delta
oracle
publishers: Beth Watkins and Patrick Wetta
layout editor: Amy Potter
advertising: Patrick Wetta, Kalee Huston and Beth Watkins
reporters: Mary Corcoran, Laura Dakhil, Melissa Freeman, Kayla Monson, Kellie North, Amy Potter, Jennifer Repper and Kara Ryckman
art editor: Wes Benson
The Oracle is produced two times per semester. Its goal is to inform and entertain students of the University of Kansas. All views expressed in this newspaper are not necessarily the views of the KU administration. The Oracle is a paid advertisement. We encourage readers to react to material printed in the form of signed letters to the editor. We reserve the right to edit or deny publication. Any correspondence regarding he reader feedback should be addressed to The Oracle editors at kuoracle@yahoo.com.