Gamma Phi Beta closing

Sadly they announced it over instagram and they had relinquished their charter to nationals. SMU is actually in need of more houses (though Theta is probably coming back next year), but the toxic attitudes won't let it happen.

I agree with almost everything you say except, "The chapter roster has changed and will grow."

Huh? I doubt any of the national sororities would even remotely consider trying to establish here.

I am a member of this Greek system, and I can tell you it is toxic as hell - at least from the "panhellenic sisterhood" perspective.

I think having recruitment in Jan is part of the problem. Too many girls get their hopes up based on "coffee dates" with active members their first semester, and bid promising is a real thing.
I know, it happened to me. I am really glad I ended up in my house (and I would not have fit at all in the house that promised me a bid in retrospect).

The other part is the stratification of our system. I have friends in other house, but definitely not two houses (one no longer affiliated with SMU, but around campus still as an active organization). Because I was "a tier down" from them, I was not worthy of their time. (Not just me, either).

So, as far as a new house coming on, probably not likely for a while. Maybe ADPi, as I hear they still own their house, maybe ZTA, as they are super strong at TCU and UT, meaning a lot of alums in the area.

But Theta? Probably not for years, as "Theta Society" seems entrenched. I think that is sort of good, because it is an organization that pulls some of the most toxic mean girls from the Panhellenic system.

As for Gamma Phi, I know several girls there who are total sweethearts. I feel super bad for them, but give them kudos for going out with class. I wish more PNM's had given them a chance, but our campus is way too obsessed with status.

Anyway, just my thoughts as a senior.

Agree completely. The society needs to lose steam and die out completely before Theta recolonizes. And the administration needs to reprimand any girls who affiliate with an unsanctioned organization.

There is no opportunity for any Theta chapter member from pre-closure to be an active collegiate member when Theta International/SMU approves recolonization.

The members pre-closure were either made alumnae, released to join another NPC group if not initiated, or her membership terminated (permanently removed from Theta International membership).

The agreement for two years was made prior to “Theta Society” and their poor behaviour choices.

I foresee an extension of the Theta chapter being non-active/closed until everyone associated with the chapter as a collegiate member has long graduated and/or left SMU.

If Theta International is smart, this will be extended to the advisors (and House Corp) who allowed the chapter (and its behaviour) to kamikaze it into the ground.

Theta needs a fresh start. A VERY clean slate. I would say ten years.

It’s a shame. However, the behaviour or privilege ran unchecked for years at SMU.

Time for a super shakeup.

Many NPC groups once had a collegiate chapter at SMU—ZTA, ADPi, Phi Mu, and KD—to name a few. There are 26 NPC groups total. Subtract the 6 remaining and 2 off/soon to be off campus, there are 18 potential NPC groups who could offer quality sisterhood as a chapter at SMU.

Not many would want to, but there’s the possibility to renew Panhellenic at SMU.

SMU needs new groups. There is such potential for a great Panhellenic community IF all members truly want it and are willing to do what it takes.

I’m an alum who knows women who have been, or currently serve in national positions with other NPC sororities. From what I’ve heard, most would be very wary of expanding in this type of environment.

First of all, it’s expensive to come up with the funds for a competitive house. And if they did, there’s a huge risk involved because of the constant reputation bashing. It would be almost impossible to get a new group established. Point blank: there are only a few very well known NPCs with the name recognition and resources to even want to TRY.

And in no way is that a slam to the others; they simply know they can’t compete on this type of a campus (which says more about SMU than the sororities). So, just because there are 18 left doesn’t mean all 18 are potential candidates for expansion.

In responses to PonyUp's comment and others in this sub-thread, I don't know what "Theta Society" was as opposed to just the Theta chapter, but the overall behavior of some of the sorority chapters I am seeing in this thread haven't changed for years. I'm not talking about 8 or 10 years, I'm talking about more than 30 years. Everything I've read here about how chapters treat each other, the fact that the Panhellenic system is toxic as hell, etc... could have been written nearly word for word all those 30+ years ago. You could have written about how though hazing was strictly forbidden (and had been for a number of years years even at that point) in the system there were certain chapters on campus that had Panhellenic turn a blind eye to their continued hazing practices, and it seems as though that has still been happening, too. Things are passed on from year to year to year. As long as there are people still remaining in a chapter who were hazed, who were in a culture of treating other chapters terribly, who were in a culture of toxicity, retaining those "traditions" and that outlook on those in other chapters will continue.

I also think Panhellenic council should be modeled like other schools, where each sorority gets an officer so they have equal say, instead of the appointments they currently have.