Greek Organizations at Ole Miss Adapt to Rapid Growth of Student Enrollment

The incoming freshman class for the 2014-15 school year is anticipated to be largest Ole Miss has seen to date. Sororities and fraternities are gearing up to accommodate the large number of students who will go through recruitment. The existing Greek organizations on campus hurry to make changes before this year’s early sorority recruitment, beginning Sept. 14.

Due to the increasing student enrollment and number of students interested in Greek life, an expansion committee was created to discuss bringing new sororities and fraternities to campus. Alpha Delta Pi colonized at Ole Miss this year with over 300 new members. ADPi awaits the construction of their house on Rebel Drive.

Greek life at Ole Miss has always attracted a large number of students, however, in the past 10 years participation in recruitment has drastically increased and continues to grow. In 2004, 814 women went through recruitment. Since then, the number of women rushing has increased by 72% to about 1,400 women in 2013. This was a record-breaking number, anticipated to be one-upped in September by the 2014 rush.

In the spring of 2012, leaders of the existing Greek organizations addressed the issue of growing enrollment. Thomas J. Reardon, Dean of Students, created a council and began expanding Greek life. The council consisted of current members of sororities and fraternities, advisors, and University of Mississippi staff members.

Four sororities were chosen for consideration by the committee. These included Alpha Gamma Delta, Delta Zeta, Alpha Phi, and Alpha Delta Pi. Only Alpha Delta Pi and Alpha Phi were given offers to colonize at Ole Miss. Alpha Delta Pi colonized this year and drew in over 300 new members. Alpha Phi will colonize on campus by 2015. 

“I think that other sororities will see the success of Alpha Delta Pi and Alpha Phi at Ole Miss and become interested in colonizing here as well. There is a large alumni base for many sororities, including Delta Zeta, near Oxford, which would make colonization easy and exciting,” said Merrill Magruder, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs at The University of Mississippi.

Magruder hopes that many new sororities colonize within the next several years. Without them, chapters will not be able to accommodate the increasing number of girls going through recruitment. Each sorority house has a maximum capacity of women that they can accommodate during the rounds of recruitment which is quickly being reached.

Madisen Theobald, Rush Chairperson for Kappa Kappa Gamma, is concerned for this year’s recruitment.

“With the increasing amount of student enrollment at Ole Miss, there will be a significant increase in cuts from the early rounds of formal recruitment,” said Theobald. She is concerned that many women who meet the criteria to join Greek organizations will be cut only due to the lack of space that the chapters have to accommodate them.

“With more chapters on campus, more girls will be able to come home to a sorority and the sororities will each have a comfortable number of members that can share the house with ease. It is a shame that so many girls have to miss out this wonderful experience simply because we can’t take a pledge class of 300,” said Theobald.