Pledging a colony is just not the same as pledging an established group. Especially with fraternities. Without having been there/done that, it's very unlikely you can understand.

No it's not. No one is disputing that. What people are disputing is that the level of difference may or may not have been adequately conveyed to the OP. DubaiSis summed it up best in her post.

Certainly, if it's a fraternity which actually invests significant manpower and resources in expansion and they just *bamf* into operation appearing to be a full fledged chapter at or above campus average after their first semester, that's one thing, and a colonist defecting to another house isn't a huge deal.

On the other hand, if they expand like some other nationals where they'll start a colony with 10-15 guys, give 'em some books and a help line to call if they get confused, a member defecting can be a pretty big deal.

Actually, I think it would be more the other way around. If it's the latter and the guy was promised roses and daisies (either by other members or by the nationals) I think he has far more of a reason to defect than someone who came into the first situation you described.

It sounds to me like he is not one of the original movers and shakers, rather that he will only be a "founding father" in the technical sense (i.e. his name being on the charter if/when they get it).