Largest Chapter
 

At UT-Austin in the mid 1980s the ZBT's had 170-180 members. They had a 62 man pledge class my Jr. Year if I remeber correctly. Sammy and Sig Ep each were at about 150.

I attend Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. There are around 20,000 students (give or take a few hundred); about 18% or less are greek. There are 7 sororities:

AXO=91
ADPi=112 (give or take a few; I know that they are over 100)
AOPi=116 (they are the biggest)
XO=100
DZ=65
KD=101
ZTA=80

As you can see there are huge jumps in numbers; quite frankly, it is difficult to be competitive. However, I can honestly tell you that we are an awesome chapter! We won 13 awards last year, including a national award for our philanthropy efforts, we were 2nd in grades, we are the current flag football champions (we've never even made it to finals so wer'e pretty excited!) and we placed 3rd in the Homecoming float this fall.

Last fall, half of our chapter graduated or got married. This past fall, we DOUBLED our chapter! No easy thing to do. Plus, we recently raised total from 65 to 80; we are going to have a formal spring recruitment in 2003 to raise our total to 80.

I love being a Delta Zeta and wouldn't have it any other way! Plus, I think we have GREAT sorority relationships; my best friend is a KD and I love many AOPis and ADPis as well as XOs.

Woops....almost forgot; there are 12 fraternities (sorry guys! I don't have the time to put them in alphbetical order!)

ATO
BETA
PI KAPPA PHI
TKE
KAPPA SIGMA
PI KAPPA ALPHA
KAPPA ALPHA
SIGMA NU
SAE
AGR
SIG EP
SIGMA CHI

I know that back in the day my chapter was well over 150 man chapter but that was 30-40 years ago from what im told. I think thats the biggest thats ever been on my campus, but im not sure.

Well, back in 92 when we had 150 guys, Sigma CHi has 200.

Things have changed.

I'm from a small chapter. We only have 7 active member, one marginal member, and 2 inactive members. Next semester we are going to have 14 Members-in-Training so our numbers will finally be up.

I cannot even IMAGINE having 150+ members. I agree with some people in saying that I just can't see that as a true sisterhood; if you don't know some of your sisters, that's a real shame, as where I know all my sisters VERY well. I even know most of their class scedules, what other campus things they're involved in, etc. We're VERY close.

Granted, it's harder to have socials/sisterhood nites when you only have 7 girls, because you have to plan it to where EVERYONE can come. But, if we plan ahead, we're fine. We recently had a Date Night where all our members brought a date to go bowling and to dinner, and it went very well.

A piece of advice for small chapters, especially specialized groups like Sigma Alpha Iota, Tau Beta Sigma, Phi Mu Alpha, etc: why not co-sponsor events with another GLO? We hosted a Halloween Ball with TBS and PMA; we've co-sponsored things with TBS, as well as PMA. It also helps inter-fraternity/sorority relations! :)

Small chapters aren't too bad. You get to be superclose with your sisters (or brothers), and I think that's the most important thing. I will admit, when we have 20+ members next semester with these new Members-in-Training, it will be great. :)

Browneyedgirl,
Thank you so much for the encouragement! I truly appreciate it!!!

Much Greek love,
Blaire:D

Great spirit
 

Blaire, it's so cool to hear from someone who loves her chapter because, numbers be d****d, it makes her happy. I wish every PNM looked for friendship ahead of prestige; they'd end up having a wonderful experience like yours.

Ivy

at miami u of ohio, each sorority usually boasts about 150-200 per chapter after formal rush. my chapter closed with 30 members still active. it's quite sad though cuz most girls don't know most of their sisters, even their pledge sisters cuz they are too big. i at least knew every single sister by name, face, and even laugh. but i guess that didn't cut it at miami. oh well.

as for frats, i'm not sure of size.

shelley j
sigma k

as far as questions go about how many is too many that is a chapter by chapter thing and noone else can help... if you wanna take a good shot at it look at the avg chapter sizes on your campus... i go to a school of about 5500-6000 students and we have around 70 actives.. quite larger than most .. we also have no housees and our last rush was 17th highest of all PKA chapters .
You will know if you were too big .. you will see things get really clicky people hanging out together instead of coming to chapter events .. Just watch for warning signs of what seems to be too big..
my own personal philosophy as new member educator is to give a bid to every man on campus that exemplifies the ideals that Pi Kappa Alpha portrays.. we aren't panhell (not downing your quotas) and i love my brotherhood as im sure that everyone else does. so i dont see a reason to deny someone the friendships/brothers my chapter has to offer just because we think that 85 is the magic number instead of 86...

Re: Largest Chapter You've Ever Heard Of
 

I wonder which chapter has the most alumni. If a chapter is initiating 50 pledges a semester and the chapter is 150 years old they would have 15,000 alumni.

Anyone know which chapter has the most initiated members?
How many does your chapter have?

Re: Re: Largest Chapter You've Ever Heard Of
 

Some of our larger and older chapters have their roll numbers into the 3,000's.

Remember, recruiting "back in the day" was not 50 man pledge classes like it can be today. Which explains why Fraternity and Sorority founding Fathers/Mothers were usually 5-10 or so people....not 50.

Geez, imagine having to rattle off all 50 founding fathers at the strike of a match! j/k

with chapters reaching past 100, especially the sororities, the university's greek system needs to think about expanding. usually, the fraternities outnumber the sororities and expansion can really help balance things out.

Re: Re: Re: Largest Chapter You've Ever Heard Of
 

rofl that aint no shit...12 was enuff for me :D

I think the Kappa Sigs at U of A..have 200 members..or around ther..i could be wrong tho

Thats Arkansas btw..