Kappa Sigma's rapid expansion
 

Is any other fraternity expanding at the pace of Kappa Sigma? From their site I count at least 17 new chapters during the past two years, plus the revival of several chapters that had closed. They may shortly be the largest in number of chapters if this continues. The numbers are much fuzzier with fraternities than sororities so it may be difficult to ascertain the total for each group. One observation -- several of the newer Kappa Sigma chapters are referenced to a city or town instead of a specific institution. Does anyone know why?

The reason for listing the city and not the school is possibly because Kappa Sigma has chosen to expand on some campuses without the official permission of the school itself.

I would assume that Kappa Sigma doesn't have the University's permission to expand, which is never a smart decision, IMO.

Oldu, you may be missing something here. Kappa Sigma has a very high failure rate with colonies. There have been few new charters, and even fewer charters at strong schools in recent years. Kappa Sig is stagnant in terms of colonizing new or long lost chapters. Most current colonies are chapters that were recently closed down (troubles with money and insurance probably more than misbehavior.)

The failure rate is a problem because when colonies are left in limbo it stains Kappa Sig's rep and leaves a lot of bitter people. We lose supportive alumni (and Kappa Sigma seriously needs to step up the metro alumni club organizing) and we leave bitter men who are in "brotherhood limbo". That is a reason I don't like the policy of initiating and then cutting pledges off if Kappa Sigma doesn't give the charter. This is especially the problem when a colony was turned down for not getting the 50 men requirement. I would personally rather hear about a dozen or two dozen good men getting a charter than 50 guys brought in to meet numbers and make money.

At one extreme are some "growth-oriented" fraternities that will start a colony quickly but if they don't get the numbers and money they want it, is shutdown-time. Fueling that are some guys looking to burnish their name who will close 20 chapters and then try to recolonize them the next year and say "most preferred, 20 new colonies!" That isn't a long term strategy.

At the other extreme are fraternities that tend to be concerned solely with quality and will only take on only a few colonies a year with a few good, like minded men in those colonies, and give them a lot of support. (This includes some of the very large fraternities as well as the smaller and more prestigious ones.)

While I think there is a happy medium, it seems in long term both growth and quality are better achieved with the latter instead of the former approach. Prospects will be attracted to a tight knit, high quality group that has a lot of support from their alumni and a supportive national office. On the other hand, it just takes a few losers in a big chapter to get things headed down the wrong path.

NKUNorse, I just can't agree with your statement regarding university permission. Everyone wants a supportive atmosphere but it just doesn't always exist and that should not hinder fraternal life. The Sigma Chi posting here (LaneSig) can tell you that Sigma Chi is at Princeton, Yale, Harvard (where it is THE fraternity) all without recognition of the schools. There are a lot of other schools they and other fraternities are at without recognition.

It was the approach by Sigma Chi, DKE, Phi Delt, Kappa Sig and others that really defended freedom of association and the Greek organizations when school administrators (or even anti-growth IFCs) did not recognize fraternities or just were not helpful. It is still a problem today. There are chapters that are better served by existing without university recognition. It is true though tht it would be great to see more support from schools and the entire Greek fraternity community for responsible expansion.

You are correct, I'm just not a huge fan of the idea but that's a totally seperate conversation.

As for Kappa Sigma expansion, they tried to expand at Northern Kentucky University while I was there as an undergraduate. They came on very strong (about 25-30 men) within a week. From my understanding these men were all a group of friends from the same high school, and from an outsider's point a view, they didn't seem to have the HQ support. It was almost as if they were just sort of left to fend for themselves and didn't have alumni support and quickly crumbled less than 1-2 months later.

That's been my only experience with Kappa Sigma expansion, so I can't really speak on the rest of it.

Sad but I've heard it before and not just at NKU. I am glad that the SEC (governing body) or the recruitment teams attempted to expand there, just saddened by the way things apparently were handled it or not handled. Never know with these things.

With that situation I would have done everything possible to keep them. Integrating a group with the alumni and the best brothers regionally and nationally from the outset is so important. (Sometimes the best brothers to link up with a colony are not those at the closest chapter.)

It is also important to find out honestly what the obstacles are, (maybe some guys don't get along, maybe there is a money issue, trouble setting up housing, maybe they need a good recruitment plan and some help with websites, etc.) Normally it is small things that the fraternity can easily get help with, even if it is helping the guys by sending some fund raising ideas, or some information how to prepare to set up housing.

If we say what we really are it is definitely something that should be valued and strengthened. There are some things that Kappa Sig is recovering from after a decade old power struggle but it is still a really great fraternity with a great history. I don't know why some people have a single minded obsession with numbers like some cheap Amway, pyramid-marketing version of a fraternity. I also don't know about the accuracy of some of the claims. "Most preferred"? We don't have the fastest increase of brothers or chapters whether new or reopening; nor are we the largest fraternity. I think most Kappa Sigs would like to see more value given to the brothers considering the amount of money brothers give over. What fraternity man wouldn't. "Most beneficial", not as catchy perhaps but more meaningful.

These issues are in clearly in front of the membership so we should see things get better and return to where they once were. New chapters with good people can only speed that process along.