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All of the natl. officers and undergrads push to get chapters at the "prestige" schools (with big football programs at a minimum). Usually these chapters come at a high price of effort and funds.
And they require loads of support to remain above water. And long term survival is still in doubt.
All places are different, of course, but the Tekes at UGa are a good example. The group was started by two transfers from Ga Southern, who got some of the University's best together. The IFC and legendary Dean Tate opposed them, and that made them work harder.
After a few years, they were chartered with 60 or 70 men, and at that summer's Conclave they were named "most improved" chapter. They couldn't get a colonial mansion on the main drag, but they rented a small house on a good corner.
They continued to excel, and won 10 "Top Teke Chapter" awards in a row. After about nine of these awards, they creatively financed (the apprasier was someone's mother) one of the best looking mansions on Milledge Ave. budgeting 4-5-6 people per bedroom, and 3/4 of them going to summer school and paying summer rent. Unfortunately, I was one of 30 guarantors for the TKE House Fund loan.
When the chapter got into the mansion, they got content. They forgot to rush, and forgot how to rush. They destroyed part of the mansion, and thought no room should hold more than two (pref. one) persons. They refused to force members to live in, and I don't think more than five ever paid summer rent.
The chapter soon could not afford the house, although the social budget was never reduced.
There was a successful Buckwheat rebuilding, but when he left he took the tools and methods of rush with him.
Within two years, the chapter was defunct, and the house sold (fortunately for enough to protect the guarantors).
A long story, but one that people who want to grant new charters at big schools should know. I don't know what happened to the 10 "Top Teke Chapter" award plaques.
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