[g41965]

I do not like the dilution of strong nationals and yes some fraternal organizations have been more selective or better at maintaining chapters. Just so I don't hurt anyone ones feelings I'll pick on DU my fraternity of which I am very proud.
Before WWII and to a lesser extent before the middle 1960's DU was very picky about colonizing. DU's list of chapters opened from 1850-1965 is awe inspiring. Since 1965 not as strong.
In 1971 DU went to a Jr. College, this chapter died a painful death in fact a lot of the less residential/more commuter oriented schools DU went to in the 1970's died quickly.
COMPARING ERAS:
LIST OF CHAPTERS INSTALLED BY DU 1919-1935
WESLEYAN 1919 revived chapter
KANSAS 1920
OREGON ST. 1922
VIRGINIA 1922
MISSOURI 1924
IOWA 1925
DARTMOUTH 1926
OKLAHOMA 1927
JOHNS HOPKINS 1928
UCLA 1929
MANITOBA 1929
WASH. AND LEE 1930
WESTERN ONTARIO 1931
WASH. ST.1933
OREGON 1934
ALBERTA 1935
BRTISH COLUMBIA 1935

DU 1971-1985

COLORADO ST 1971
DAYTON 1971
SOUTH DAKOTA 1971
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 1971
TYLER JR. COLLEGE 1971
MARYLAND 1972
SW TEXAS 1972
HOUSTON 1973
UNC WILMINGTON 1974
W ILLINOIS 1974
ARKANSAS1975
SYRACUSE 1976- revived chapter
NC STATE 1977
BAYLOR 1978
MICH STATE 1979
LSU 1979
MASSACHUSETTS 1980
PENN 1980 -Revived chapter
SW MISSOURI 1981
VIRGINIA TECH 1981
SOUTH CAROLINA 1983
SAN JOSE ST.- Revived chapter
MCGILL -Revived chapter

Lets face it DU was not as selective in the 1970 's and many of those chapter's have died.
In 1967 DU had 80 active and 12 dead chapters now DU has 80 active and 70 dead chapters is DU better than it was in 1966 probably not, are all national fraternities or sororities equal,no, are mergers possible yes, will they happen ,probably, in the 1970's Phi Mu Delta almost merged with Delta Phi , this merger probably would have helped form one small strong national, in the 1980's Phi Sigma Epsilon did merge with Phi Sigma Kappa. I can think of two or three small nationals that would fit in well with DU will it happen, I don't know, should we crucify someone for telling the truth nope, some orgs are stronger some weaker its just the facts.
I had to add another comment , Is it fair to overexpand? Many schools with weaker Greek systems have many dead chapters ,is it fair to alumni to see a chapter fail however hard the members try because the chapter never should formed to begin with? A lot of commuter schools have many inactive chapters.
Better to go to fewer schools and work harder to build up the chapters than to overexpand and cheapen your fraternity.
Two comments on Erik:

Sows leaving the hog house comment thats rude stop it.

Hen house comment not near as bad: at my church one group of women has a club called Rens Hens named after a women who has been in the church 50 + years.