[UNLDelt]

I agree that a perfect 10 COULD be possible...I'm not a pessimest, but a realist. But you do point out the difference between large chapters and small chapters. Yes, when your pledge class is maybe 10-12 men, sometimes fewer. And the recruitment numbers of the institution refect that pledging number, and you're competing with maybe 4 other houses for men then the rate of initiation will likely be higher...perhaps even 100%. I feel that the system creates an environment where chapter's CAN be more selective during recruitment.

But on a larger scale like ours: a house of 80+ men, which needs pledge classes of 25 or more each year to maintain, competing with 22 other fraternities in a recruitment pool that has shrunk more than 50% in the last 5 years (from 600 my freshmen year to 300 last year) you must cast a wider net, develop better programing to smooth out the rough edges on men who may not have met your ideal picture of a member on day one, and sometimes...if the potential you saw in them doesn't show...even after a 2nd chance...you must decide what is best for the fraternity. You can only offer so much to someone who isn't willing to take it.

I'm not saying either larger or smaller systems are better. Just saying that they are DIFFERENT. And that solutions, statistics or programs reflecting one side, will not always be reflective or even benificial to the other.

But I remind you, we are not talking about de-pledging a lot of men here. My class was made up of 36 pledges, we lost 4 after the first semester due to really poor grades. They had the same opportunities for assistance, and arguably even more, than the rest of us. But it was their choice not to focus. And it's not just a house policy to drop men below a certain GPA...at the time it was the International Fraternity's and the Greek system's policy too. The rest of us either initiated at the end of the first period, or carried over, worked harder the next round, and made it after the 2nd period. Now that's about an 89% rate for my class. I say for an institution that claims higher standards, and that being a member is a great honor, 89% isn't too shabby. The people that demonstrated their right to be there earned it. Anyone can do that if they so choose. But you cannot MAKE someone be a good member. Even the ones whose resume's look ideal during recruitment.
Not everyone who applies to PBK, or other collegiate honoraries makes it, and no one complains about that...sure we're somewhat different than those orgs...but I don't mind being considered in their company. And really, deep down, with what we claim to represent and reflect...how different are we from them? I think you'll find that we are all making claims on the same set of higher standars. And in reality, sometimes not everyone can meet them all the time, it's not negative, it's just a part of life. And unfortunatly some individuals are born feeling entitled. That they DESERVE things not based on there merit, but just because. I see some of this in young men going through recruitment and work with our Rec. Chairs and Pledge Eds to first not rush them, and second to try and work that idea out of their environment in the fraternity. Sometimes they learn the lesson and become great members, sometimes they don't.
But I am reminded of the history of Delta Tau Delta as we were founded against that idea of unjustified entitlement. Our founding championed the ideals of merits earned. And our membership today should reflect that foundation, even if that means that once in a while we must part ways with a few men whether it be before or after their initiation.