[g41965]

First Greek life was stronger back in the late 1980's when I attended college and law school. Duke is now at 37% with the women in the low 40's men in the low 30%. In the late 1980's it was higher. I can admit when I'm wrong, however I believe my point stands, in the 1950's Dartmouth was 80% greek now its 50%, Amherst was 80% Greek now it's 10%. This happened after chapters went local. My point is this, when Greek Letter Fraternities go local at elite colleges is a decline in the system going to follow? Empircally the evidence seems to say yes. However are their alternate factors of causation such as changes in the student body etc. I don't know I think the "local" phenomana at elite schools is interesting. Note UVA has also had a trend some national fraternities go local.
On Tom's point about smaller schools my guess is William Jewell is a good school but has not hit that elitist stage that seems to drive Greeks at the the most selective colleges.