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Erik, to an extent I must disagree with your stance on greek systems in NE - you're right on the money for some of it, but miss badly on other points.
MIT boasts a large fraternity system, and I feel should be the role model for expansion into New England for any national GLO.
The New England area is not rich in Greek Life historically - so the trick is to expand to schools that pull students from other places, as well as from New England. MIT, Harvard, Dartmouth, etc would fit this bill, as would most of the large private universities in the area. These campuses tend to have more students from strong Greek backgrounds to form a foundation from which chapter expansion can be based.
The other options would be at the large state schools, such as UConn, UMaine, UVm and UNH. These tend to still retain the greek system in large numbers, although declination is occuring at some.
Overall, I agree with your statement that NE should be avoided - IF the nationals don't come in with a solid expansion plan. Campuses must be selected very carefully. I attend Boston University, and our chapter has been named in the top 10% of KS chapters nationwide. LXA's founding chapter thrives as well, even as they intentionally keep pledge classes small and retain a tight brotherhood that way. However, I've seen many colonies fail, and many charters revoked, b/c expansion was attempted at a campus that just won't support greek life, for whatever reason. Care must be taken, and colonies not just added as a number for a brochure.
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