[SWTXBelle]

Remember, with most PNMs we are dealing with 17 and 18 year olds who are away from home and in a very unfamiliar enviornment. It is no wonder the "herd mentality" holds such sway. I would not suggest they are shallow, but if you are in unfamiliar waters you tend to grasp at what you think you understand. So, a larger chapter about whom everyone has great things to say would be far more appealing than a smaller chapter which has "scuttlebutt" about their "problems". As we've seen in so many of the retro recruitment threads, tent talk and peer pressure can really mess up your mind as you go through recruitment.
My chapter graduated a very large number of seniors a year before I pledged - and our numbers could never bounce back, and we ended up in the death spiral. We had beautiful, smart girls - sparkling personalities, campus leaders - but not enough of them. We also were less concerned with appearance, to tell the truth. We had more girls who were not a size 2, and we also had more hispanic members. If we had more members overall, I don't think this would have been a problem. I don't know what the solution is. I'm proud of the fact we were not superficial, and that we pledged girls who weren't Barbie, but who had a great deal more to offer. I also wish that we could have recruited the numbers we needed to remain viable on campus.
I too am upset at the cattiness and shallowness sometimes shown by other GLOs when a chapter is struggling. There is no excuse for it. Every GLO should realize that the system is only as strong as its weakest link - and that every chapter which has to close is bad for the system. It's not an end-sum game. The more chapters there are, the greater possability for true diversity, and the more likely PNMs are to find a home. More happy Greeks means a larger system, which is good for everyone.
I'm frustrated by my inability to come up with a solution. Sisterly love comes in many shapes, colors and sizes. Also, a chapter is truly what the sisters make of it. We need an implant for PNMs that would help them realize that.