[SWTXBelle]

You will look in vain for a post from me stating why a specific fraternity chapter is not doing well. You will also not find me pontificating on a fraternity's "rush tactics". I am always very careful to state what I am basing my posts on - whether personal experience or simply an opinion. Just for fun I checked my posts in the fraternity rush thread I think you are referencing - while I address the question of racism and nationals vs. local, I can't find any that specifically address an issue of membership selection. So do let me know which of my posts you find uninformed.

Women often are a part of fraternity rush. Men are never a part of sorority rush (well, unless you count them hauling stuff in and out of the house.)The Grand Consul of Sigma Chi personally presented me with a badge replica for my work with their Theta Tau chapter, so it's fair to say that I was a little more involved with fraternity rush and life than the average co-ed. But I certainly don't hold myself up as the end all, be all of greek information. I know what I know, but am quick to state when I don't know something. Please - review my posts.
And quite often? I count 11 posts in one specific thread, and I'd like to know to which particular reply you object.

There is no doubt about my membership status or experience - can you say the same?

If you indeed had relatives in the chapter you are referencing and they discussed membership selection they have seriously violated their sorority's rules. If they were not members of the struggling chapter, but another sorority, then they really don't know what is going on in the other chapter. Hence my reference to hearsay and rumor.

It may well be that the struggling chapter had trouble because of some of their pledges. But that isn't what you stated. Every chapter currently at Univ. of Ark has active alumnae groups in the area - it may be that they weren't as active as other chapters' alumnae, but again, that isn't what you said. Alumnae in Alumnae Panhellenics are the ones who can help "steer" girls to specific chapters, I guess, but you don't discuss the role of APCs.

While the factors you mention can negatively impact a chapter's recruitment, they also can be overcome. I can think of several examples (yes, even in the SEC) where this is true. I've personally advised a chapter that did a complete 180 - improving on every level from numbers to g.p.a. to retention of pledges and members.