[SWTXBelle]

And here's food for thought - with the exception of some moribund southern schools, the tiers are not inflexible. It is possible for a chapter that was once "bottom tier" to turn it around- I've seen it happen. It's also possible for the end all, be all chapter to take a dive and see its standing fall. At my alma mater a chapter which struggled during my time there has now blossomed and is highly regarded - and one of the "top tier" chapters is now struggling.

What NPC members should be working for is not only their chapters to do well, but for campuses to reach a point where ALL the chapters are solid. I don't know that collegians necessarily get that - heck, I know alumnae who don't "get it". But a campus where all the chapters are solid - where there are a variety of sisterhoods in which pnms can find a home - is going to be the most beneficial for Greeks as a whole. All the NPC member GLOs have incredible histories, noble ideals, worthwhile philanthropies, innovative programming, leadership training, and close sisterhoods. The more you get to know members from various groups the more you realize that we all have a great deal in common. If we could dispense with negative competition - ( Not the "good" type - competition can be positive and healthy) - and really, really come together, I think we would be unstoppable.

AND THAT is why I hate the discussion of tiers on individual campuses. It allows some NPC members to feel that they are somehow superior to others, which draws their focus from the good of the NPC groups as a whole. It also can force some NPC members to feel that they are somehow inferior - when the fact is that if you are a member of ANY NPC group you should take pride in that fact. It reinforces the negative stereotypes some non-Greeks have about us, and does not in any way, shape or form support the aims and aspirations our founders had in mind when they founded our GLOs.