[anonymouse42]

Your MEMBERSHIP SELECTION (handing out a bid, extending an invite through intake, whatever you call it or whatever system you use) IS WHAT MAKES YOU EXCLUSIVE, NOT your new member program/pledge program/line program. You should initiate all the people you pledge.

This. Because of the way Greek life is at my school (very small, very unpopular, no formal rush, etc.), my chapter is lucky if over 50% of the people we extend bids to pledge, and if even 75% of the people who pledge initiate. But we would LOVE it if every single person who we extended a bid to ended up initiating.

Why? Because our selection process (IMO) works. Every person we ask is someone the membership feels would make a good addition to our community. Exclusivity comes in because there are tons of people we DON’T extend bids to, including plenty of people who have made it very clear they would join in a heartbeat.

Of course, I also don’t get the wanting to be in an exclusive club mentality. I mean, yes, Greek organizations are exclusive, and I think most of us would agree that they have to be, given their structures and goals. But to me, at least, the point is not exclusivity for the sake of exclusivity, but exclusivity for the sake of creating a siblinghood (or sisterhood or brotherhood) that works, and that strives to achieve the organization’s ideals. If the organization’s ideals have something to do with surviving under physical pressure, fine, but otherwise I don’t see the point.

Personally, I’m interested in being part of a group of awesome, hard working, caring, etc. people who try very hard to embody my GLO’s mission. And what makes me proud of my organization? Well, exactly what I just said. It’s the fact that all of my siblings are awesome, and that we all push ourselves everyday to be better people by trying to live up to the ideals laid out by our founders — ideals that have nothing to do with withstanding hazing.

And, BTW, doing what I just said has brought out a LOT of untapped potential in myself and many of my siblings.

s it supposed to truly be based upon brotherhood, philanthropy, and gpa? b/c if that's true then why is the stereotype that greeks only drink and party?

A) Because the stereotype is wrong and B) because sure, some chapters at some schools fail to live up to the ideals of their organization. But just because those chapters fail doesn't make their ideals any less about brotherhood, philanthropy, academic excellence, etc.