[violetpretty]

Back to the original topic, I like this idea even though there isn't a huge bias against non-freshmen at Maryland. There are chapters who take fewer non-freshmen and take them less frequently than others. It seems like most sophomores are split between fewer chapters, leading to more of a "boom and bust" cycle of membership, with varying sizes of graduating classes.

Freshmen would only compete against other freshmen, which would actually make it more competitive for them. Non-freshmen would be more likely to join a chapter that best fits them rather than choosing from chapters that only take freshmen.

I like this idea mainly because it removes the stigma that non-freshmen NMs=undesirable. It's like we say that not being a freshman is bad so many times we start believing it even though most people don't think about the reasoning behind it. The only thing undesirable about them is that they have to be replaced sooner, but that issue is resolved when everyone is entitled to the same number of freshmen. And if a chapter doesn't want to take upperclassmen, that's their prerogative, but they are missing out on dues, and potentially great members.