No offense to this conversation and I am playing devils advocate a lil, but..... when did going greek become a "competition"? Isnt the point that most of us picked houses that we felt would be right for us and comfortable in? I mean yeah, some look at well is it one of the better houses on campus, how many members etc.? But if it was the best looking house or campus, with almost the best grades, 200+ members, but yet all of them were either (scuse the language)..a$$holes or b!tches, wouldnt you leave b/c their personalities sucked? I mean I would.
I know quanitity does matter, but I think that when you use it as the MAJOR factor, I think you lose some of the value that your org. stands for. Which for most was to bring quality people together who shared some common thoughts, etc.
Playing devil's advocate...someone might have said this also, but isnt it possible that some chapters are bragging about having high numbers, cuz they have a foot to stand on besides that? Just using UM as an example, but many of the so-called biggest and popular greek orgs are also ones with the highest deactivation rates. Kind of like guy and girls who think highly of themselves and bring down others to make up for their small or zero "package" they have.
Im not saying anyone's opinion is wrong, and this is only mine, but it seems this numbers and whos the best and strongest thing is being blown to a certain extreme.