madmax--
The sorority expansion process is defined by NPC, therefore, it's done in an organized and well-thought manner. Fraternities could do the same I would assume with the help of IFC or NIC. Sororities remain the way they are in terms of expansion because we examine the system and open up expansion in places where expansion is necessary. I'm not saying that fraternities don't do it properly, but why open a chapter on a campus that really has no need for another fraternity (the 20 sorority/35 fraternity campus for example). Seems to me that's a waste of money!
Erik--
In regards to large chapter sororities, it isn't everywhere. The size of the chapter is based on what the campus Panhellenic chooses for chapter total to be. If a campus says a sorority can have 150 women, then that's what they have to work for. Most national organizations base their standards on what the campus total is. As for the why....well, let's see. Let's take Indiana University for example. When they open up for expansion a few years ago, AOPi was chosen to colonize. AOPi has to put up like $5 million dollars to build a house so they can compete on the campus with the other chapters. Unfortunately, many sororities don't have or aren't willing to shell out $5 million dollars for a house, so they decide to not colonize at a school such as IU. It's a huge money and time investment, and one that some groups aren't willing to take. So, instead of having new sororities come in to make the campus total more reasonable, the Panhellenic raises the total to accommodate all of the women who decide to go through recruitment.
I'm sort of rambling here, and I hope it makes sense. On a side note, on the campus where I went to school, the fraternities and sororities remain fairly equal in size, so mixers and exchanges are still tons of fun
