[Opie25]

It sounds like there should definately AT LEAST be a discussion about changing the number for Total on your campus. As a greek advisor I double checked the NPC Green-book (AKA Manual of Information) regarding total and will type that below here.

This is the "official" blurb concerning total changing procedures...if you go to your greek advisors office they should have a copy of the "greenbook", and I'm sure that someone in the chapter (president, vp, advisor) should have one also. This information is located on page 84 under Membership Recruitment Mechanics,

How to Set Total

"Total chapter size is determined by the Colelge Panhellenic after studying the current size fo the fraternity chapters, the availability of potential members, expected growth in the college enrollment and the most desirable chapter size for the campus.

Once set, total chater size should remain constant for several years. Limiting Total chapter size too drastically can harm fraternity growth.

Total figures should be realistic to result in the majority of chatpers reaching total chapter size. If all chapters are about the same size, a reasonable Total may be deteremined by dividing the total number of new members an dinitiated members by the number of chapters.

REEVALUATION OF THE TOTATL CHAPTER SIZE MAY BE DEISRABLE WHEN THE MAJORITY OF CHAPTERS REACH AND/OR EXCEED TOTAL, OW WHEN NO CHAPTER HAS REACHED THE ESTABLISHED TOTAL CHAPTER SIZE IN SEVERAL YEARS.

Resolved, that college Panhellenci councils prior to evaluation and/or chaning total chapter size consult with the NPC Area Advisor who shall notify NPC delegates with chapters on the cmapus of this evaluation."

Okay, so that's the offical Green book statment, personally I think that the NPC and the area advisor should stay out of the decision making end of this....you and your sisters, the greek community, and hopefully the greek advisor are on your campus everyday, know how it works, notice trends, and should be able to make reasonable decisions based upon that experience.

Should Headquarters and NPC know about the discussion and the possibility? Yes.

Should they (HQ's and NPC) control the decion? ABSOLUTELY NOT. You all are on the front lines and know better than anyone where you need to be...I think this (and excuse me as I go on a rant here) is just another example of NPC trying to exert their authority on a college campus and decide what is best on your campus...and I personally believe that is wrong!

I think NPC does some things well, and at the same time (this is the slightly bitter Greek advisor now) try to exert too much power and authority on college campuses, when they shouldn't.

A lot of the rules, policies, procedures, etc. are not what I would presonally call up-to-date or cutting edge....in a lot of various aspects their rules, feelings, and actions are antiquated and in need for a change!!!!!

Okay..I will get off my soap box now....that's something for a whole other thread!

Good luck, and if there is anything I can do please let me know.

Thanks for listening!