Quote:
Originally posted by sugar and spice
I could be wrong though . . . that's just what I'm getting from what the original poster wrote. We all sort of took it and ran with it. 
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No - not at all! Like I said, there's no right or wrong on this - as there is no real "answer."
I was just rephrasing/restating the argument in my original post - which may or may not have directly addressed the exact question raised by the initial poster. Everyone seemed to be focusing on the numbers - how many chapters are in the South - and I felt that was a lopsided way of determining which sororities were "Southern." My whole argument IS that numbers alone don't paint the whole picture - whereas the line of posts seemed to assume that the numbers alone do represent the best indication of regionality. At bottom, I just can't see classifying sororities as "Southern" which might have sheer volume in the South, but not high levels of prestige across the most visible and established Greek systems. Just because the market is saturated with a particular group, doesn't mean that group is therefore the most representative of the region.
So maybe instead of asking which sororities are "Southern" the question should be narrowed to...
WHAT makes a sorority "Southern"? (or "Midwestern", etc.)
I agree that numbers have to be a part of it, I also think the founding and traditions/ritual play a role - but a lot of it comes from how that region views the sororities themselves. If Southerners themselves don't consider XYZ to be Southern, it would be hard to argue otherwise.
Whew! But, as always (and as has become obvious), everyone has different perceptions.
In any event - can you tell I'm a lawyer? I always enjoy discussing topics in-depth with this - just don't ever think I'm mad or anything... I'll insert one of those angry faces if I am!