[Firehouse]

I'd respectfully disagree with you and say that the strong returning to strength and the weak returning to form is indeed the rule rather than the exception. I doubt that "thousands" of greek chapters are being thrown off campuses today, or even hundreds as you say. The 1990s were another down cycle for greeks (just as the 1980s were big - it seems to run in decades) but the last few years seen a huge upsurge in membership.
I can't address the SAE at Penn State issue because I'm not familiar with the chapter. I do know it's an old, strong chapter but I don't know how they stand there recently. My way-way-out-of-date info on Penn State would be: Beta Theta Pi, FIJI, Phi Delt, maybe Sigma Pi, Chi Phi, KDP...sorry, it's been too long since I was there. I remmebr SAE having a beautiful house, but I don't remember them being solidly reputed in thetop 10% of the system. It only works (returning to power) if you have a great chapter to begin with.
I'm going to be interested to see what happens to SAE at LSU. Over the last 100 years I'd say Kappa Sig, KA, Sigma Chi and SAE were the honchos in the top tier at LSU. If SAE starts back strong with big numbers, they'll return to power. But they're going to need a competitive house, and big numbers right away. That's not what I'm hearing. But it's interesting to watch. Max, are you a Sigma Nu?