Campus Image and Reputation

sigmagrrl · #1 01-23-2001, 12:25 AM

This is not one of the "How is XYZ seen on campus?" questoins...

On your campus, what are some of the things the most popular chapters do that enhance and create their popular image? What I mean is, is it word of mouth, being popular with fellow Greeks, etc? What makes a chapter the one all the recruits want? I am looking to see WHAT it takes to make a certain chapter popular...If this is your chapter, what have you done to stay or get to the "top"?

33girl · #2 01-23-2001, 12:32 AM

Well, at my campus, the most popular sorority has been at the top of the rung for as long as I can remember. They have the largest house, and the richest and prettiest women. They are popular with the guys, so they are the most desired by rushees.

I think it's because they have been on top for so long that they stay on top - even though it is for ridiculously stereotypical reasons. They are so far above the rest of the sororities that no one even tries to compete, and I don't think the rest of the sororities even bother to be jealous, because there would be no point. Kind of like you couldn't be mad if Tiger Woods kicked your butt in golf.

All that said, I wouldn't trade their chapter for mine for all the $$$ in the world.

shopgirl · #3 01-23-2001, 01:25 AM

Hi guys...

I'm curious of this myself. I'm not sure. I go to the UofA and I'm not quite sure who is the most popular. Chi Omega seems to pull the most girls in, but I hear that Theta is considered to be the "prettiest" sorority. I sometimes think that the houses have a lot to do with it...what they look like, how big they are, and how close they are to campus.

33girl, if you don't mind me asking, which GLO do you belong to, which house were you talking about, and where did you go to school? If I'm being too nosy, then I apologize...I'm just curious.

shopgirl · #4 01-23-2001, 01:30 AM

Hi guys...

I'm curious of this myself. I'm not sure. I go to the UofA and I'm not quite sure who is the most popular. Chi Omega seems to pull the most girls in, but I hear that Theta is considered to be the "prettiest" sorority. I sometimes think that the houses have a lot to do with it...what they look like, how big they are, and how close they are to campus.

33girl, if you don't mind me asking, which GLO do you belong to, which house were you talking about, and where did you go to school? If I'm being too nosy, then I apologize...I'm just curious.

SigTauJake · #5 01-23-2001, 09:56 AM

I go to a school where there are no University owned Greek houses, and there aren't any of those wonderful mansions you see at Penn State and so on. Our fraternities are on their own to find their houses, and most of the time they are old, rundown houses. Sororities don't even have houses where more than 5 girls live together. Our popularity is pretty much based looks and social activities. Sad to say but it is true. It does change though over time, as fraternities lose their charters and new ones start. Sorority wise, I would say that our most popular ones are Delta Zeta, Delta Gamma, Alpha Sigma Alpha, and Zeta Tau Alpha. All these houses are full to the max and get large pledge classes every year. For the guys, Sigma Tau Gamma (of course), Alpha Tau Omega, Sigma Chi, Phi Delta Theta, and Phi Kappa Tau. I also just listed the best parties to be at on the weekends, and the prettiest girls on campus. Sad, but that is how our system works.

KSIGTAZ · #6 01-23-2001, 02:19 PM

I also come from a small school and we don't have the huge mansions. We have our top greek orgs., the core stays the same, I can't say there is one dominant fraternity/sorority. I hate to admit it but your right must sororities are judged on looks. However a way to have a group move up is word of mouth. I don't know how well this works at a large school but this is some of things that work for us. First of all mixers and parties are great but its hard to get to know someone. We have pledge mixers we set up. The pledges from our fraternity mix with the new memebers of a sorority. Its smaller so theyget a little more one on one and they get to meet someone also new to the system, so they have something in common. This helps you build future connections and lets them meet and grow with new greeks. We also have dinners or movies. Yeah most guys won't admit to watching Temptation Island. However, if you invite a couple of fraternity brothers to bring a couple of brothers to watch it. Most guys would rather spend time with beautiful women then kick it alone. Look out side the box. Break your fellow fraternities or soroities down to individuals and have them sell. If a guy comes up to me and asks me about my fraternity, he is going to hear a biased opinion and he knows it. He gets the story from every fraternity. However when he asked a lady in a sorority and she says Kappa Sigma has great guys because ..... Talk to .... it holds more credability because she has no vested interest. I know that was a long winded answer but I hope it helps.

#7 01-23-2001, 04:05 PM

For me and I am sure a lot of other freshman go thru this too- it was the men that told me what sororities were the best. I remember my first "college party" and they all were like "are you rushing" - "well, blah blah blah is the best sorority" I'm sure a lot of young women get their first impressions like that.

Personally, the only thing we really tried to do to attain the best we could be was get 1st in grades every semester.

KSig RC · #8 01-23-2001, 04:32 PM

We try to utilize philanthropy and such to benefit 'campus image' - that is, we try to get coverage of events to get our name in the papers, and also so that the administration takes a positive view of us. After all, if our name comes up most, and we're not always on probation and stuff w/ the school, rush is going to go much better. That said, the way reputation is cemented with the student body (at least here) is via social events - throwing parties and having guys that are fun to chill w/ definitely is our hallmark in terms of campus image (which is what we're basically trying to do). It's not really the best method (it can create a 'come for the party, stay for the brotherhood' mentality w/ some pledges), but it's the one that works best at our school, where fraternity houses are considered off-campus housing and IFSC has very little real power or regulatory control compared to the school. Anyway, it's long, but bottom line: to increase a reputation for being a solid house, here it's probably best to just have solid people - plus, social events and (to an extent) philanthropy can put your name on the map and start word-of-mouth - sometimes it's funny how just one party can jump-start rush. Pretty much, just keeping the calendar full of events and bidding good people has won us the last few 'best on campus' awards, a lot of which is luck w/ new members, but hey sometimes it's just that easy.

Rob

Harmony · #9 01-23-2001, 05:01 PM

Just wanted to clarify. I go to Penn State. A lot of the fraternities have amazing houses, but there are some amazing houses that belong the smaller fraternities. Also, the sororities here don't have any houses. That's all for now!

APhi · #10 01-23-2001, 05:04 PM

Okay - I've heard location and proximity to campus mentioned a couple of times and I want to take issue with that. At the University of Colorado the houses are really spread out but Pi Phi is at least three blocks further from campus than everyone else yet has always been among the best sororities on campus. I want to agree with what 33girl said earlier, it's mostly just years and years of reputation keeping the top houses on top. Rankings and numbers may change a lot in the middle and on the bottom but the top houses usually stay there.

shadokat · #11 01-23-2001, 05:57 PM

I agree with 33girl as well. On our campus, the top sorority is the same sorority for years and years. They are the prettiest and most likely, richest girls on campus. Not to take anything away from the great philanthropy work they do and also their good grades. While the middle and bottom change frequently, the top guns are always there.

Quote:

Originally posted by APhi:
Okay - I've heard location and proximity to campus mentioned a couple of times and I want to take issue with that. At the University of Colorado the houses are really spread out but Pi Phi is at least three blocks further from campus than everyone else yet has always been among the best sororities on campus. I want to agree with what 33girl said earlier, it's mostly just years and years of reputation keeping the top houses on top. Rankings and numbers may change a lot in the middle and on the bottom but the top houses usually stay there.

33girl · #12 01-23-2001, 09:43 PM

Re the location issue, 2 of the other larger sororities are a good hike from campus. There is only one fraternity house really really in the middle of everything, but as things become more & more rigid, that blessing has kind of become a curse for them - they're the first ones the cops/school crack down on cause of the easy access.

shopgirl - email me (addy in my profile).

Allie_XO · #13 01-23-2001, 11:02 PM

Here, its all on who is the most visible - who is in the SGA, who's in the Homecoming court, etc. Also, my favorite sorority

has gotten the Dean's Cup for a long time for having the most community service, highest grades, most active members, etc. I'm really proud of the Greek system here. Well, that's my imput.

LexiKD · #14 01-26-2001, 02:21 PM

East Carolina University has nine NPC chapters, I have said it before and will say it again, Chi Omega is the best of the best.
Chi O is the most consistent sorority on our campus. They have the best grades, usually EVERY semester, make quota more than any other(the ONLY chapter to do so last recruitment), they also pull the well rounded PNMs, not the party girls, but cute socialable girls that can make the grade. They are a chapter who looks like they look for members who will work for the chapter in many areas, not just social but leadership and philanthropy also. They have exceptional leadership, their outgoing President was a trip, but was focused on the main goal and the definition of responsible, their outgoing recruitment chair was totally in control and one of the nicest girls EVER!
They are a chapter that we look up to and hope to be a thorn on their side as they are to us, but we have been encouraged and assisted by our Chi O chapter and I feel we have a great working relationship with them.
They have always been top here at ECU, since I have been here, they are not cookie cutter and I think that's why they have a strong sisterhood. Each girl contributes in a different manner and Potential New Members see that during everyday events and Recruitment.
I cannot wait until I can answer the question with a firm KD is the best, but we just colonized in November and are working on it! But I am sure Chi O and KD will be right up there forever!

------------------
Lexi Hasapis

Tom Earp · #15 01-26-2001, 04:56 PM

In reading these statements, it is hard to figure who you are and what school you are from! I check greekpages.com alot to see what other chapters and schools are doing. If you list your school, I will check it to see what the Greeks are doing. I am especially interested as we are looking at a new house being built for My chapter.

------------------
Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)