top campuses for GLOs

[Erik P Conard]

What do you guys think? Where are the campuses where the
Greeks thrive, the town folk like or at least tolerate 'em, and
more will ultimately come? Not the private ones, not the old teachers colleges, not the streetcar ones...in all due respect...
I nominate Kansas State U, Manhattan, an old aggie school, tied
with Penn State as first Morrill-Act (1862) campus.
I am not a K-State alum, but taught school there a long time ago,
and know several greeks, hear lots of reports.
There are ten or twelve chapters of men's groups who have received "Top Chapter" awards...many of the more than two dozen houses have 80-100 man chapters.
Absent...Theta Chi & Phi Kappa Psi (never been there), Phi Sigma Kappa (gone about 70 years), Phi Kappa Tau, AKL
Think the boy Pi Phis have successfully come on and many have
come back...many houses have built new; smaller houses have
moved up and boomed...example, Lambda Chi bought Chi O; Delta Chi took Phi Delt...Top awards have been given to SAE,
Beta, TKE, Sig Ep, ATO, Kappa Sig, DU, Acacia, FarmHouse, Pike,
Delt, may be others...I am admittedy a bit out of date...at any rate, all are VERY well housed. As regards the sororities, I think
ZTA, Tri Sigma, DZ, perhaps only ones gone, Alpha Phi, Sigma Kappa, Alpha Gamma Delta, Delta Gamma, have never been there...should come on, would thrive
ZTA gone since 30s...time to come back.
Kansas State University, Manhattan...a top greek school!

[dakareng]

I'm not sure if there are many members of Pi Kappa Phi on GC but to refer to that organization as the "boy Pi Phis" is offensive to both organizations. They are "Pi Kaps" (or at least my friends who are brothers of that fine organization call themselves Pi Kap and would correct anyone who would listen... they are NOT Pi Phis). Pi Phis are members of Pi Beta Phi, a women's fraternity.

Since when does having a house equal being a strong organization or strong Greek System? Having a house can be as much of a detriment as a benefit if your house, and all on your campus are not run well or if there is inequality.

[Erik P Conard]

we never had Pi Kappa Phi in Kansas, but did have Pi Kappa Alpha and Pi Kappa Sigma. Only name I ever heard, do not know
what they go by. I do now. At any rate, the Pi Kapps seem to be
doing a good job.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally posted by dakareng
I'm not sure if there are many members of Pi Kappa Phi on GC but to refer to that organization as the "boy Pi Phis" is offensive to both organizations. They are "Pi Kaps" (or at least my friends who are brothers of that fine organization call themselves Pi Kap and would correct anyone who would listen... they are NOT Pi Phis). Pi Phis are members of Pi Beta Phi, a women's fraternity.

Actually, awkwardly enough, on the Washington and Lee campus, we have both Pi Beta Phi and Pi Kappa Phi. Going back to before the time we had sororities (or even women), the Pi Kappa Phis were known as the "Pi Phis". So there is always a lot of confusion because people here do actually refer to them as "boy Pi Phi" and "girl Pi Phi". I was never sure why they didn't go by Pi Kapp. There's a crazy story that supposedly explains it, but I never bought it. I think it was because we also have Phi Kappa Sigma or "Phi Kap" and in the days before women they wanted to distiniguish Pi Kapp from Phi Kap.

Well, I guess Erik's criteria disqualifies W&L being recognized as one of the top Greek schools nationwide, seeing as we're private.

With Greek percentages like ours, you really can't deny that we rock! (75% of women are Greek... 85% of men.)

Why exactly can't private schools, former teachers' colleges, or "Streetcar schools" be top Greek schools? The distinction is lost on me.

By any standards W&L has one of the most active and flourishing Greek systems in the nation.

[Erik P Conard]

perhaps 'cause the State U's, the ones with law schools, med schools and the aggie ones...seem more homogeneous, and the
private ones...some indeed great, vary so widely. No doubt that
DePauw, Centre, W & L are great greek schools, no arguments.
It is hard to compare Iowa Wesleyan with W & L, easier to compare Illinois with Indiana. But whatever, I made an arbitrary
choice, but it is certainly not cast in concrete. Anything is open.
About "boy Pi Phis" no offense intended as a later post seemed to concur. I heard it twice...once from an angry Pi Phi at Kansas
U feeling the men's group was stealing their name, and again at
the U of OK when a friend was colonizing Pi Kappa Phi there and
there was Pi Kappa Alpha there calling themselves Pi Kaps....so it
was intended by the Pi Kap rep to distinguish the men Pi Kappa
Phis from the women Pi Beta Phis...again, nothing insulting.
So, you kinda jumped the gun on this one.
Pi Kappa Alpha, by the way, was called Pi Kap on many a campus,
and I never heard Pike 'til the 60s...In Kansas, Pi Kappa Alpha was generally called PiKA...I heard of them being called Pikas, too,
but I know not where. PiKA was a good outfit at K-State.
Pi Kappa Phi, a historic southern fraternity, has made some good
inroads in recent years...in the north. So, Pi Kaps, no cheap shot,
not a negative notion at all.
For those offended, stuff it up your nose.

[BobbyTheDon]

Pi Phi for boys? LOL

That was the funniest thing I've read in a while.

[PhiPsiRuss]

Originally posted by Erik P Conard
Pi Kappa Sigma.

Don't you mean "Phi Kappa Sigma?"

Originally posted by BobbyTheDon
Pi Phi for boys? LOL

That was the funniest thing I've read in a while.

We used to call the Pi Kapps at A&M,"Pi Phi for guys"

they loved it.

Kitso
KS 361

[AOIIsilver]

Pi Phi for boys

Mr. AOIISilver, who is a Pi Kapp, did not exactly find this funny at all.

[PhiPsiRuss]

Originally posted by AOIIsilver
Mr. AOIISilver, who is a Pi Kapp, did not exactly find this funny at all.

Well, Mr. Conard already posted his response to your SO:

For those offended, stuff it up your nose.

[Tom Earp]

Not sure at which level a school becomes a strong hold of Greek Like

Whether it is a Large Private School, a Large State U., a Medium College or University, Etc. I guess it depends on how well represented Greeks do on the respective Campi.

Are they respected by the City and School, do they work with both for the betterment?

I check may schools web sites to see how Greeks are doing and some look Fantastic while others well, leaves a lot to be desired with the Number of Greek Chapters and members there and wonder why

[Betarulz!]

I'll nominate the University of Nebraska for a top Greek school.

Some things that makes the UNL greek system great.

In 2002 when many organizations had their conventions, 8 chapters won the highest award for a chapter in their respective groups.

Kappa Alpha Theta, Alpha Phi, Chi Omega, and Gamma Phi Beta for the women.

Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Nu, Acacia, and I believe it was SigEp (might have Pi Kappa Alpha though) all won for the men.

Let me repeat that this wasn't over a period of time, this was all in ONE convention season, and these are obviously awards that are judged by the organizations themselves, so these chapters are excelling in the areas important to their general/inter/national organization.

I also know that the chapters of Alpha Tau Omega and Delta Tau Delta are highly respected within their organizations.

All 13 sororities that participate in formal recruitment are over 100 members. The average fraternity size is 55 members.

One of my professors is an international officer for Gamma Phi Beta and she told me that there are at least 7 UNL Greeks currently traveling for their organization as consultants, and that there have probably been close to 30 UNL greeks that have traveled for their organization in the past 5-8 years. I found out last night two guys I know are heading out for their orgs this summer.

To add to all that, I could talk about All Greek GPA being nearly .2 points above the all university average, how the overwhleming majority of seniors selected into the two campus senior honoraries have been greek, and how involved Greeks are in Student Gov, Student Alumni Association, and many of the college advisory boards.

Finally, the University is surprisingly supportive of the greek system. The office of Admissions is going to include a tour of a greek house as a part of their standard campus tour starting this fall, rather than making the prospective student ask for one. As part of our greek re-evolution project, chapters are working with the University to lower risks associated with alcohol, rather than simply putting them on social probation - destined to be a repeat offender. Even incidents of hazing in the past four years have resulted in houses being cleaned up and improved rather than kicked off campus. I don't think it's like that at a lot of other places.

[Erik P Conard]

Pi Kappa Sigma was a sorority--one of those "educational"
ones, like Theta Sigma Upsilon (m AGD), Delta Sigma Epsilon
(m DZ), Alpha Sigma Alpha, Sigma Sigma Sigma....They were
known as "Pi Kaps." They were absorbed by Sigma Kappa
about 1958 or so...check Baird's
Phi Kappa Sigma is often confused with Phi Kappa Theta, a
historically-Catholic fraternity...and is some places with Phi
Kappa Tau...generally known as Phi Tau. The Phi Kappa Sigmas
are often called "Skulls," but when they were at KU they were
called Phi Kappa Sigs (1957)
Then there was Phi Sigma Epsilon, a teacher's college fraternity,
like Sigma Tau Gamma...but they merged with Phi Sigma Kappa,
great for both, by the way...Then a Jewish fraternity, Phi Sigma
Delta...now also absorbed...I think by ZBT, not sure.
So, it is confusing...again, Pi Kapps, no offense, please accept my
rebuttal and explanation. And the rest who remain offended, you
have already been told where to stick it.

[exlurker]

Originally posted by Erik P Conard
What do you guys think? Where are the campuses where the
Greeks thrive, the town folk like or at least tolerate 'em, and
more will ultimately come? Not the private ones, not the old teachers colleges, not the streetcar ones...in all due respect...
I nominate Kansas State U, Manhattan, an old aggie school, tied
with Penn State as first Morrill-Act (1862) campus. . . .
<SNIP>

.... As regards the sororities, I think
ZTA, Tri Sigma, DZ, perhaps only ones gone, Alpha Phi, Sigma Kappa, Alpha Gamma Delta, Delta Gamma, have never been there...should come on, would thrive
ZTA gone since 30s...time to come back.
Kansas State University, Manhattan...a top greek school!

Erik -- interesting nomination, and Kansas State does have many well-regarded chapters. Just to update a bit about the women's NPC groups:

Sigma Kappa DOES have a chapter at K-State.

Alpha Gamma Delta had a chapter (Epsilon Chi) there, 1985-89 according to Baird's.

NPC sororities that have never been at K-State:
Alpha Epsilon Phi

Alpha Omicron Pi

Alpha Phi

Alpha Sigma Alpha

Alpha Sigma Tau

Delta Gamma

Delta Phi Epsilon

Phi Mu

Phi Sigma Sigma

Sigma Delta Tau

Theta Phi Alpha

While another NPC sorority __might__ thrive there, it's possible that the time is not quite right: one or two chapters may still need to build strength / numbers before adding a new kid on the block. Although the "tier" system a K-State is not as set in stone as it seems to be at, say, Texas-Austin, attracting and retaining members seems to be easier for some of the NPC chapters that have been at KSU for a long time.

[Erik P Conard]

thanks for the K-State update...Nebraska and Mizzou have good
systems, too. Many campuses have relatively stable ones, but
the cost of coming on in some locales is shocking. The day of the
80+ man houses disappearing...Our (TKE) house was built in '65
to house 88, but life styles changed. Students rejected sleeping
porches, TVs became common in rooms (we had only two in whole
house back then) and space was problem....TKE downsized to 60
in house, wreaked havoc with mortgage payments. Phi Psi at KU
has capability, I think, of housing a hundred, ditto SAE, but both
are very, very wealthy chapters. Beta at KU, Nebraska, Mizzou are extremely wealthy and successful....when you play against them it is not a question as to who will will rather how bad will you get beat...LOL...hope that did not piss anyone off...it is true,
a well-oiled machine. But for the newbies to come on as new
and compete..tough..unless they can pick up a "move up" house.
Then schools like Colorado U...the U takes the house, and the shrinking of greek housing makes it tough. Some of the houses
at CU are veritable shacks now...I have no answers, but think we
may be going back to lodge, meeting house, small numbers of the
live-ins...simply do not know...thanks for the update...