Quote:
Originally posted by frathole
Why worry about it?
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In 1884, Isaac M. Jordan - one of the seven founders of Sigma Chi Fraternity - delineated the valued criteria for pledging Sigma Chi. It is known as the Jordan Standard.
The Jordan Standard
The standard with which the fraternity started was declared by Isaac M. Jordan to be that of admitting no man to membership in Sigma Chi who is not believed to be:
A man of good character...
A student of fair ability...
With ambitious purposes...
A congenial disposition...
Possessed of good morals...
Having a high sense of honor, and a deep sense of personal responsibility.
My personal interpretation of this is that "A student of fair ability..." should be viewed in the context of 1884. When being admitted to college or university was an academic achievement in it's own right. As such, an 1884 student (of fair ability) should in reality possess the academic qualities necessary for consideration to membership.
Now-a-days, this noble idea may not have the same connotation as it did in 1884. Especially with grade inflation and the passing students on for the sake of it etc. So now, "fair ability" is an eloquent way of saying "good GPA". And as such, when the fraternity, a chapter, or a campus requires a certain GPA to be a member, then so be it.
So with respect to the original poster's question, "Why worry about it [GPA]?", I do feel that the fraternity should worry - if and when a member (or PNM) can not meet the standards set forth by the fraternity. However, I would add that the same applies to any other standard or criteria set forth by the fraternity. Academics are one part of the whole fraternity experience and not something to get bent out of shape about especially when members are meeting the fraternity's academic criteria.
Having said that, I do understand that in some Greek systems, a "high" GPA may be an advantage or even necessary to be competitive. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with a high GPA.
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