Theta Chi at Duke Going Local

[AlexMack]

Their fraternity president is hot!

The article says that the locals never have a problem recruiting members and actually do better.

[tunatartare]

Originally Posted by centaur532

Their fraternity president is hot!

You're just like me- we both picked out the important things from the article.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by centaur532

The article says that the locals never have a problem recruiting members and actually do better.

The quote is attributed to Theta Chi President Collin Jones and not the author of the article.

[Drolefille]

Yeah, but it's in the article nonetheless. I doubt the author knows much about recruitment numbers. I thought it was interesting that a Fraternity had disaffiliated and then later reaffiliated with a different national.

[g41965]

History repeats itself, in the early 1900's all the fraternities at Harvard went local, Delta Upsilon became the DU club, Zeta Psi became the Spee club etc. Many fraternities at Yale went local as well. In the 1950's and 60's many fraternities throughout the elite Northeastern colleges went local DU at Dartmouth became Foley House, Theta Chi at Dartmouth became Alpha Theta, etc. not every national fraternity chapter in New England went local but many did.
I have often wondered if the movement toward local's would move into the South at Tulane, Emory, Duke, W&L and Vanderbilt. Looks like it's beginning.
The Phi Delta Theta Chapter at the U. of The South went local, and now two at Duke.
What's the connecting thread.... my guess is fraternities at very good liberal arts and Nationally recognized private schools simply don't feel the need for general fraternity as much as the big state chapters do, elitism also plays a role, at Duke I'm sure the guys say "hey why are we in the same fraternity with those goofballs from bad state U". Going local was bad for the Greeks in the northeast, I bet it will be bad at Duke. Lets check back in 10-20 years. The percentages are not what they were in the Northeast anymore. Bet 60% of students are not Greek at Duke in 20 years.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by g41965

DU at Dartmouth became Foley House, Theta Chi at Dartmouth became Alpha Theta, etc. not every national fraternity chapter in New England went local but many did.

I think they went local for significantly different reasons than this chapter - if I'm not mistaken Alpha Theta became coed. I don't think that's what is happening here.

[g41965]

Alpha Theta broke in 1951 with Theta Chi over racial policies they went coed in 1972 went Dartmouth went coed. My point is that on smaller elite campuses the local chapters simply don't feel as much need to be part of a general fraternity as much as chapters in the SEC, Big 10 or Big 12 do.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by g41965

Alpha Theta broke in 1951 with Theta Chi over racial policies they went coed in 1972 went Dartmouth went coed. My point is that on smaller elite campuses the local chapters simply don't feel as much need to be part of a general fraternity as much as chapters in the SEC, Big 10 or Big 12 do.

Sorry but I have to disagree with this.

Yes, small (?) State Universitys or Religious Affiliated schools out side of the ones you mentioned do feel that being a member of a National is important.

All of My GLOs at My Alma Mater have House buildings. William Jewell being/was a religious affiliated are going to build Sorority Houses.

I am not sure where your logic is to this?

Are only the ones you mentioned worthy of GLOs?

[Elephant Walk]

I agree, but when a national GLO in SEC/Big 12 schools leaves nationals because of their rules, they gain much more respect in the SEC I would think. This has not happen recently to my knowledge but there has been rumors of it at places like Texas' Fiji chapter among others.

[Blue Violets]

Originally Posted by g41965

Lets check back in 10-20 years. The percentages are not what they were in the Northeast anymore. Bet 60% of students are not Greek at Duke in 20 years.

Fact Check: Only 37% of students at Duke are Greek-affiliated.

[ColumbiaPike]

Lots of chapters at Columbia have expressed interest in going local. Too many people here think that Nationals doesn't do anything for them except bill them.

[LPIDelta]

Ok this brings a question to mind--

What is it that collegians expect their nationals to do for them?

Run their chapters?

Give them things?

Get people to show up to things?

Why do people think they get no value from being national?

[ColumbiaPike]

I'm not sure what people expect their national chapter to do. Generally, though, when one pays for something, one gets something in return. I guess for a lot of people in other chapters here they feel they don't identify with other chapters of their national organization.

[ISUKappa]

Originally Posted by Heather17

Why do people think they get no value from being national?

Because they don't like the ruuules.

[Ocalagirl]

[QUOTE=centaur532;1341716]Their fraternity president is hot![QUOTE]

Amen!! I wish he lived in Florida