Racial Conflict

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by macallan25

Having the most pledges...doesn't make you a top chapter on a campus in any way...

I think this is arguable. Sorry, but bad chapters don't usually get large pledge classes, let alone the biggest on campus. I think your take on this example demonstrates that "top" is very subjective.

[FSUZeta]

would you please list what criteria determines a campus as classically southern?

[shinerbock]

Well, Mac, what we would consider the top chapters on campus are probably a little different from what some people on here would like. We should probably tone it down, or else they might want to infiltrate whats left of classic southern collegiate life.

[shinerbock]

FSU: History, tradition, well dressed, well mannered students...filled with students from conservative "old money" families...values such as patriotism, faith, family...a general lack of vodka and prevalence of bourbon...substantially less hair gel and import cars than the rest of the nation...pearl-wearing girls...I'm sure theres more.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

I think this is arguable. Sorry, but bad chapters don't usually get large pledge classes, let alone the biggest on campus. I think your take on this example demonstrates that "top" is very subjective.

Yeah, bad chapters often do get huge pledge classes.....for the sake of increasing their numbers. This is called a blanket bid.....where they give everyone a bid that walks through their door. We usually have a very good idea about what guys we are taking way before formal rush even starts. Go to any top house in the South and I would bet you a good amount of money they already know who they are taking during the summer before the start of the year. Obviously some guys will come through during rush that are taken (out of state guys and such), but for the most part......it is already decided.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by macallan25

Yeah, bad chapters often do get huge pledge classes.....for the sake of increasing their numbers. This is called a blanket bid.....where they give everyone a bid that walks through their door.

OK, I'll concede that this does happen with fraternities where numbers may be an issue, but what about large(r) chapters?

I was also directing my comments at sororities, which do not usually end up with large pledge classes after formal rush if they're a weak chapter. They may COB later, but the biggest pledge class on campus is not the hallmark of a bad chapter.

[Elephant Walk]

I was also directing my comments at sororities, which do not usually end up with large pledge classes after formal rush if they're a weak chapter. They may COB later, but the biggest pledge class on campus is not the hallmark of a bad chapter.

Yes it usually is. It's a sign of the weakest chapter. Pike, here gave out like 45-50 bids. Probably along with the other top sized pledge classes. It's too bad they took all the guys no one wanted. I looked at their new pledge list, and it contained 30 people we had cut the first night because they were going to be bad pledges, and were mostly from plano, which is the worst.

and elephant walk, arkansas does matter?

Not as much fraternity-wise as Auburn, Ole Miss, Georgia, Alabama, LSU and Texas, but more than the rest. We consistently have strong chapters which have good sized pledge classes with quite a bit of money. There is a bit of history here with long-standing chapters.

As to tradition and the history of chapters, it is usually the rule to be on campus longer is better, however one can look at Phi Gam at Alabama, who has been on the campus forever and is not all that great.

[FSUZeta]

macallen and elephant walk,

would you please tell us what constitutes a top fraternity on your campus?

[shinerbock]

Alpha Gam, well and we say people don't come to our house, that means we also don't really come in any sort of contact with them. Generally, like was said, we have probably 85 percent of our pledge class a couple weeks before formal rush. We generally get them through summer parties and what not, and I've never seen a minority come to one of our beach party weekends, skeet shoots, or even when we rent out bars in Atlanta, Charlotte, Bham, etc. Its just how it is, and other than people on this board who are pretty disconnected from it, I don't really see too many minorities on these campuses who care. At all.

[Elephant Walk]

Usually a long standing chapter 75+ years at least, powerful alumni (not always a determinant because of Sigma Nu on our campus...they have some of the Tysons and such), Takes the guys everyone fights over, tough pledging programs, acceptable academics, some philanthropy but it doesn't get seen, the party house.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

macallen and elephant walk,

would you please tell us what constitutes a top fraternity on your campus?

Down here at Texas, we have 3 of them....SAE, FIJI, KA.

I would describe them all as very wealthy houses with a very long and well noted history on campus, all having very powerful alumni. The top chapters have been so for a long time. The chapters themselves are very strong in numbers and are desired equally by a huge percentage of rushees. Members are all from well established, affluent, upper class families and usually have some sort of family tie-in to the chapter that they are a part of. Guys from all of these chapters share many common interests, whether it be politics, music, dress, hunting and fishing, playing golf, etc. Guy's grades are good and many spend their summers interning for senators, attorneys, bankers, etc. etc. These chapters generally have the best and most well attended parties...and are all very popular among the sororities....but generally only do things with the equally top sorority chapters on campus. Also, you don't know what this is....but the top houses generally produce most of the Silver Spurs and Texas Cowboys on campus.......the guys that shoot the cannon and take care of BEVO during and away from football games. They are very high honors and most always awared to fraternity members.

[FSUZeta]

and you have just described pi kappa alpha at fsu-minus the spurs and cowboys. of all the men who have served as the seminole mascot, chief osceola, the majority have been pikes.

unfortunately, sae is not currently on the fsu campus-they were a strong chapter when i was in school, but had some problems and had to leave, came back on, and left again. hopefully they will return soon.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Yes it usually is. It's a sign of the weakest chapter. Pike, here gave out like 45-50 bids. Probably along with the other top sized pledge classes. It's too bad they took all the guys no one wanted. I looked at their new pledge list, and it contained 30 people we had cut the first night because they were going to be bad pledges, and were mostly from plano, which is the worst.

I'm not sure why you posted this in response to my comment about sorority pledge classes. I conceded your point about fraternity pledge classes when numbers are an issue. This is not the case with sororities during NPC formal recruitment, where the biggest pledge class is usually indicative of a strong house.

[shinerbock]

I'm not sure how it is as far as sorority recruitment at every school, but it doesn't seem like there is much difference in numbers in the really good chapters and the ok ones. However, there is an obvious difference between the great, good and ok sororities and the terrible ones.