Phi Delta Theta & Kappa Sigma Withdrawl from NIC (Official Phi Delt Statement)

[Firehouse]

"Firehouse and Madmax - it's now five years later, let's hear your thoughts.
You had some intelligent insights, the playing field has changed in 5 years, any different ideas?"
"Phi Delt and Kappa Sig seem to be doing very well several years after leaving the NIC."

Thank you for the kind words. Doesn't seem like five years (!) has passed...

First, yes, both Phi Delt and Kappa Sigma are propsering after their decision to leave the NIC. Phi Delt jumped early on the 'no-alcohol-in-the-house' initiative and no one else followed (maybe Sigma Nu). I get the feeling that Phi Delt undergrads feel themselves at a disadvantage because of it, but if it hasn't helped them it doesn't appear to have hurt them either. Phi Delt has a string of strong chapters at major schools.
Kappa Sigma is a little different. They are a fine, strong fraternity but they have launched in a new direction, one pioneered by TKE and Sig Ep: very rapid and prolific expansion. Kappa Sigma has around thirty colonies at any time. They are creating new chapters as fast as they can. Thier new marketing strategy is to lay claim to being the nation's largest fraternity. This number is not achieved by enlarging existing chapters; the numbers come from all those new chapters. Sig Ep has claimed to be the "largest fraternity in America", basing that claim on their sheer number of undergraduates at any one time. They experienced rapid expansion, and it is my understanding that they award what you an I would consider initiated status almost immediately after a man is pledged. It's more complicated than that but it gives them the opportunity to dramatically increase the number of "initiated" undergraduates. Now, Kappa Sigma has overtaken that #1 standing.

As far as as the National Intefraternity Conference, I think the same issues are still in play. It costs a lot of money to be a member, and their programs appear to me to duplicate what our own nationals already do for the undergraduates. I would like to see an association dedicated to opposing draconian, arbitrary regulations and bullying by administrators. Back in the day, no one got actually kicked off campus unless they did something really horrendous. Today, it seems that any violation brings the death penalty, without regard to the financial impact or effect on alumni. Another thing the NIC should do it lobby IFCs to permit the immediate reinstatement of suspended fraternities as soon as they've served their time. At my school (FSU) SAE got kicked off for five years in 2001. They have applied to IFC twice for reinstatement and been voted down both times. Finally SAE said the hell with it and established a colony anyway.
One of the problems with NIC - so I'm told - is that their staff and volunteers are of the same mindset and outlook and general profile as the typical "greek life professional." They see the world through the same eyes, and that view is markedly different from the views held by staff and officers of most major national fraternities.

[kapsigcub]

Originally Posted by Firehouse

Kappa Sigma has around thirty colonies at any time. They are creating new chapters as fast as they can. Thier new marketing strategy is to lay claim to being the nation's largest fraternity. This number is not achieved by enlarging existing chapters; the numbers come from all those new chapters.

Could you please share your sources? I'm unable to duplicate your findings. Thanks in advance.

[Corsulian]

Originally Posted by Firehouse

One of the problems with NIC - so I'm told - is that their staff and volunteers are of the same mindset and outlook and general profile as the typical "greek life professional."

As an aspiring Greek Life professional (years from now, after I've made millions of dollars playing the ponies), I'd like to know what that outlook is. Perhaps because it is 2AM, I couldn't figure exactly what you were going for there.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Corsulian

As an aspiring Greek Life professional (years from now, after I've made millions of dollars playing the ponies), I'd like to know what that outlook is. Perhaps because it is 2AM, I couldn't figure exactly what you were going for there.

I think what Firehouse is trying to say nicely is that they are way too politically correct and more concerned about playing nicey nice with the school administrations, rather than supporting the Greek system.

There's a difference between being impartial from fraternity to fraternity (i.e. applying the same rush rules to everyone) and laying down (i.e. supporting the school when they kick groups off for really bogus reasons).

But I can't see you doing that dude.

[nate2512]

I think that something is being mishandled here. Kappa Sigma has not claimed to biggest fraternity. All Kappa Sigma has claimed is being the most preferred. Meaning it pledges more people than any other.

http://www.kappasigma.org/php-bin/ne...hp?id=165&ref=

[Firehouse]

Look, Kappa Sigmas can say whatever they want. It's a fine fraternity. I just thought it was interesting that they've hit on exactly the same promotion that Sig Ep discovered: claim to be the largest fraternity based on having the largest number of undergraduates nationally at the moment. This as opposed to being the largest fratrenity because they have the most chapters, or the most alumni, or the largest average chapter size. Sig Ep expanded very rapidly - nothing wrong with that - and because they initiate their "pledges" almost immediately they find themselves with an unusually large number of undergrads.
Kappa Sigma is in a state of extreme expansion right now. Nothing wrong with that, but the "large size" claim [or, "most popular based on size" claim whichever you prefer] comes from suddenly having established all these colonies, and not from a corresponding increase in average chapter strength (size).

We all sell what we have to sell. I'm a Pike, but I admire the sucessful fraternities, like Kappa Sigma. However, I also appreciate the quality of a Beta Theta Pi or Phi Delt or Fiji or Delta Tau Delta. Those four in particular will never claim to rank among the largest nationals because of their very conservative and selective expansion policies. But I can tell you that in tems of quality, they are four of the top national fraternities and have been for a very long time.

[nate2512]

This may be a bit of a thread hijack, but one thing, as a member of Kappa Sigma, I wonder how long this expansion is going to continue. I personally don't have any worries that we aren't getting quality guys because I have seen three colonies initiated recently and they were all quality guys. And also I have seen what it takes for a colony to gain their charter, and it is not for the weak of heart. And you are correct, we have to sell what we've got.