Size of Pledge Class

[AndrewPiChi]

I mean I understand the argument for more service, always a good thing.

But one must address that there is an individual aspect as well, it is also about inspiring people to do service and help their fellow man for the rest of their lives. Not just in their active years in Alpha Phi Omega and in their college tenure. Large pledge classes/chapters often have lower membership retention rates, their is less of an individual emphasis, lower probability of alumni involvment. With a smaller/normal chapter individuals are given far more responsibility, the frat is resting on your shoulders deal, an individual commitment that will continue well after college.

I know when someone leaves a small chapter like mine, it is a big deal. We regret the loss of a brother. If 20 people leave a large chapter, big deal right, there a more to fill that place.

Should membership restrictions/harder pledging requirments be placed on normal chapters, no, monsterous chapters with over 400 actives and 150 pledges, yes.

I don't know, maybe I'm wrong or maybe I'm having trouble articulating this, little burnt out from a paper

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by AndrewPiChi

I mean I understand the argument for more service, always a good thing.

But one must address that there is an individual aspect as well, it is also about inspiring people to do service and help their fellow man for the rest of their lives.

I know when someone leaves a small chapter like mine, it is a big deal. We regret the loss of a brother. If 20 people leave a large chapter, big deal right, there a more to fill that place.

Should membership restrictions/harder pledging requirments be placed on normal chapters, no, monsterous chapters with over 400 actives and 150 pledges, yes.

Agreed. Granted, I come from a chapter that I've never seen at over 20 members in the 5 years since I pledged, and chapters that have new member classes of even 80 people baffle me (although they're definitely not a bad thing). But having a class of 142, and eventually 400 active members, seems excessive. How do you even keep track of new member progress, or how they're contributing (both positively and negatively) to the organization?

I understand that social fraternities and sororities function in different ways, but how can you get to know that many people in a recruitment period? There are reasons that sorority recruitment is limited, and why there are rounds and cuts, and while these fraternities don't have to take on the same method, it might be a good idea for chapters, on a case by case basis, to somewhat limit how many new members they're taking in. And I'm not saying there should be a rule that it says, "You can't have this many members," but I think the national organization should at some point step in and maybe give some advice on how to effectively cut down new member classes to a reasonable amount.

And if there is a chapter this large, maybe it's time for another organization to come to campus?

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Agreed. Granted, I come from a chapter that I've never seen at over 20 members in the 5 years since I pledged, and chapters that have new member classes of even 80 people baffle me (although they're definitely not a bad thing). But having a class of 142, and eventually 400 active members, seems excessive. How do you even keep track of new member progress, or how they're contributing (both positively and negatively) to the organization?

I understand that fraternities and sororities function in different ways, but how can you get to know that many people in a recruitment period? There are reasons that sorority recruitment is limited, and why there are rounds and cuts, and while fraternities don't have to take on the same method, it might be a good idea for chapters, on a case by case basis, to somewhat limit how many new members they're taking in. And I'm not saying there should be a rule that it says, "You can't have this many members," but I think the national organization should at some point step in and maybe give some advice on how to recruit, and possibly how to effectively cut down new member classes to a reasonable amount.

And if there is a chapter this large, and if other fraternities are gaining more and more members each year, maybe it's time for expansion... ?

What other fraternities are doing generally isn't a concern to Alpha Phi Omega due to the type of fraternity we are.

As to the rest of your post, there's been nothing posted to say that the chapter has a problem with retention or tracking the progress of its members. Sure, we don't know how it's done, but it has to be done due to the nature of their bylaws.

Their bylaws also only mandate Fall pledge classes with an option for Spring if they want to, but it requires a referendum.

This is all public information.

I think what's really going on here is that people would not want this for their own chapters, which is fine. But it pretty obviously works for Nu Rho.

[naraht]

These are sort of directed at various people's previous comments.

First for the idea of tougher pledging requirements, I find that to be completely alien to Alpha Phi Omega historically.

I have seen sectional staff give opinions on growing too quickly when the chapter is at a relatively small level (say 5 brothers with 11 or 12 who want to pledge), but this growth is still at a *percentage* level that isn't too out of line. With ~140 pledges and expectations of being at 400 brothers after this is over, that means ~260 brothers coming into the semester. If both numbers were a tenth of what they are (14 pledges coming into a chapter of 26, I don't think anyone would bat an eyelash).

I didn't know about the "spring pledging only if they vote to do so". If they choose to do so, that means a year to get to know them and actually could lead to a drop in size going into next fall with more than 140 graduating.

As best as I can tell, some of the larger west coast chapters and St. Louis University have the concept of 3-5 families within the chapter and most social activities tend to be within the individual family.

Also, if anything, the rules in Alpha Phi Omega recently have supported *smaller* chapters rather than larger. Chartering has a minimum of 15 brothers, historically the numbers have been larger than than or varies by size of school with 15 being the amount for the smallest school. In 1957, for example 25 brothers were necessary to charter.

Also, while I can't reference which T&T it was in right now, I do know that there was a quote from H Roe Bartle indicating that given the amount of service at a school like Ohio State, that the chapter there should be at least 100 men. (I'm pretty sure it was in the 1930s)


As for starting up additional organizations, William & Mary have 15 IFC Social Greeks, 10 NPC Social Sororities, 5 Historically Black F&S, and over 30 other community service groups including Circle K, Rotoract and another national fraternity in the community service group "Sigma Mu Sigma". Other than starting GSS or OPA, I'm having trouble coming up with anything off the top of my head.