Less popular sororities

SWTXBelle · #1 02-26-2008, 10:30 PM

Please don't misunderstand - I know far too well how easy it is to get a reputation as the sorority that pledges "fat" girls, or "party" girls, etc. My comments were addressed specifically to the vague statements EW put out as being the reason a chapter is struggling on his campus.

My point is that you can't say it is determined by, for example, the length of time the sorority has been on the campus, or even the number of alumnae in the area. I don't know every chapter on every campus, but I would be very surprised if all 26 of the NPCs didn't have at least one chapter somewhere that struggles - no matter how strong nationally, or regionally. (All of them have had chapters close.) Many of us have seen a chapter go from being a top one to being in the middle or below in the space of 5 years or so. I think often there is a "perfect storm" - a lack of alumnae leadership, a bad pledge class or two, actives who give up - and you've got low numbers. Once you have low numbers, it is MUCH harder to compete against other chapters, simply because when pnms walk in the room they wonder why this chapter is smaller. Combine that with tent talk, and you have a chapter in the death spiral.

UGAalum94 · #2 02-26-2008, 10:44 PM

I'm not sure why he listed tradition and connections as separate things, unless he meant present connections with well placed fraternities, but I think his triad explains a lot on southern competitive campuses if that's what he meant.

But it may not explain the present status of a struggling chapter so much as what may have taken place a couple of years ago before anyone who is even in the chapter pledged.

SWTXBelle · #3 02-26-2008, 10:52 PM

And, conversely, chapters which are doing well can take more risks. I remember one pnm who was a double legacy to us and the top chapter at our campus. She was nicknamed "Ape" - she really did have the unibrow working, and was overweight and very unpleasant. We cut her (I think that's what she was trying to have us do by being so rude) and were shocked when she ended up a pledge to the top chapter. But hey - they could afford to have a pledge or two who was, shall we say, aesthetically challenged.

One of my pet peeves is the kind of trash talk that fellow Greeks engage in - whether fraternity or sorority - when a chapter is struggling. I know it's tough when you are 18 - 22 years old to rise above it, but the fact of the matter is a strong Greek system benefits EVERYONE - and the failure of a chapter affects the entire system. Sigh. That's my personal windmill that I tilt at occasionally.

gee_ess · #4 02-26-2008, 11:10 PM

HAts off to you UGAalum - your comments were spot on!

On a campus like the U of Arkansas, the tradition and reputation of the top houses is set in stone. They would have to get in major national news type trouble with the law, or something like that to adversely affect their houses' reputations enought to seriously hurt their recruitment.

The less strong houses are, as you so aptly described, more susceptible to a negative image, bad recruitment class, etc. because their position is more precarious.

As far as tent talk, etc. even with the strong houses, there is trash talk about them but it does very little to negatively affect them because the reputation is so strong around the state. Even people (hs girls) not affiliated with the university are aware of which houses are traditionally the strongest.

fantASTic · #5 02-26-2008, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

One of my pet peeves is the kind of trash talk that fellow Greeks engage in - whether fraternity or sorority - when a chapter is struggling. I know it's tough when you are 18 - 22 years old to rise above it, but the fact of the matter is a strong Greek system benefits EVERYONE - and the failure of a chapter affects the entire system. Sigh. That's my personal windmill that I tilt at occasionally.

Ehh...yes and no. Sometimes, having one weak chapter will boost other chapters. As was said before, if one chapter is weak and then gone, as soon as they leave another chapter is the 'bottom' chapter. There is NO way to have a system where every chapter is equal.

violetpretty · #6 02-27-2008, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fantASTic

Ehh...yes and no. Sometimes, having one weak chapter will boost other chapters. As was said before, if one chapter is weak and then gone, as soon as they leave another chapter is the 'bottom' chapter. There is NO way to have a system where every chapter is equal.

I'd agree that there wouldn't ever be a Panhellenic community of 3 or more chapters where every chapter is perceived as "equal" socially. However, with regards to achievement, I think it would be much easier to find several campuses where all chapters are equal (or pretty darn close) in their achievement in recruitment (yes, there are campuses where every group takes quota), scholarship, campus involvement, leadership, service/philanthropy etc. Elon comes to mind. Although there are chapters that are perceived as "higher up on the social ladder," they are all very high-achieving chapters in good standing with their respective HQs.

Also, the issue of how "toxic" a Greek community is comes into play as to how close a Panhellenic community can come to equality. There are campuses where there is a "tier" system, but it's not talked about much, members of different chapters are friendly with one another, there aren't bitter "rivalries" between or among chapters, and there is a general Panhellenic spirit. There are also campuses where the sororities love to trash the bottom group until they fold, and then they choose the next victim.