Tiers...

RU OX Alum · #1 05-20-2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Absolutely there's a relationship.

Oldest are almost always higher. (or at least have a greater chance of being higher.)

And no, having 12 fraternities does not mean the tiers change. Arkansas has that many and it hasn't changed. The middle switches up a bit but only because of a new house.

I think location plays a factor too, then.

As well as average chapter size. If you're at a big school with 12 groups and they have 90+ members a piece, it's going to be a different dynamic than at a school with 12 fraternities and the average size is 25-30.

Elephant Walk · #2 05-20-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

I think location plays a factor too, then.

As well as average chapter size. If you're at a big school with 12 groups and they have 90+ members a piece, it's going to be a different dynamic than at a school with 12 fraternities and the average size is 25-30.

True.

I think that possibly if it was a smaller campus with that many fraternities at that size the tier system could be very fluid.

RU OX Alum · #3 05-20-2008, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

True.

I think that possibly if it was a smaller campus with that many fraternities at that size the tier system could be very fluid.

Okay...

that makes more sense about what happened then, I guess.

You're right though, in that, no matter how fluid, some chapters will be considered "better" by rushees than others. However, who may be considered top will change rapidly, and even among different groups. Plus, at a small campus, sometimes it comes down to this: you pledge who you meet first, or you don't pledge at all. This is sad but true.

violetpretty · #4 05-21-2008, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

Also, is there a relationship between the founding date of the chapter and the social status/tier of said group?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Absolutely there's a relationship.

Oldest are almost always higher. (or at least have a greater chance of being higher.)

And no, having 12 fraternities does not mean the tiers change. Arkansas has that many and it hasn't changed. The middle switches up a bit but only because of a new house.

Let's say an old, established "top tier" chapter gets kicked off campus for risk management related reasons, and comes back 10 years later. Are they more likely to resume "top tier" status because of the old cohort or do they have to start from the middle/bottom like most new chapters?

banditone · #5 05-21-2008, 12:36 PM

After 10 years? They will start low to middle usually. A) they will not come back with the numbers they are used to (most likely). B) when you start up new, you will usually have to take in new members that you wouldn't have taken back when you were top tier.

Also, take into account you may have sold off your house (10 years is a long time). Coming back with no house when your competition is in plantation mansions is very hard.

just my .2 pennies.

Elephant Walk · #6 05-21-2008, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by violetpretty

Let's say an old, established "top tier" chapter gets kicked off campus for risk management related reasons, and comes back 10 years later. Are they more likely to resume "top tier" status because of the old cohort or do they have to start from the middle/bottom like most new chapters?

Upper bottom, lower middle.

Where it goes from there, depends on how they recruit. There is a certain fraternity on campus here that just came back on that plans on bidding as many guys as possible in order to get off colony status (yes, I know it's absurdly easy to figure out who it is). That's not a good way to do things. The guys they've started off with are questionable at best. However, if a traditionally strong chapter starts off building slowly with a group of excellent individuals, the skies the limit.

violetpretty · #7 05-22-2008, 09:25 PM

Would it be different if the fraternity in question came back after 5 years and still owned their house (assuming the chapter house was at least on par with the rest on campus)? Would their old reputation be more likely to follow the colony members or would they still have to "prove" themselves?

banditone · #8 05-22-2008, 10:53 PM

pm'd you.

Another thing you are seeing more these days. A lot of chapters are getting booted for hazing. Stay off for at least 5 years. Come back on, but with nationals all up in their cool-aid and on a strong "no hazing / let anyone in" kind of stance.

That will knock you down a few tiers right there.