Fraternities shrinking in size

[KSUViolet06]

It seems to me that the majority of fraternity chapters are closing to due to risk management issues, not low numbers.

I think an inability to manage risks and such would be more likely to be the demise of a fraternity chapter than numbers would.

[SAEalumnus]

Originally Posted by kddani

Seriously. I've rarely heard of a fraternity closing for low numbers. There were a number of them on my campus (NIC, not locals) with as little as a half dozen members. A sorority would never stay open with that few members.

Every time you turn around there's another post in the Risk Management forum about some fraternity being suspended or closing due to Risk Management issues. I'm sure they're out there- but I can't think of a single example of one closing for low numbers.

Sounds like someone's turning a blind eye to the true problems and looking for a way to blame the economy. That's just burying your head in the sand. Not that I don't think the economy will have some effect on numbers overall, but not to this degree.

Fraternities that are closing chapters are doing so overwhelmingly due to risk management issues.

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

It seems to me that the majority of fraternity chapters are closing to due to risk management issues, not low numbers.

I think an inability to manage risks and such would be more likely to be the demise of a fraternity chapter than numbers would.

Agreed. In the more than a decade that I've been an SAE, I can only think of one example of one of our chapters being closed due to low numbers. In every other case I've ever heard of, it was risk management.

[g41965]

Quick review of 1991 Bairds shows a contraction in most NIC Fraternities.

Sig Ep had 254 open chapters now has 230
DU had 91 open chapters now has 74
Fijis had 116 now have 107
DKE went from 54 to 48.
Phi Delta Theta had 180 now has 160.
Some Greeks are about the same Sigma Ci has grown from 217 to 222.

I think numbers and risk managment both play a role don't know which issue is bigger.

I do know SMU(my law school) and UT( my undergraduate) both have fewer chapter than when I was in school UT had 30 + in the 1980's now has 21-22 NIC Chapters. SMU has lost ATO, Phi Psi and now KA since I was a 1 L.

As a 43 year old and with a 15 year old daughter I think this recession is going to hurt greeks badly over the next 2-3 years. My wife went to Vanderbilt and she was also greek,but when our daughter goes to school greeklife is way down the list and will be among the first expense we cut if times are tight.