Sorority Expansion at George Washington University

[Tom Earp]

Not so sure by some of the posts.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

I always thought "the Big Six" referred to accounting firms.........

Silly me.

[ilovetheviolets]

and silly me, I thought all sororities were created equal. get mad at me if you want, but really, a sorority is a sorority, yes, we all pledged our sorority because we liked something about it, but they're all similar. big sorority does not necessarialy mean good, and small, does not mean bad. expansion of any kind is a good thing. congrats to gw!

Originally posted by ilovetheviolets
and silly me, I thought all sororities were created equal. get mad at me if you want, but really, a sorority is a sorority, yes, we all pledged our sorority because we liked something about it, but they're all similar. big sorority does not necessarialy mean good, and small, does not mean bad. expansion of any kind is a good thing. congrats to gw!

Poo on you (and the majority of GC) for being so Panhellenic-minded!

[sigmadiva]

Originally posted by trideltrockstar
What exactly is the Big 6? I've never heard that term before.

In Texas, I've heard the term 'Big 6' in reference to the 'top' six NPC chapters at UT-Austin. And no, I don't know which chapters are part of the six. I've just heard the term.

Not trying to start isht, just trying to inform.

[alum]

This is off the National Panhellenic Conference website.

Early histories of women's fraternities contain accounts of "rushing and pledging agreements" or "compacts" among fraternities on various campuses, and also many stories of cooperation and mutual assistance. However, no actual Panhellenic organization existed and no uniform practices were observed. By 1902, it was obvious that some standards were needed, so Alpha Phi invited Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, Delta Delta Delta, Alpha Chi Omega and Chi Omega to a conference in Chicago on May 24. Alpha Chi Omega and Chi Omega were unable to attend. The remaining seven groups met and the session resulted in the organization of the first interfraternity association and the first intergroup organization on college campuses. (National Interfraternity Conference for men's fraternities was organized in 1909, now called the North-American Interfraternity Conference).

The big 6 are 6 of those 7 initial attendees to the first conference.

Note, I am just expressing an opinion supporting certain groups as does everyone else.

[tunatartare]

Originally posted by alum
This is off the National Panhellenic Conference website.

Early histories of women's fraternities contain accounts of "rushing and pledging agreements" or "compacts" among fraternities on various campuses, and also many stories of cooperation and mutual assistance. However, no actual Panhellenic organization existed and no uniform practices were observed. By 1902, it was obvious that some standards were needed, so Alpha Phi invited Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, Delta Delta Delta, Alpha Chi Omega and Chi Omega to a conference in Chicago on May 24. Alpha Chi Omega and Chi Omega were unable to attend. The remaining seven groups met and the session resulted in the organization of the first interfraternity association and the first intergroup organization on college campuses. (National Interfraternity Conference for men's fraternities was organized in 1909, now called the North-American Interfraternity Conference).

The big 6 are 6 of those 7 initial attendees to the first conference.

Note, I am just expressing an opinion supporting certain groups as does everyone else.

So which of the 7 isn't a part of the Big 6?

[seraphimsprite]

Originally posted by alum
This is off the National Panhellenic Conference website.

Early histories of women's fraternities contain accounts of "rushing and pledging agreements" or "compacts" among fraternities on various campuses, and also many stories of cooperation and mutual assistance. However, no actual Panhellenic organization existed and no uniform practices were observed. By 1902, it was obvious that some standards were needed, so Alpha Phi invited Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, Delta Delta Delta, Alpha Chi Omega and Chi Omega to a conference in Chicago on May 24. Alpha Chi Omega and Chi Omega were unable to attend. The remaining seven groups met and the session resulted in the organization of the first interfraternity association and the first intergroup organization on college campuses. (National Interfraternity Conference for men's fraternities was organized in 1909, now called the North-American Interfraternity Conference).

The big 6 are 6 of those 7 initial attendees to the first conference.

Note, I am just expressing an opinion supporting certain groups as does everyone else.

I'll be honest and say I think it's ridiculous to deny the fact that as good as it is to be Panhellenic-minded, there are some groups that are stronger nationally than others, but you can narrow it down to just six groups as "the strongest." Especially since according to this, you wouldn't even have Chi Omega as one of your "big six" and to say that the national organization with the most chapters in the country doesn't make the cut?

[alum]

I didn't say the strongest....nor that I think they are the best. There are a ton of different size NPC GLOs at GW. I'm sure all are doing well as GW is adding a new women's fraternity/sorority.

Why do members of the larger NPC groups get ripped apart on this board when expressing support for a group? As much as I hate to say this, the "other" board is a little more honest (in their drunken stupors) in terms of assessment.

[ISUKappa]

Originally posted by alum
Why do members of the larger NPC groups get ripped apart on this board when expressing support for a group? As much as I hate to say this, the "other" board is a little more honest (in their drunken stupors) in terms of assessment.

There's nothing wrong with showing support or sharing personal opinions, but how you do that affects how people react. Making blanket statements and out-dated generalizations are not necessarily a good way.

I love our Fraternity. I love the history, I love our ritual and I love what we stand for, but I know that we also have a lot of things to improve upon and learn from other organizations.

Best of luck to all organizations presenting at GWU.

[honeychile]

Originally posted by alum
I didn't say the strongest....nor that I think they are the best. There are a ton of different size NPC GLOs at GW. I'm sure all are doing well as GW is adding a new women's fraternity/sorority.

Why do members of the larger NPC groups get ripped apart on this board when expressing support for a group? As much as I hate to say this, the "other" board is a little more honest (in their drunken stupors) in terms of assessment.

No, they're just more opinionated.

That's what "Top Six" is - an opinion. And one that isn't backed up by many facts.

[AOIIalum]

Originally posted by alum
Why do members of the larger NPC groups get ripped apart on this board when expressing support for a group? As much as I hate to say this, the "other" board is a little more honest (in their drunken stupors) in terms of assessment.

Wow.

A sorority that is larger in one geographic area might be a serious minority or even a non-player in another. That's okay, really, it is. What is most important is the right fit for the PNM/member and individual chapter--or in the case of expansion, what is the right fit for the existing Panhellenic system and presenting sorority. Yes, that means that there are schools where (insert sorority letters here) would be wildly successful and the best thing since sliced bread for all involved. Yes, that also means that (insert sorority letters here) shouldn't get within 50 miles of another school under any circumstances.

There are dozens of variables, and it's really none of our business. Perhaps it is best for any specific discussion of expansion to be treated the same way as the catsuits?

[kddani]

Originally posted by AOIIalum
There are dozens of variables, and it's really none of our business. Perhaps it is best for any specific discussion of expansion to be treated the same way as the catsuits?

That seems to be preferred. Most of the students at those schools prefer it that way.

It's one thing to have an opinion, it's another to be entirely unpanhellenic about it. The "bigger" groups can't colonize everywhere, nor are they right for every school. Each of the 26 NPC groups is special in its own right and has tens of thousands of wonderful members and many great programs.

And alum, if that "other" board is so much better, please go there. I'm sure they'll love your northern, non-strong greek system self. We're panhellenic around here, respecting other groups, and you don't seem to grasp that concept.

[aopirose]

Originally posted by AOIIalum
Perhaps it is best for any specific discussion of expansion to be treated the same way as the catsuits?

Oh POO! You're no fun.

Originally posted by kddani
That seems to be preferred. Most of the students at those schools prefer it that way.

It's one thing to have an opinion, it's another to be entirely unpanhellenic about it. The "bigger" groups can't colonize everywhere, nor are they right for every school. Each of the 26 NPC groups is special in its own right and has tens of thousands of wonderful members and many great programs.

And alum, if that "other" board is so much better, please go there. I'm sure they'll love your northern, non-strong greek system self. We're panhellenic around here, respecting other groups, and you don't seem to grasp that concept.

She'd get ripped to shreds over there because hello, she's not from the South. She won't survive there.

I just find it really sad that yet ANOTHER expansion thread gets thrown in the trash because of unPanhellenic blanket statements.