Is bigger really better?

As part of the University’s move to create new standards of… Is bigger really better?

As part of the University’s move to create new standards of excellence for Pitt’s Greek community, the National Pan-Hellenic Council’s organizations are being asked to get bigger or potentially face losing recognition.

NPHC is the smallest of the three Greek governance councils at Pitt, comprised of seven historically, but not exclusively, black fraternities and sororities, with membership ranging from two to 15 students in each of the respective organizations.

However, Associate Dean of Student Affairs Birney Harrigan explained that all student organizations must have at least 10 members to be recognized by the University.

“It is nothing exceptional here, we are not making exceptions.” Harrigan said, “We are being consistent.”

According to NPHC President Ron Coursey, the University is urging these Greek organizations to grow to at least five members by the fall and possibly 10 members in the spring.

“Realistically I feel that it will be very hard for NPHC organizations to maintain the number standards on a semester to semester, year to year basis,” Coursey said. “I can honestly see a couple of the chapters here fading out or dying out because of lack of numbers.”

Coursey explained that it would be “very rare” to find NPHC organizations with “50 or 60 or 70” members active on the campus during one semester in comparison to Interfraternity Council’s organizations which average about 30 members.

“We have organizations that have 10 members already, and we have organizations that have three or four,” Coursey said.

He added that his own fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, Inc. had five members with two graduating this spring.

According to Francine P. Young, the NPHC eastern regional director, each affiliated fraternity and sorority imposes their own rules for membership, rather than NPHC having certain standards across the board. There are no NPHC national minimum numbers for membership, while there may be a minimum mandated in an individual fraternity or sorority.

“If [Pitt] put that kind of sanction, they wouldn’t be able to operate,” Young said.

However, Harrigan said that most schools, in addition to national requirements, also impose institutional requirements and that any new standards created would not conflict to national regulations.

“If anything they will complement the [national] standards,” Harrigan said.

No additional schools were able to comment by press time.

Young also explained that the existence of NPHC on a campus often encourages black students to come to schools that have a predominantly white student body and with membership restrictions NPHC would not be able to enlarge.

“I think [minimum numbers for membership] would be a disadvantage all the way around,” Young said.

Harrigan said that the Greek organizations contribute to the retention and graduation rates by virtue of the work they do.

“I think by increasing numbers of NPHC organization’s fraternities and sororities they can be more effective in that regard,” she said.

Among reasons for trying to get NPHC’s numbers up, Harrigan explained that more membership would make the organizations “more vibrant” and “more effective.” Having a membership of at least 10 is “a statement that your organization is working,” Harrigan said.

Harrigan acknowledged that the University has already talked to NPHC about the new standards and is working with them closely.

“We’ve asked them to submit recruitment plans,” Harrigan said.

Coursey said that these new requirements were unfair and unrealistic because NPHC organizations face different obstacles than those of the IFC and the Pan-Hellenic Association.

Some of the obstacles include the basic fact that NPHC is a minority organization and the minority retention rate “is not very high at all,” according to Coursey.

Also, a potential member must have already completed a certain mandated amount of college credits before they can join one of the fraternities or sororities as well a nationally mandated grade point average.

“You basically have to be a sophomore in standing,” Coursey said, “It prevents underclassmen from getting focused on other things besides academics and also allows college students to shop and explore the different organizations to see which one best they fit.”

One of the largest obstacles facing NPHC right now, according to Coursey, is the amount of money it costs to join any of the organizations. The dues range from about $800 to $1,000 and have to be paid up front. While the dues are good for three years, potential members may not have that kind of money lying around to join a Greek organization.

Brothers of IFC organizations pay their dues once a semester to IFC and their nationals, and while the overall costs may in the end be larger, NPHC requires potential new members to pay for their college career of membership in whole.

“NPHC, although we may be lacking in numbers, we have gone far and beyond as far as service is concerned in the university community,” Coursey said.

Harrigan said that the NPHC organizations had to try to get their membership up, but was unsure what route the University would take if they are not able to do so.

“I haven’t decided what is going to happen,” Harrigan said.