[GPhiBLtColonel]

......I agree that forcing a local to go nat'l SIMPLY because it is local is bad...but that is not the case here or many other places either -- check out wishinhopin's very long thread about her NBO local sorority at UCSC trying to go national -- the reason there are locals that are seemingly forced to go national is just as Carnation has stated...regardless of how old they are and how much tradition they have...if they are doing bad things (e.g. hazing) and offering little benefits from membership and fewer students are wanting to join, then a local's history and tradition just don't amount to much on the overall scheme of things...

I think also that trying to establish a national org along the lines of an NPC, NPHC etc really needs to have a clear focus and purpose that sets them apart from what is already out there in order to succeed...otherwise they WILL fail and not just because of the oft-exhaustive work of many folks...

Just my two cents....