Telegram-herald., 1891-06-14
Greek Letter Fraternities az Mich.
igan's University.
IHERE ARE MANY LOCAL GREEKS.
Pointers for Freshmen About tn Inter
the University of Michixan-some-
sains About College Societies
What They Men, Etc.

2E ture, Greek letter
fraternity, Isa remarkable and strictly
American institution Scarcely college
or university in the land but has its
Greek letter fraternity. Its influence,
effects and other phenomena are promi-
nent features at the University OF
Michigan, for there are nearly thirty
different fraternities represented there.
The Greek letter fraternity origi-
mated in the Eighteenth century, and
Thomas Jefferson was the founder OF
the first one. Its name, Phi Beta Kappa,
Is n token of honora bic distinction now
a-days, Tor it has long since ceased Its
existence "a an undergraduate society,
and its membership 10 OF post gradu-
ates. Members are elected purely
on grounds of literary or scientific at
tainment. Its membership includes q
remarkable percentage of the leading
college and university educated men,
who have attained notable distinchonin
this country. Its symbol IS a gold key,
which. once worn, ITS wearer seldom Is
without. In the EOS and '30's the
strongest Greek letter fraternitles of to-
day were founded. The leading college
fraternIties of the country. Sigma Phi,
Alpha Delta Phi, Psi Epsilon, Delta
Kappa Epsilon, Kappa Alpha, Delta
Phi. Theta Delta Chi. Zeta Psi and
Beta Theta Pi. have hundreds of men,
bers in this city. A great part OF them
became members at the University Of
Michigan.
At the University
college societies flourish. Over half
OF the faculty are members of some
fraternity and in most instances
were members during their under
graduate career. Most of the frater.
mites never elect postgraduate men,
bers. The whole college world is
divided INTO independent and FRA
tegnlIy' men. The division IS marked
sometimes Ivy offensive partnership.
Is he "Greek" or barbarian? is a
weighty question. IL is the dividing
line OF almost all of the so-calied col
lege politics. There are several ladies'
societies at Ann Arbor also. A ma
lOrIty of the freshmen enter the Uni
versIty thout the remotest idea of
what The college fraternity -, or what
II means. IL he happens to be con-
sideFed eligible tor membership by the
frat men, the experience of learning
VIII tie one of great interest
90 him to say the least. Conn
nrencemeut week IS but few
day OF. IL "a the great week at the
university. Hundreds of alumni re-
turn To see members of their own fra
tcrniiy oT professors, or Just TO see the
old cU3cge again. Flushing" IL the
term used a. Ann ArDor To indicate the
lrOCess " which a new man - niade
aCqua.ute,! with different fraternity
men aud during which they make up
their minds AZ TO whether they care to
invite am TO become one of their mem
ters. They never receive applications
for membership, but look man over
and q they SAINT him, ask him TO JOIN
Election, bvfoTe this invitation u gwen,
must le unanimous. In former years
commencement week was one of the
great weeks OF the year Tor rushing
Ire sinner.
"Rashins' the Freshman.
In those DAYS almost ali new mem
htrs were inst seen rs they came To
lake entrance examinations IN June or
in September. Members OF different
fraterulties we with each other IN
making things pleasant for the candi-
date, ~ that iu ease they wanted him,
he would accfp t their invitation n pre-
ference o. that Of some other fraternity.
Now a-,lays e is very different. Almost
al the ffafernties have alumni IN the
cities who X ep the boys posted ON
eligible nsen that are coming to Ann
Artcr lie Is often taken % Ann
Arler on "fete' DAYS. looked over sil
the While unconscious that ne s beng
81 critically examined. majority of
the new men nowadays are pledged"
before they enter coiiege.
Vet some Of the 0ld day 'Iushing" still
renaa ~. suppose Two or three socities
waut the same n'sr. Each VII invite
lm to Aan Arhor ne special guest.
lie = shown the sights and entertained
~ WY that aps 80 putt him I'D con
ssdeY8hiv Finally he < pledged -
sonye enc fraternity. lie = terribly
surar sod next Gay GA meeting rs late
entertainers. who coaidn't be too sttru-
TIVE 10 biin, taas they cut h.m dead. OF
~ post degn hiaB a cold rod. Even
ths rieiBheFs q Ire fraternity 70 wIlsh
he aas pledged hanseH tfest hsna very
cooily fhcY are betting "a their tasfe
secafing other members.
kszs~ - ssas ssss~s
Tee ores VIC nsYsF loia ffatsrnay.