New-York tribune., 1905-01-29
PRINCETON'S REMEDY.
FraterRitieS Barred There an FaUOr
of Clubs.
ID the Editor ID The Trlbune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir The end and object of all colleges is. or ought
10 be- TO prepare men 10 go out into the world and
do the worlds work-tO turn out finished and
rounded product OF man. not one warped and
narrow. In order to do this man must be devel-
eDSd along three Lnes-mentally, physically and
socially The third is done or less by means
Of college fraternities. That this side of ought
not 10 be neglected is beyond cavil. but the ways
and means form much mooted question.
At Princeton we think have solved the prob
lem. no fraternities allowed. yet the social
side OF che college is fully developed and cared for
by system OF clubs.
The chief objections to fraternities are that
puts his fraternity before his college, thereby
breaking the college spirit: that all departments Of
university life are determined and by fraternity
pull; that snobbshness is fostered by the forma-
ton Of cliQues. the rushing" Of and extrava-
Garce.
The club system al Princeton does away with
most OF these evils. yet retains most Of the good
points of fraternities. First, by doing away with
secrecy ana al forms of an oath binding men of
the club TO support each other the rivalry Is
not so intense. It IS counted no disgrace to be out
OF a club. and put their college first In their
affections. This often shows in athletics for no
college has spirit on the field than Princeton
nor is there any place which TO a greater degree
commands the love and respect of her graduates
The doing away with the fraternal oath allows the
best men 10 come to the front irrespective Of the
club society 20 which they belong In any line
chosen regardless of the society pin or hatband he
wears Tor every man realizes that in this way alone
VIII me lasting good Of the college be furthered.
lhere is no room for snObbishness for the num-
per OF CUBS is unlimited. and il any clique feel
plQued that they are not members % g Club the
Of different clubs visit each other freey anS tbers
Is not the least secrecy observed the houses in
ms way fostering a wider fellowship.
An interclub treaty exists which forbids rush
ing and which is strictly kept All the clubs send
out written invitations to new members Mt the
same time and by the same man-the interclub
secretary. The man fnvited-a sophomore-is not
mar
nnul he has sent in a written answer either ac-
ceDtlng or declining In this way the evils Of the
Fushlng system are done away with.
AS lar as extravaganza goes club bejnv
although much money does go in this wav is N
not better used than squandered in other ways
on the university?
When a man gets into the world he will ard
cllques wei organized in every walk Of life he
VIII IND clubs elective and otherwise he will have
worm considering whether 10 send him into the
world Ignorant of real conditions fun of blssful
Ideas OF reform and social equality or IN "a COM
mon sense way 70 send Rim cut with HIS eyes One
word as ~ Is. and fortified by his former eypeTi-
eieek. more aole 10 contend with IL and conquer
= Isls s5ttllileh, used IN the broad sense OF the
WoFc-oroiheThoods impelled by lrener5sitv love
o. conpanionshlp and high ideals every right
linking man believes viii help a college That
Lle tystfsln mas evils, and grave ones Is patent
systems death As has been shown q solution is
simple, ana "A system be formed which retains
-ltNcn OF what - good and is purged of much OF
what IS ekii. For there Is Doubt that yDucb ~,
a college mans practical education is pained In
the halls Of these same fraternities: and = man
though he have the learning OF Socrates ss
powerless unless he knows how 20 meet and mix
with men. Sites AfTTfrOey
Princeton X ].