New-York tribune., 1905-01-29
THE PRIZE LETTER.
FraternitieS 4Traigned on Numerous
Charges.

10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: consider the fraternities one Of the most
powerful elements Of disintegration in our college
life and vastly regrettable on that account. On
the college ss a whole they have the effect of
weakening its power OF effectua activity by the
scattering OF its energies and purposes.
Socially a college maintains its standing and IN
auence mainly through the different societies
which are organized and upheld by the students.
Such the athletic, literary, musical and dra-
lnaric organizations which meet for a common
purpose ana work for the glory and name Of the
college The next important factor in college life
IS the class. unified and enthusiastic class can
do more 10 raise the general level than any other
element in The college. The students Of the same
class have like interests. like duties and like diff
culues 10 overcome. Brought together by all these
things which they have IN common, they have
occasion 10 form true friendships which are likely
tc become life friendships.
Now, what function does the fraternity ill which
the above mentioned factors in college life do
not? Not only does it satisfy no need, but IL saps
the life Of other institutions which are essentially
collegiate The social activities Of a student, from
she very nature of things. have some limit If she
belongs TO fraternity. that comes first and other
things next When class and fraternity interests
clash the loyalty which every good student should
have for the class has make way before her fra
ternity oath Her class becomes merely a
securing honor for her fraternity If she succeeds
81 putting her sisters III the offices. The different
societies she considers in the same subjective way
not as being worthy in themselves Of her energy
and thought. but merely as being means Of push
ing forward member Of her fraternity. At class
and other elections the fraternity member upholds
her candidate. even though another girl might be
far more capable Of filling the Office.
In my class at college, numbering some
eighty students, there seven fraternties repre-
scented. At our last class election each fraternity
sat apart, decided as 10 the candidates it should
hold u. and determined TO DO its utmost to win the
triumph Tor Itself; up against them all were the
nol-fraternity girls, also ready to fight for their
rights That the result Of this division of interest
should be bad inevitable. Where all should
have been mutual good fellowship and unity there
were discord and an undercurrent Of anmosity.
Whatever the results Of the election might be- there
sB5 @E + Me "Id %GGlG bs G0S Sa aay an oocs
sion for tightening the bonds which should exist be-
tween classmates as such had served only further
10 alenate the students among themselves For
ths state of affairs the existence OF fraterniteS
Upon the students individually also the fraternity
Eynpathies: IL makes them snobbish. Young people
are only prone pass impulsve judgments
and 10 form Cliuucs on purely arbitrary grounds
frateInlties only further these tendencies, and,
where every influence should be for broadminded
and sympathetic Judgment and human kindness
toward all fellow students they foster false
standard OF estimation. prejudice and Intolerance.
Fraternities do not necessarily bring together
congenal students Most Of the candidates for d
Fraternity rushed in their freshman year and
Know little nothing Of the personnel of the
ciety they Join before becoming a member of it.
on the other hand the choice OF a candidate for
] have known girls 10 confess that the great ma
9oty Of their fraternity sisters distinctly
congenial 10 them and they joined the fraternity
simply for the sake OF being I'm one Again have
Known true and worthy friendships to be broken
~ by the TACT that OF several friends Joined
Paternity; whereas the rest did not Yet again do
! Al.oN OF many cases where students are preVent-
e from associating with such other students
33o.sloshlp IN would be a source OF satsIaGGuon ana
10y 70 them. from the fact that they belong to a
oo,r ~ lo lhat an thelr line doI soc4aI inter-
NeRYoTE S'5ftg city. 10 iia'sl3S PA3SLTNE DESIRES