El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-09-04

part of this suit was that the fathers of
the boys furnished the money for
fighting the school authorities and
even censured the Judge, who decided
that school boys were not in need OF
places of social entertainment outside
of their own homes
Origfnatfon of Frats.
The Greek letter fraternity origin
ated in the larger universities. and was
a means of Strengthening the paths of
fellowship between scholars in various
lines 1t soon extended ia the smaller
university and college where its OBJ
jects broadened in many ways The
fraternity in the mans college called
into existence the sorority for the xo-
men students, and in their early histo-
ry both served a useful purpose. In
many of the towns fraternity houses
were established. at which students
lived under much better conditions
than could be obtained at the ordinary
students boarding house. The frat
rules provided reasonable amount of
discipline and restriction, which the
boarding house lacked, and the unity
OF interest was beneficial
In the colleges and universities. I'M
der amy circumstances. the fraternity
Is much less likely to do harm than in
the public school, because of the age Of
the members There is, however. some
feeling against 1t even in the higher in
stitutions. Several Investigations have
been made recently which show that
the fraternity men are behind the av-
erage in scholastic attainrnents Pres
ident B. l. Wheeler. of the University
of California makes this assertion
without qualification. Many of the
more important fraternities are realiz-
ing this condition and are putting for
ward efforts TO raise the standard OF
the organization by taking more care
in the selection of it's mem bers. One
cause for complaint has been the youth
Of the members. and Princeton has
lately taken action to the effect that
no freshman may be admitted to a
Greek letter fraternity after July, 1912
Realizing the truth of the statement
that frat" men are Inferior in schcI-
arship, Princeton also Is considering
that requirement. and hereafter no stu
dent who is on probation in any branch
can join a fraternity Dartmouth and
Beloit colleges have also passed regu-
lations providing that no freshman
shall be admitted to a fraternity before
the spring term.
Wisconsin Favors Them.
The University of Wisconsin recently
made an Investigation, by a faculty
committee OF seven, Of the conditions
of the different fraternity and sorority
houses supported by students attending
the university. The committee decided
that these institutions were helpful.
rather than harmful. frequently act
ing loco-parentis to the students This
committee discovered that in that uni
yersity only 10 percent Of fraternity
men had ever been dropped for poor
work. notwithstanding this report, a
general feeling against the fraternity
prevails in Wisconsin and a resolution
was passed in the state legislature con-
demning It as an undemocratic social
organiza ton
There are several other universities
that are defending the fraternity The
president of the University Of Virginia
states that in his opinion it would be a
mistake to abolish the fraternity In
the college and university That insti-
tuition has lately donated ground for
the site Of a new fraternity house and
has arranged to loan two-thirds Of the
money for its erection at a
very low rate Of interest The Univer-
'ity of Illinois also is on record against
the adjustment of the fraternity.
Observation-Disclosures Text Books