The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-19
COLLEGE FRATERNITIES

social classes anti democratic In ten
/ dcncy---
Resolved, That the university
regents be requested to investigate the
situation . with reference to
remedyng the above tendencies and
also with reference TO the substitution
therefor OF some better system of STU
dent organization and to report tina
result OF such investig atoms with
recommendations to the Legislature
at the next regular session"
Pursuant to the above resolution
the regents made thorough and
exhaustive Investigation and submitted
lengthy report 10 the State Legis-
iaturs. This report Ut course. csu
not be given ut length here, but ,ts
chief features consisted In a finding
that the fraternities served "a most
ustfui purpose in furnishing, through
their chapter houses, living accom-
inodations for students, that they
Were no more undemocratic tran cisy
clubs or other social or fraternaf or
ganiXatlons recognized as useful and
Iesltlfnate expressions of social actIt-
ity outside of college, that nothing
was TO be gained ny the elimination
"f the fraternity and substitution OF
the local society or club; that the
scholarship OF fraternity men prob
A"N suffered by comparison VITA that
or tho non fraternity element, but
'ldt the greater part Of tni3 dis
'rSpancy occurred only in the lower
| classes freshman and sopnouore1
| neg were unable to report any bet
yer system OF organization but recon-
ihehaed thar fne fraternity system be
retained. To faculty to place GER
tain restrictions upon the initiation OF
freshmen
other Illustrations and arguments
might be cited TO support the I.tauss
mere given but space forbids.
Mr.. Grump is supported by M owl
uehc@ and must be taken to TIE stulplx,
me personal opinion OF the proaecr-
t"F' am frank to say that there
are no eAtaut statistics, SO far 40 I
know. dealing with com parattve vice
as between fraternity ana non-fra-
terhitY men. Certainly men Of high
standing in the educational world
H%Vihs exceptional opportunities for
observation differ from Mr.. C,r,ypn,a
conclusions and the writer's rara1naI
observation, differ from Mr.. Grrrnp,a
ing oNoF eight years and embracing
.HFee universities. would not lead
nun 10 the conclusion that the in
tiueilce or the fraternity was Der sa
pad The writer Is rather or tho
opinion that the fraternity efspter.
Hh" ne individual, differs In char
"0'ei ls1es' and It's moral influence ia
eo"u or bad according 10 the in
diViduhls composing It. For several
3eaIs "hile was student at Wash
lngton and lie" University. the men7-
bers OF one the fraternitles at thar
instltuti"n Wore the leaders IN urac-
ucftlly all OF the religious work or
VIC university on the other hand, II
any oeV1iment was committed, the
leaders could. with some darrea Of
assurance be sought from the mem
oershlp of another fraternity The
argument or Mr. Grump that So
Cahiitty engenders vice viii scarcely
carry conviction to any thinking man
II true, 1t would be we'll for our re
llgloQs organizations to carefully CON
slider the abolition of conferences
conventions and preshyteries
Dean clark, of the University Of
i Illinois. has this 10 say or the moral
influence Of the fraternity:
should say that the young man
at the University of Illinois Is offer,
safer morally IL he goes into a fra
ternlty than he otherwise would DO.
asd he Is seldom, II ever. In n more
V@hs e'o"s situation On the
whole ! consider the moral tone OF
the fra ternities somewhat above tba
average or the general student body.
u believe that. though there are
some things about tho organizations
mat | should wish eliminated these
are relatively slight or unimportant.
In the main. tho fraternity is an or
ganization that makes for warm
friendships social training. good
scholarship. md, high ideals. be-
heVe that the admission Of frater-
nittes has been for us a good thing"
Ine rCnrluGiGrg n proG4HnrT