Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-06-30

spirit Of democracy for which Cornell
has always stood, The authorities thsve
not presumed to condemn per se the
fraternity system in other COLLEGES. but
their position ireahiimed lis that in q
small college In the middle west where
the spirit Of class and caste does not
prevail, with a clientele Of students
drawn In the vast majority OF cases
from homes of moderate means and
not Of wealth, that in Cornell with Its
definite democratic spirit, ideas mad
ideals. that in such college with such
a policy. 6raternities and sororities can
fnd no place. Students who regard
fraternities as one Of the essential
features OF college life are advised in
the kindliest spirit to go elsewhere.
Ley Blame on Students.
"The charge has been made that
sub-rosa organizations have fiourished
undisturbed in Cornell for q long time
"undisturbed"' is a word which must
be challenged by all conversant with
the facts. The authorities have labored
increasingly every year to stamp out
the sub-rosa system-a system con-
demned by the vast majority of those
who have practiced It. II the author
tiles are open to criticism In their
handling Of the situation, 1t is in this
particular that they have taken the
word Of honor of students that they
were not fraternity members. to be
worth as much as a word from a
gentleman or lady Is usually consid-
cred. Undoubtedly II the faculty had
treated students suspected Of fratern-
thy membership as convicts or GRIM
mails whose word Of honor IL worth
less and had expelled them outright.
the sub rosa system long ago would
have been among the things which are
not. The sorry credit or discredit
therefore Of the sub-rosa system in
Cornell belongs to the students who
have cared more for their unauthorized
groups than for the pledges and prom
ises made apparently in good faith
and certainly accepted in good faith.
On matriculation every Cornell stu
dent signs a pledge not to Join any or
ganization unsactioned by the author
titles, and every Cornell student knows
that such organizations are forbidden.
mo one acquainted W tih the facts
would withhold the praise due the fra
ternfty and sorority members for their
honorable action in boldly coming out
in the open and demanding their ex-
pulsion or recognition. The faculty
and trustees met the situation with
corresponding fairness in granting
hearings to all who wished to present
arguments in favor Of fraternity rec
'ogEition. A professor from a neigh
boring institution appeared in behalf
Of the fraternity students and was
carefully and cordially heard. There
were no star chamber tactics.
THE representative fraternity and
sorority students are taking their pun
tshment, which they requested as an
Some will undoubtedly so
to other schools; the rest who expect
to be re-admitted upon convincing the
individually and collectively
that their sub-rosa groups are dis
solved and will remain so, have so far
displayed no other intention than that
Of playing fair and square in their
future career as Cornell students
Time Of Petition Unfortunate.
More comment and criticism has
been aroused by the commencement day
than by anything else in
the affair. Many essential facts bearing
on the Withholding of diplomas from
the seniors have not yet been given
and are herewith presented publicly
for the first time First. the action was
begun by the Sigma Nu fraternity upon
the presentation of their petition, June
2. The other Hellenic petitions % a
similar nature were not all in until the
middle Of the week preceding COM