New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-19
Alumni News Would Tear
Stroud of Secrecy from
Mystic Houses.
SEEKS WELCOME AND
CHANCE FOR BARB"
Shirt of Aloofness CerSured and
Students Are Told to Aid
University.

Traternities at Columbia ana thelr
methods are the subject Of frank and
scathinc editorial in The Columbia
Alumni News for this week. the
Alumni News shows that the Greek ie'-
ter societies. as they now exist on MORN
incside Heights. are so isolated that tneS
9re Justly accused by non-iraternity men
NJ standing aloof from the university anu
It's best interests.
The News" editorial calls on the aIuih-
nj and graduate members OF the various
fraternities 10 get together ana susEeS'
reforms which they. now that theE are
tv,av from Morningside Heights see are
needed and are indispensable.
This is the editorial, in part:
Ar Columbia fraternites are probably
more ridiculously secret than at any other
college or university.
we have a score and more Greek let
ter societies living in isolation. Ihey en-
ter the university life about twice year
whom they publish their coats-of-arms
in The Columbian and when they give
a formal tea in junior week. sometirileS
they outstrip this record by occupying
boxes at the varsity show and uniuriihs
A, few banners But that is all. the rest
IS mystery. The non-fraternity man,
very substantial person at CoIumoia'
NAV well gasp and stare at these orother-
D.. carnations and conclude that their
benefits are neither for him nor the uni
versitv. for he and it are not members
IF the clam
lust what does happen in these TWEEN
tv-odd houses. where conCregate some OF
the colleges picked men Throughout 'HeIr
academic career? Is there anything 10
ne shrouded except some semi-mys'c
rites. cribbed mainly from the Masohs
and the Bible? We think not we thlhA
tbere is much 10 be laid bare, 10 the ad-
vantage of the fraternities and of the
university.
I'VE think segregation generates par
do,ahla suspicion in the mind OF the man
bovond the pale. and indurates class
click which is unnecessary in the student
body and harmful 10 the college morale
Secrecy makes an organization eitner
feared and revered or derided ana ois-
liked. Columbia fraternties will do well
in take an interpretive inventory OF their
tiles to reverence and awe.
"Perhaps il is this continued dwehng
in darkness which makes us feel tnat
,ur fraternities have not adopted the
IDEAL of service a leading official IN
the city administration. analyzing the
fraternity unrest throughout the country
and looking for remedy, hnos IL III
the ideal Of service. He is rejecting on
A plan 10 set up a catholic aspirauoh
n community usefulness for the frater-
ritv world. a scheme which VIII bring
the thousands of Greek letter men IN
mir colleges 10 conception and religion
~ devotion to public service. At present
- finds their motto service TO them
selves.
"How many Morningside fraternities put
service 10 the university ahead OF aS-
yrandizement for themselves? chapter
alumni who read these lines Will KNOW
Can they not open their houses 10
campus purposes. 10 meeting OF cluo
or committee? To a dinner party or
society where non-fraternity men and
men OF many fraternities may sit IN
awkwardly side by side and feel that
fraternity. too, is part of the college?
"And-this is revolutionary enough
cannot our fraternities unbend little
more 10 the barb invite him 70 their
sances. even occasionally give smoker
yolely in his honor. so that all may realize
that a fraternity badge has no monopoly
On human pleasure and no quarrel with
thoughtful courtesy?
The alumnUs who cares about his
fraternity and thinks Of his alma mater
will 20 back to his chapter and speak for
the correction OF Columbia fraternity
faults.
When our fraternities become less ex-
elusive. when we read in Spectator that
Beta Theta ri has pledged so and So
that tomorrow meeting of varsity de-
paters will take place in the Psi Epsilon
house, that twenty couples attended the
Deke' dance last night, that Theta Delta
hi and Delta Tau Delta arc going TO
swap smokers. We shall feel that frater-
mites are not such mysterious ogres
after all. and that they play helpful
ole in Columbia University life"