New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-05
COLUMBIA "FRATS"
in LENTEN MOOD
Plan Big Reformations in
Effort to Forestall
Faculty Rule.

In an effort Ia forcStall faculty rcgu-
lations the fraternties at Columbia are
trying 10 put their houses In order Dele
gates of most OF the leading fratcrnities
have been meeting In secret at the uni
vcrsity for the last month, and after
much discussion have drawn up tcnta-
tive agreement which is TO govern them
in the future.
The fraternitcs which have taken the
Initiative are Phi Delta Theta. Beta Theta
Phi. Sigma Nu. Phi Kappa Psi, Delta
Upsilon, Phi Gamma Delta. Phi Sigma
Kappa. Sigma Chi and Delta Tau Delta.
What the fraternities will not do. be-
cause they believe II 20 be impractical
and impossible. are the setting OF pledge
day before which no freshman viii be
pledged. the granting OF weeks ume
10 consider bid for membership. the de-
laying OF the initiation until later than
November refusing 10 bid hgh school
boys while still In school and bidding spe-
cial students i'm the university.
The chief object OF the proposed asso-
citation among the fraternitics is 10 in
crease the harmony an( cooperation on
all propositions aftectin' them. The mem
bers also feel that criticism TO the eject
that they have been remss I'm promoting
Columbia's welfare is founded somewhat
on fact. and they plan 10 see TO II In the
future that their members take leading
part in undergraduate activities and place
the university on an equal footing with
the fraterRities rather than In second or
third place.
In order 10 increase scholarship among
fraternity men the Columbia societies
have agreed to elect only those students
whose names are posted on an eligible list
showing that they are up in their studies
The fraternities Joining the agreement are
ready 10 refuse admission TO lazy ana
inefficient students who are unwilling to
study and keep up the general average
OF scholarship I'm the fraternlties.
For under class men who are back In
their studies the fraternities plan 10 or
eanize within each chapter house a tutor
ing school on email scale, wherein free
Of charge the backward student Will be
helped along IN his studies until he reaches
the standard set by the fraternities. The
Greek letter societies also plan higher
standard OF scholarship for upper class
men, but how TO obtain this Is the PROB
lem which is confronting them.
That the fraternties do not intend TO
put all their endeavors on scholarship Is
evident from the fact that the new agree
ment makes provision for the organization
Of interfraternity contents. banquets and
the like. with special reference TO inter-
fraternity leagues for the promotion OF
baseball, basketball and other sports.
Not all the fraternities on Mornlngside
Heights are I'm accord with the aims the
leading societies have outlined, but the
sub committees Of the general conference
have been named. and these committees
are working with the refractory fraterni-
ties. The national directing bodies OF the
various fraternities are working with the
delegates TO build UP stronger chapters
and to raise standards.
The national fraternities are forcing the
individual chapters TO adopt uniform
system OF bookkeeping, and will supervise
chapter house finances far moro closely
than before lnasmuch az the majority OF
college fraternities have debts hanging
over them i'm the form OF mortgages on
their fraternity CT accounts for supplies,
the national fraterntles feel that such a
step is justified.