New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-31
BARNARD MAY
GET SORORITIES
IrtercIaSs Friendships Are
Less Since Suspension,
Says Deans Report.
SUBSTITUTE CLUBS
HAVE NOT APPEARED
Dr.. Gildersleeye Hints Old Soci-
cites Might BE Restored
with Restrictions.

Greek letter sororitc7 at Barnard.
,hrus. into social darkness two years
aqo by tho board Of trustees, may see
The light again. Dean Virginia c. Gil
der1leeye, IN her annual report. says
that no substitutes have been found for
the departed societie and hints that
under proper restrictions they might
be restored without danger 20 the
college.
Too much rushing" and "pledging"
and old-fashioned gossip, Dean Glider
sleeve says. brought the sororities on
the rocks Of faculty disapproval But
while the pink tea and the theatre
party have been successfully eliminat-
ed. several hundred college girls have
found life less interesting than .,
should be.
THE second year Of the experimental
three-year period. during which soror-
ity chapters are not allowed 70 elect
new members, has pas ed without any
very definite development" Dean Gill
dcrsleeve says. Contrary 10 the ex-
pectation OF the faculty, no new organi-
cations have grown up, nor has there
been any notable increase of interest
and activity in the departmental clubs
and other existing organizations.
A Certain Loss Felt.
"The omission Of sorority elections
has brought welcome relief from the
agitations Of rushing and pledge day
and from some undesirable forms or
college gossip. On the other hand, the
lack OF some such social organizations
makes close acquaintance among stu
dents in the different classes far less
frequent and results in fewer oppor-
tunities for informal social intercourse
and the formation Of intimate and con-
genial friendships. An administrative
office notices also some lack of that
beneficial influence. of the older stu
dents on the younger and that aid in
the development Of sound public
opinion in the college which the sorori-
ties sometimes felt the responsibility
Of contributing.
"The problem of developing help
full social organizations must, OF course,
rest primarily with the students. Any
thing artfcially fo4tered from without
is doomed 70 fail. Ii is 10 be hoped
that within the next few years the
undergraduates may develop some gem
orally acceptable system Of organiZa-
tion which will bring to the members
of the college those beneficial and edu-
cative opportunities for social life that
It is not altogether easy for non-resl-
Dental institution TO give to its stu
dents"
Combined Course Asked.
Freda Kirchwey, daughter of Pro-
fessor George w. Kirchwey, of the Law
School, led the revolt against sororlties
two years ago which resulted in their
virtual suspension from the college.
Dean Gildersleeve, in addition to dis
cussing the sorority problem, recon-
mends that courses in law and medi-
cine be made a part OF the curriculum,
and also that combined undergradu-
ate and professional course of six years
be adopted. Continuing her report, she
says:
"Besides the college curriculum. we
have been considering the problem OF
entrance requirements and examlna-
tons. According to the arrangement
generally in use, a private school pupil
is obliged to decide. at the age of four
teen or fifteen, whether she is going
10 college. If she plans to go, she is
put into the college preparatory course
of the school, as distinguished from the
general course, and for several years
gets special training in practically all
her subjects But many girls are un-
able to decide at such an early age
for or against college.
"The result is that many excellent
and ambitious students at the end Of
their school course or within few
years after graduation, desiring 20 20
to college, bitterly regret that they are
not prepared, but rarely have the cour-
age to 90 back and undergo the special
training necessary to pass the entrance
examinations Some attempt should be
made to adjust the college entrance re-
quirements and the private school cur
riculum so that any good student, on
graduating from first rate school
will automatically be prepared for col
lege"