The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-11-13
UNDER
DISCUSSION TODAY
Representatives Of Organize.
tons Confer With Rev.
Or. John Van Setback, Jr.

Representatives OF the Washington
lnterfraternity Council. composed Of
twelve OF the thirteen different b,xb
school fraternities. conferred With Ne
rev DIR. John Van Setback, jr., on the
subject of high school fraternIties M
inc Franklin School today.
Frank w. Loeffer and T. Norwood
Dessnng spoke in the interests OF the
Ialern,ty' DIR. Van Schaick asked nu-
nerous questions and replied to all
-, ,nose asked by the two representatives
ne question OF whether fraternities ere
a'ed snobbishness and tended to make
the members undemocratic was dis
cursed at length. the fraternity interests
cunning that such was untrue as far
as they were able to ascertain.
Mind Not Made Up.
Dr. van Schaick. a college fraternity
man, said that he could not make up
ms mind as to the status OF the local
iraternities until after the meeting Of
INC high school principals. members of
the committee that has had the matter
under advisement since last spring. and
other school officials. this afternoon.
While II is not definitely known yet
what will be the result Of this meeting,
u is likely that some decided change in
inc government of the secret societies
VIII be made.
The advice OF the two members of the
board Of Education who are attorneys
VIII be asked before any radical step 10
TAKEN II was admitted.
In one OF the five white schools the
fraternity In considered helpful, one
nlgn school principal Ia bitterly opposed
20 mem. Another considers himself able
~. ~ cope with the situation satisfactorily.
Two other schools take much the same
view. II Is believed by these two princi-
pals that good IA done by the organiza-
ions but they are more or less super
iiuous In student activities.
Dr, Van Schaick Unprecedented.
DIR. Van Schaick says: II am entirely
unpreJudicet What the result of the
report OF the committee and the high
school principals will be, I do not know.
nut this ] do know: The question Of the
nigh school fraternity In this city will be
ueiinitely settled at either the coming
board meeting, or the one Immediately
following"
lhere arc two proposed courses for
the school authorities to take in the
matter. One il. II the fraternity is
found helpful, II should be recognized
ana aided In its work by all connected
With the schools. according to Or. Van
The other is for the officials to repeal
~ rules governing the fraternity and
takt no official cognizanCe OF It, BY the
latter method. II is believed by many
sthool heads that the fraternity would
soon die natural death.
certainly. school heads say, Il will he
impractical to abolish the fraternity alb
soIntely. because the scSpol system has
no jurisdiction over the life OF the pu-
nli after he has left school for the day.
mus the fraternity could live it's life
under absolutely no restrictions u those
IN charge OF the schools made no resu-
lations for 1t to abide by.
Restrictions In Effect.
At present the Board OF Education
prohibits student from becoming a
member OF a fraternity before he has
completed two years OF high school
Work. Meetings may be held only on
me evening of a school holiday or the
evening OF the day preceding such holi-
DAY, and may not be held except in the
nome OF member. No ciubrooms
shaIl be maintained by the chapters In
school "
This of course does not preven, the
use Of clubrooms by the school mem.
/ D'fs when the rooms are supported by
lhe alumni of the fraternity. No recog.
nltlon OF the secret societies Is permit.
ted in the school papers