The New York herald., 1922-03-05
GREEK LETTER MEN
HELD NOT SNOBBISH
Charges Rising in Many Col
legcs Disprovcd in n. Y. U.
Report.
AID FELLOW STUDENTS
Are Not Drawn Together by
Wealth. Asserts Senior
President.

Are college fraternities snobbish? DO
Greek letter men cater only to the rich
and socially important among their fell
low students? An investigation con-
Quoted at New York University has re-
corded denial OF charges OF this char
acter which are now interesting the
faculties Of many colleges. and which
are being investigated by DR.. Harry
Pratt Judson. president OF Chicago Uni
vcrsity. 1t was a question which keenly
interested the college world shortly be-
fore Woodrow Wilson left Princeton to
become Governor of New Jersey. the
future President having tried unsuc-
cessfully to abolish Princeton's clubs
which bear relation TO Greek letter
fratcrnities.
Prof. Perley l.. Thorne OF the College
OF Arts and Pure Science of New York
University said yesterday that It was
his belief that fraternity men are un-
selfish and unsnobbish. and that many
men are helped through college by the
efforts of the fraternities. That fra
ternity men succeed better in campus
politics than non-fraternity men. as n
rule. Prof. Thorne attributed to the fact
that they start with organization. This
IL. Cam. assistant athletic director. who
said that fraternities are democratic and
far from snobbish. Donald l.. Brown
representing Psi Upsilon. said:
Fraternity men could not be snobs
They live together in frank, outspoken
democratic relationship. They cater to
character rather than wealth. More
than half of the fraternity men are
working their way through college and
find sense of pride IN their inde-
nendence. They work for the glory OF
the college and have little use for a
man who avoids participation in college
HE. taking all that the college can give
him. yet giving nothing in return"
Ralph G. Walker. editor in chief of
the Medley. a humorous college paper,
said that fraternity men obey an i'm
pulse common to men everywhere. which
IN to associate with persons who think
and feel as they do. but that experience
proves the falsity of charges that fra
tcrnity men arc exclusive and that they
look down upon non-fraternity men.
Timothy Jaffe of Zeta Beta Tau said
the fraternity men of New York Univer-
sity are the most democratic students on
the campus and the best mixers. An
thony J. Lotano, president OF the senior
class, said:
''As a general rule fraternity men are
not snobbish. There is an extremely
small rcrcenta sc that might he termed
80. but they are men that never en-
ioved amy special privilege before reach
ing college. Nor do frstcrnities cater to
the rich. They do not assume superb
Gritty. They actually acquire 1t by meul-
bcrship In their fratcrnities. which in
sist upon superior qualities being de-
vcloped by their members"
Thurber II. Biercc. editor in chief of
the Ncio Yorker. weekly publication,
and member OF Delta Phi. said THE
purpose Of the fraternity system is to
create brotherhood for the develop
mont Of character. Haughtiness Is not a
fraternity doctrine. Snobbishness and
fraternal spirit do not mix. More than
half the men of Delta Phi are working
their way through college"