Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-10
Student DRINKING
ROW NEARDEC|S|ON
Conference Being Held in
New York Over U. of V.
Fraternity Case.
BY stan Correspondent Of The Star.

BY STAFF Correspondent OF The Star.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, April TO-
The outcome of the fight being waged
by the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity
members at the University Of Virginia
for the privilege of working out their
own solution to the problem of drink
ing in fraternity houses will hinge upon
the result of conference being held in
New York today between representatives
of the local chapter Of the fraternity
and members Of the Arch Chapter, gov
erning body of Delta Tau Delta.
After special meeting in the chap
ter house and a long-distance telephone
conversation last night, c. z. Cuddy
president Of Beta 1ota Chapter, and
Hamilton Sherrier, one OF the Oldest
members of the fraternity chapter at
the university, left for New York on a
midnight train
The conference between the two men,
bers from Beta Iota Chapter and the
Arch Chapter will be confined, it Is
understood, to the difference of opinion
over the liquor question between the To-
cal chapter and the national body and
will not concern the University Of Viz
ginia In any way.
Dispute Held Limited.
Friends of the fraternity and repre-
sentatives of the university made 1t
clear today that there is no breach be-
tween school officials and the fraternity
men and that In all probability there
will be none The whole dispute, 1t was
said, is within the fraternity and Is
one which must be settled by the fra
ternity, the position Of the university
being merely that Of neutral observer
The attitude of the university on the
student drinking" question was stated
in unmistakable language this morning
by DR.. Edward A. Alderman, president
| of the institution.
THE faculty Of the University Of
Virginia" he said, "is not responsible
for the enforcement of the prohibition
laws. We are not policemen. spies or
detectives, and We will never become
such.
Our work is to run the University of
Virginia in the best possible manner
in accordance with the tradition and
the high standard of education which
has prevailed here for many years. We
intend to do this.
Position Is Defined.
when. in the course of our admins
trative duties, 1t becomes necessary to
deal with the problem of drinking by
students we will seek solution. We
have no intention of tolerating drinking
at this university, but We are going to
solve the problem in our own way. We
will not permit ourselves to be stamped
cd into making silly gestures.
Every now and then some one sug-
gests that we pass rule to the effect
that drinking at the University of
Virginia must stop. Let us assume that
we are going to pass such a rule. Is
1t then to be supposed that merely
because the rule has been passed the
students will stop drinking? BY way
Of answering this question, I might
point to the fact that an amendment
to Our Federal Constitution prohibits
the use of liquor.
When student comes to the Uni
versity OF Virginia. he is accepted as a
man. His good moral character, his
honesty and his determination to DO the
right thing because it is right are taken
for granted. If he does not have these
qualities. he will not remain long.
Coercion Is Barred.
However, his own shortcomings must
lead to his own downfall The UNIVERSE
ty has no system Of espionage for dis
covering them and never viii have
students. Consequently, 1t is not used
here.
I'VE believe that the members Of the
Delta Tau Delta fraternity here are
honorable men and We believe that they
will solve the drinking problem salts
factorily among themselves. We are
content to let them do so. At present
the university is satisfied with the prog
ress they have made toward this end"
DR.. Alderman said that he now has
before him a proposal for dealing with
the question Of drinking in fraternity
houses which was submitted by 13 fra
ternities at the university, who refused
some time ago to sign an agreement
drawn up by the university to the effect
that drinking in fraternity houses would
no longer be tolerated. The Delta Tau
Delta fraternity is one Of the group
which has submitted this substitute
agreement for consideration by school
officials.