Evening star., 1932-12-19
CRISIS IS FACED
i. BY FRATERN|T|ES
Publisher Says Preceptor Is
Needed to Put Chapters
on Sound Basis.

enough courage to pull themselves out
of the mire," said George Banta, jr.,
an authority on college fraterities.
There ma been too much OF the
'Hoorah let's have drink in the fra
ternities. too much of swearing u1dy-
ing allegiance to dear old Alpha Beta
Gamma and all the brothers good and
true. My view is this: If the brothers
don't pay their house bills, kick them
out"
For more than 80 years members of
the Banta family have been working
in or about the fraternities The grand
father of George Banta, jr., began the
familys interest; George Banta, ST.,
started the business of publishing the
magazines of the various national fra
ternities and today George Banta, r,
is active director of the publishing plant
which stretches for blocks along the
Fox River here and which issues the
publications Of so national Greek letter
societies and 80 other scientific and
educatlc~al organizations as well.
What h-5 the fraternity got to offer
the college student of today?" asks Mr..
Banta The boys who are entering
college today are smarter; they have
to be shown, and they don't care about
entering rundown. wasteful, purpose
less organization. which is floundering
in debt and despair. The fraternity
is on trial today and it has 10 show
It's value or get out.
I'VE all know how the fraternities
fell into the morass," the publisher eX-
plains. Like most others, they were
victims of the boom era, when every
body wanted to spend more money. to
have finer things. The fraternity BOYS
did it on their chapter houses. 1t de-
veloped into a race. First one group
would erect a handsome residence.
then down the street the boys would
60 deeper into debt to put up finer
house. And so it went down the line
until the depression.
The fraternity bubble broke with all
the others-fewer students of means in
the college. smaller checks from home.
fewer members to pay mounting debt
on palaces which are fit more for mil
honaires than for college boys.
Chapter Houses Hit.
Those chapter houses! That's the
curse of the fraternity today-and SO
unnecessary. For 100 years the college
fraternities grew and prospered. and all
without chapter houses. Look at Phi
Beta Kappa. organized the same year
pendence, a sensible, scholarly society
to this day Many others of our lead
ing fraternities started long ago with
similar ideals They were literary and
debating groups as we'll as social. They
rented hall for their meetings, or they
met in the dormitories, and they pros
pered.
Then, in the nineties, they started
building their own houses going into
debt to do it, of course, and the rest of
the story is well known-buying costlier
and costlier sites. building more and
more extravagantly taking out bigger
and bigger mortgages. Then, poof!
The revenues drop in hard times At
first the boys lower their standards to |
admit more members. There enSues a |
mad scramble for all available recruits. |
but obviously there aren't enough for
all. so the inevitable occurs. The weaker |
groups 60 under.
The situation, Of course. is desper-
ate on many a campus. Already we |
hear of groups which have folded up, |
unable to meet the expense, and more |
are expected to follow.
The sororities have been hit hard, |
too, but not quite so hard The girls
are acting more sensibly spending less |
and renting out their rooms to nom
members. But the fraternities-good |
night"
so you regard the situation as hope
1ess?" Mr.. Banta was asked.
No it's not hopeless, but the fra
ternities must show a different atti-
tude."
What is your program, then, for the
average fraternity?"
First of ALL" Mr. Banta outlined.
your hypothetical fraternity-we'u call
1t Alpha Beta-must request outside
help. since 1t has demonstrated that 1t
cannot solve its problems itself A pre-
ceptor. then from national headquar-
ters or from one of the strong chapters
to take charge. He must be strong, in
young. but few years older
than the students themselves.
Studies Come First.
THE preceptor's job is to make the
boys study; to prevent their being
kicked out Of school. Right now the
big job is to keep in college
all the boys pledged. because all are
needed to supply the cash.
Next the preceptor must tackle the
finances. Get the alumni to give their
support for the period of stress and get
The creditors, the holding company or
the mortgagore to grant more time, and
Il possible to ease the burden. Just re-
mind the creditors that a fraternity
house isn't of much value except to a
and perhaps they'll be rea-
,onable.
Undoubtedly our fraternity owes nu-
nerous bills around town. too Those
merchants must be asked for time while
he chapter straightens out its affairs
Remind them that defunct organiza-
ion pays few bills.
The next step is to put all individ-
lal accounts on a monthly basis. Let
,very member of the chapter pay his
1cuse bill each month or let the others
Know why he doesn't If a chapter
chooses to carry along star athlete
'r couple of deadheads. that's the
chapters business But its eyes should
,e open to what it's doing.
To save money the chapter must
ut down on the expensive parties.
Poor people have no right to be en-
ertained lavishly and that's what these
paternity members are-poor people. If
he chapter has entered into costly con-
racts for music, We should invite other
to join the parties and pay
ract some way.
And lastly we must ask the univer-
ity itself to help us A small college
loes take deep personal interest in
he boys. but large university doesn't
20 We of the Alpha Beta must ask for
cooperation from the faculty commit
ees. We must get outside help on
Icademy subjects, We must be limited
vhen We want to spend too much The
University. for example, shouldn't erect
Iormitories when they might imperil
he other campus organizations.
With a program like that I believe
We can save the day. But it's a long,
lard pull 1t will be interesting to see
that the university men do about it."