Evening star., 1938-05-08

"All that is very pretty" says the
anti-frat man. but where the actual
cost comes in is for incidentals, such
as transportation for these social
events
The defenders don't deny these ex-
are great. Jay Albertson,' president
of Eta Sigma Gamma Fraternity in
Central, says: I'VE never get together
on school nights, and seldom spend
more than 81 any other time. don't
believe that's any different from what
1T would be if We weren't in the fra.
ternity. AS for transportation cost.
there are always enough boys who
drive their parents cars or their own
and accommodate those who don't"
It is undeniable that the less finan.
cially able students cannot belong,
since they don't ordinarily have much
to spend for social purposes. But the
fraternities are proud of the fact that
large number of their members work
outside of school. This. however, is
acknowledged to be recent trend in
the societies.
AS one fraternity member puts it,
"You know how all the boys in frats
used to be few years ago-you had to
have money and be 'rah-rah' Well.
I don't think they're any of them like
that any more We're looking for the
conservative type. We've found out
that the boy who doesn't get along
we'll in school doesn't get along well in
the fraternity"
Then there is the question of elec-
tions. The non-fraters resent the
fraternity students advantage of Or
ganization, which is so helpful in
swinging elections. They present the
picture of meeting where the secret
organizionists decide upon their cam
didates; and then the consultation
with other societies to trade promises
of backing each others contestant.
On the other side of the fence, the
Greek-letter members relate one Incl
dent as an example of their disadvan-
tage In the election of officers OF a
school club one frat was we'll repre-
sented, but their campaigning was
offset by the word that hes in So
and-so fraternity" with the result that
not one of their nominees won an
office.
Though the Education Board has
ruled fraternities and sororities may
be recognized, the principals in their
individual schools can do so or not.
as they see fit. That has created a
special case of each school.
Six out of seven high schools have
approved societies, and all of them
have unapproved ones. To decide the
number of unrecognized ones in
school is very difficult, since there. is
no record of them, and the figures
given here have been approximated
by inquiries among the pupils.
Central rates the title of "the
Greek-letter school, but not just by
virtue of the fact that at present it
has l3 of the 81 societies In the city.
ALI through the history Of the subject
this school seems to dominate. Gen.
tral claims the fraternity responsible
for the boards recognition Of socie-
ties. It has the first approved frater-
nifty and first approved sorority. It
has the only specialized society. a
cadet fraternity. There are about
seven organizations here not approved.
Second in the number of recognized
Is Eastern with a count of eight.
However, there is only one known
unrecognized club represented here.
Eastern proudly points to the CO.
operation between their societies and
the school. There is one fraternity
which has clause in its constitution
to "do at least one service to the
school semester" 1t is noteworthy.
too, that the clubs here are superior in
charitable activities. All the recog-
nized organizations in the city con-
tribute to some charity cause in one
way or another.
Good, bad or indifferent, there are
still 81 secret societies In this city ap-
proved by the schools. There are
500 members and So goats" who meet
in their homes every two weeks and
sponsor some 236 social events year.