Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-10-15
'Ddrden DEGREES
U. Of Va. Social
IFraternities
Report Urges Groups
| To Base Membership
| On Proficiency
By the Associated Press

By the Associated Press
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, Oct.
15.-Colgate w. Darden, jr., presi-
dent of the University of Virginia.
believes fraternities at the insti-
tuition should require certain
scholastic proficiency as a pre-
requisite of membership"
He expressed the opinion in his
report for the fiscal year ended
last June 80, made public yester-
day.
"The university" he declared,
"has suffered too often in the
past from activities of a group of
fraternities and societies dedi-
Gated, and sometimes exclusively,
to the outward and visible signs
of social distinction. The ener-
waiting hand of this social COM
bination must be lifted from the
student body"
Criticism Outlined.
He charged that such groups
"have failed signally as organiza-
lions to share the legitimate in
terests of a university community
nor have they furnished the lead
ership which might be expected of
them"
In this connection it was recalled
that several years ago. when he
was Governor. Mr.. Darden pro-
posed that fraternities and sorori-
ties be forbidden to maintain
chapter houses.
He pointed out yesterday that
the assumption of the enforce
ment of discipline by the student
council constitutes "the most sig
nif1cant instance Of participation
by responsible students in both
the intellectual and administra-
tive affairs Of the university"
The university president also
announced that general approval
has been given to a plan to set
up a lower and upper division
for students in the College of
Arts and Sciences in a move to
solve some of the problems aris-
ing from the institutions post
war growth.
Closer Supervision Planned.
Under such plan. he explained,
there would be closer supervision
OF younger and less experienced
students and increasing
freedom for those students who
demonstrate their ability to do
good work at sthe college level"
Much of the report was de-
voted to an outline of plans for
bridging the gap separating high
schools and the university.
1T is my belief" he stated,
that by supplying the support
required, we can enable those who
enter here to come of age in
pleasant and Intellectually slim
ulating surroundings - surround
ings that will nourish in them
that sense of personal honor and
that devotion to scholarly achieve
ment for which this university
must always stand" w..
Some Students Need Help.
1T is true" he added, that
some students will develop rapid
ly and satisfactorily with any help
from the university, but it is also
true that many oilers will fail if
no help is given. The latter,
given a reasonable amount of as
sistance, will render an excellent
account Of themselves.
Without interfering in any OBJ
jectionable way with the freedom
of any student, the university can
and should provide help for those
who need and desire it"
In celebrating Mr.. Darden said,
Il hope to see sufficient accommo-
dations provided to house, for the
first two years, students entering
the university from the high
schools and preparatory schools.
After their induction into the stu
dent body has been achieved, and
their habits of study set, students
may with profit take up residence
on the lawn and the ranges, or In
fraternities or houses bordering
on the university. much as they
do now"
Proposal Is Experiment.
He added that this is to be an
experiment, not a rigid plan.
Discussing the university's build
ing program. Mr.. Darden COM
mented on new houses for students
on which construction costing
about 100000 is being started.
Adjacent to the houses will be
placed playing fields for. intra-
mural sports, feature of under
graduate life which hope to see
greatly enlarged" he said.
He expressed hope that the
houses, and the student activities
building. in which dining and rec
reational facilities will be located.
will "recapture something of the
personal atmosphere that obtained
within the university when its en-
rollment was much smaller"