Rebecca Shapiro Thesis (11 May 2011).pdf - Brandeis Institutional ...

colleges. Similar to the early women on college campuses, these minorities faced a greatdeal of isolation and discrimination. The traditional fraternities barred minorities fromjoining their organization. Explicitly Christian content in the initiation rituals, the customof beginning meals with invoking the name of "Our Lord", mandatory monthly Churchattendance and the use of insignia, such as crosses, discouraged membership from non-Christians. 44For those still interested, judicial barriers within the fraternities implemented inthe 1870s and 1880s officially banned non-Christians. Membership was limited to thosewho were "Caucasian," "White Christian," "born a Christian of two Christian parents," or"of full Aryan blood." 45 Because fraternities were private social organizations andmember selection was private, college officials rarely protested the blatantdiscrimination. 46Discrimination against Jewish students was not unique to the Greeksystem. Literary clubs, gymnastics societies and other organizations likewise refusedentrance to Jewish students.A handful of Jewish students received entrance despite barriers. Those whoreceived bids to fraternities often disguised their Jewish heritage or if they did not havestereotypically Jewish feature, changed their names. 47 Some, who were products ofupper-class intermarriage, raised Christian, or particularly outstanding athletes weresimilarly admitted. Certain fraternities, such as Phi Delta Theta- Φ∆Θ, a fraternityfounded in 1848, regularly accepted Jewish men, and added an "Aryan" clause in 1912 torestrict Asians on the West Coast while maintaining their Jewish ties. Other known44 Sanua, 3945 Sanua, 39-4046 Sanua, 4047 Sanua, 4313