1912–13 Volume 37 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

THE SCROLL 327Benton, President now of the University of Vermont, on "TheTypical Phi."BROTHER BENTON; Brother Toastmaster, Brother and Sister Phis,I observe that I am to speak on the subject of "The Typical Phi." There isa typical college man. The Phi is a college man. Our typical college man isa man of character. He is plain unassuming goodness. He has plenty of goodred blood in his veins, but he knows that the greatest triumph possible tomortal man is that victory over self which subdues passion, controls appetite,directs desire, commands reverence and establishes honesty.The supreme duty of the college man is work. It is the consciousness ofwork well and faithfully done, of studies thoroughly mastered, that makespossible the other side of college life. He who permits his college to providehim with a disciplined mind and a refined taste is accepting an equipment whichwill bring to his later life a satisfaction in living that will amply compensatefor the lack of many grosser comforts. To be able to think clearly, toreason wisely, to possess a sane judgment, to have an appreciation for thefine things in art, literature and history is to have the joyous consciousness of alife that is high above the level of the commonplace.Then blessings on this college man! Nurtured in the atmosphere of theright sort of a college—Such as each one of us represents here tonight, heis the most hopeful prophecy of our national salvation. His patriotism, hisscholarship and his' character will make him the mightiest potentiality offuture years in dethroning graft and crushing tyranny. He will be the finestexponent of public and private honesty in our public life. For we shall findthat the typical college has given to the world, in the typical collegian, a manof genuine worth; of real effectiveness.So much for the typical college man.. The typical Phi is all that, plus firstof all, an accentuated honesty. The great Fraternity of Phi Delta Thetahas set itself like flint in utter hostility to hypocrisy, duplicity, insincerity andall dishonesty. It is fhe pioneer fraternity of America in establishing standardsof absolute honesty in the class room. There is a worse evil under thesun, Phi Delta Theta believes, than drunkeness and that worse evil is dishonesty.The typical Phi is a democrat—not necessarily of the type that is found inevery state of fhe Union save Utah and Vermont (laughter), but that type ofdemocrat which acknowledges genuine worth, recognizes it and pays respect toit, whether it be clad in jeans or broadcloth. The typical Phi is hostile inevery sense of the word to all that pertains to a selfish aristocracy of snobbery.The typical Phi believes in fhe democracy of the American college; and whilehe recognizes his obligation to the brother with whom he touches elbows, herecognizes merit wherever he comes in contact with it.The typical Phi is broad gauged, large visioned. There is nothing narrowabout him. In some fraternities, perchance, there are those who wantto believe that they have a corner on all that is worth while. Phi Delta Thetarecognizes the fact that it stands for certain distinctive ideals, commending itto the favor of its members, but we are able to look beyond our own organizationand recognize' genuine worth wherever we find it; and while we rejoicein the fact that we belong to a great Fraternity, perhaps without doubt inour own minds • the greatest college fraternity, we may admit the fact thatthere is something bigger than being a member of Phi Delta Theta, and thatis in enjoying citizenship in the larger Greek world. The time is comingwhen, through the influence of the National Interfraternity Conference, allfraternities, bound together in Pan-Hellenic agreement, will make the Americancollege fraternity system a mighty engine for the promotion of all thatis best in college life—the growth of the typical college man. Then collegefraternities will serve the world as they have been unable to serve it up tothis time.One thing more. The typical Phi is unselfish. If the fraternity system