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

THE SCROLL 363school, and high school boys would receive plenty of warning thatshould they join such a fraternity after the present collegiate yearthey would not be eligible to Phi Delta Theta.The Interfraternity Conference may become a powerful influencefor good, or it may be a spineless ineffectual organization. Ithas held four annual meetings, and it must be confessed that whatit has so far accomplished amounts practically to very little. Theconference has contributed in a small degree toward bringing abouta better feeling between the various fraternities, but some of thesefraternities are very timid about granting any real authority to it. Theconference will never amount to much until it is empowered to takepositive action on general questions. Years ago the sororities grantedto their Pan-Hellenic Council power to regulate such matters as rushing,students before they are matriculated, breaking of local Pan-Hellenic agreements and "lifting" of pledges, and granted to theexecutive committee of the council, power to enforce the rules andinflict penalties for their violation. The Pan-Hellenic Council hasworked a revolution in these matters, so that the practices of thesororities at the various colleges are now above criticism. The rulesare enforced, but without serious friction, and to the advantage andsatisfaction of all. If the fraternities would learn this lesson fromthe sororities they would take a long step forward.All fraternities must realize that these are precarious times for thefraternity system. Never before has it been subjected to such a fireof criticism. There is a large element that is determined to drive thefraternities out of the state universities. In these institutions thenumber of students has increased much faster than the membershipof fraternities. In many of these institutions there are at least threenon-fraternity men to one Greek, and it is no more than was to beexpected that this great majority should seek to crush the fraternitiesfrom which they are excluded. They point out all the faults of fraternitiesto the faculties. In public prints they denounce the fraternitiesas undemocratic and snobbish organizations, and they demandthat legislators shall enact laws to suppress these organizationsin institutions supported by state taxation. Already the legislatures ofSouth Carolina, Arkansas and Mississippi have passed laws to abolishfraternities in their state universities, though the law in Arkansas isdefective and inoperative. In January of this year bills for the same